Screening Vaccinees for Non-Communicable Diseases and Risk Factors at a Covid-19 Vaccination Center in Vadodara, Gujarat.

Context: Adult population visiting COVID vaccination center is a potential teachable moment for screening and preventive advice on non-communicable diseases.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the proportion of vaccinees volunteering for screening and to know the proportion of newly detected hypertensives and diabetics among the screened vaccinees at COVID-19 vaccination center.

Setting And Design: This descriptive, cross-sectional, operational research study was carried out at the COVID vaccination center at a medical college in central Gujarat from July to September 2021.

Screening adults with tuberculosis for severe illness at notification: programme experience from Gujarat, India.

Background: National tuberculosis (TB) programmes in high-burden countries do not systematically assess severity at diagnosis followed by referral for inpatient care. Due to limited capacity, comprehensive assessment of all TB patients is not practical. In three districts of Gujarat (West India) in June 2021, we determined the feasibility of screening for severe illness by paramedical staff of public facilities and the burden of 'high risk for severe illness' at notification among adults (≥15 y of age) with TB.

Clinical features and outcome of COVID-19 among PLHIV in Gujarat, India: A case series.

Information on people living with HIV (PLHIV) and current COVID-19 pandemic is still scarce in Indian setting. This case series of PLHIV with COVID-19 describes clinical characteristics and outcome in this special group of patients. This case series included 11 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among PLHIV admitted at a tertiary care hospital in Gujarat, India during April-December 2020.

Efficacy and safety of colchicine in COVID-19: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Background: Colchicine, an anti-inflammatory drug is prescribed nowadays for COVID-19. In this meta-analysis, we evaluated efficacy and safety of colchicine in patients with COVID-19.

Methods: We searched databases for randomised controlled studies evaluating efficacy and/or safety of colchicine as compared with supportive care in patients with COVID-19.

'We are not aware of notification of tuberculosis': A mixed-methods study among private practitioners from western India.

Background: Implementing the Standards for tuberculosis care in India (STCI) guidelines in the private sector is vital. This study attempted to estimate the knowledge and practices regarding STCI guidelines among private practitioners and to explore the reasons and solutions for low tuberculosis (TB) notification rates.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study for assessing the knowledge and practices of the STCI guidelines among 100 full-time allopathic private practitioners in Bhavnagar (in western part of India) from September 2018 to January 2019.

Cash transfer scheme for people with tuberculosis treated by the National TB Programme in Western India: a mixed methods study.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the coverage and explore enablers and challenges in implementation of direct benefit transfer (DBT) cash incentive scheme for patients with tuberculosis (TB).

Design: This is a mixed methods study comprising a quantitative cohort and descriptive qualitative study.

Setting: The study was conducted in City TB Centre, Vadodara, Western India.

Stigma, Discrimination, and Domestic Violence Experienced by Women Living with HIV: A Cross-sectional Study from Western India.

Background: In India, social issues such as stigma and discrimination are still experienced by many women living with HIV (WLHIV) at various levels such as family, community, or health care settings even after a decline trend in HIV prevalence.

Objectives: To assess stigma, discrimination, and domestic violence among WLHIV attending an antiretroviral therapy (ART) center and its association with unsafe sexual practices.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out among WLHIV attending an ART center of a tertiary care hospital after obtaining approval from the institutional ethics committee.

Do primary care physicians require training in core clinical dermatology? A cross sectional needs assessment study from Western India.

Background: Primary care physicians play a crucial role in managing patients with common skin disorders who form around one-third of outpatient attendees.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the need for dermatology training among primary care physicians by assessing their knowledge, self-perception of ability to diagnose and manage skin disorders, and their difficulties in managing these patients.

Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional, needs assessment study was done among primary care physicians (n = 61) of rural (n = 34) and urban (n = 27) areas of Vadodara district.

Sputum Smear and Culture Conversion in Multidrug Resistance Tuberculosis Patients in Seven Districts of Central Gujarat, India: A Longitudinal Study.

Objectives: To know the sputum smear and culture conversion among multidrug resistance tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients.

Materials And Methods: The longitudinal cohort study was conducted for 142 MDR-TB patients registered in 2010 under Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme of Vadodara region. Three follow-ups were taken for sputum and culture examination, at completion of 6, 12, and 24 months of treatment.

Drug adherence rate and loss to follow-up among people living with HIV/AIDS attending an ART Centre in a Tertiary Government Hospital in Western India.

Introduction: National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) has expanded the reach of anti retroviral therapy (ART) to combat the epidemic of HIV/AIDS in India which has one of the largest populations of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in the world. One of the major challenges related to ART is a lifelong commitment by patients to adhere diligently to daily medication dosing schedules and scheduled visits to the ART center. Hence, the current study is carried out to assess the drug adherence rate and loss to follow-up (LFU) among PLWHA attending ART centre of a tertiary care hospital in Western India.

Predictors of unsafe sexual behavior among people living with human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS attending antiretroviral therapy center in Western India.

Background: As more and more people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) live longer and healthier lives because of antiretroviral therapy (ART), an increasing number of sexual transmissions of HIV may arise from these people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Hence, this study is conducted to assess the predictors of unsafe sexual behavior among PLWHA on ART in Western India.

Materials And Methods: The current cross-sectional study was carried out among 175 PLWHAs attending ART center of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Western India.

Predictors of overweight and obesity among school going adolescents of Vadodara city in Western India.

Background: Obesity among adolescents is escalating as a global epidemic which is associated with various lifestyle disorders in later life.

Objective: To assess the factors influencing overweight and obesity among school going adolescents of Vadodara city in Western India.

Methods: The study was carried out among 1050 school going adolescents from 15 schools selected by systematic random sampling after taking written informed consent from the participants.

Treatment outcome among cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) in Western India: A prospective study.

Multidrug-resistant TB has become a significant public health problem in a number of countries and an obstacle to effective TB control. Therefore, the present study sought to determine the treatment outcome in patients with MDR TB in seven districts and to examine the factors affecting the treatment outcome. A prospective cohort study was carried out by enrolling all the registered patients in DOTs Plus center of Vadodara district from February 2010 to December 2010.