Protocol to assess bottlenecks inhibiting the scaling up of evidence-based family planning practices in low-income and middle-income countries using mixed methods.

Introduction: Scaling up evidence-based practices (EBPs) in family planning (FP), as recommended by the WHO, has increasingly been accepted by global health actors as core to their mission, goals and activities. National policies, strategies, guidance, training materials, political commitment and donor support exist in many countries to adopt and scale up a range of EBPs, including postpregnancy FP, task sharing for FP and the promotion of social and behaviour change (SBC) for FP. While there has been some success in implementing these practices, coverage remains inadequate in many countries.

Strengths and weaknesses of the South-South Learning Exchange: a qualitative analysis of experts' perspectives.

Background: South-South learning exchange (SSLE) refers to an interactive learning process where peers exchange knowledge and experience to work towards a beneficial change. Despite organizations having recently increased the opportunity to run SSLEs, the SSLE support mechanisms and processes are not well documented in the scientific literature. This study explored experts' perspectives on SSLEs, strengths, weaknesses and mechanisms leading to sustainable outcomes.

Scoping review on the use of South-South learning exchange to scale up evidence-based practices in family planning.

Background: South-South learning exchange (SSLE) is an interactive learning process where teams from low-income and middle-income countries exchange knowledge and experience to support one or both team's work towards a change in policies, programmes or practices. SSLE has been used by countries to improve family planning (FP) outcomes such as increased contraceptive prevalence rate and reduced unmet need for FP, but at present, there are no reviews that summarise its use. We conducted a scoping review with stakeholder consultations to summarise the use of SSLE to change FP outcomes.

Scoping review protocol to map evidence on South-South learning exchange in family planning.

Introduction: South-South learning exchange (SSLE) is an interactive learning process where stakeholder teams exchange knowledge and experience to help one, or both to work towards change, by identifying, adopting and/or strengthening implementation of a best practice. SSLE has been conducted between countries to share knowledge on best practices and policies in family planning. To the best of our knowledge, no scoping review has been conducted to synthesise evidence on SSLE in family planning.

Determining the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Availability, Use, and Readiness of Family Planning and Contraceptive Services at Selected Primary Health Care Facilities in Africa and Asia: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and the associated social restrictions may have disrupted the provision of essential services, including family planning (FP) and contraceptive services. This protocol is adapted from a generic study protocol titled "Health systems analysis and evaluations of the barriers to availability and readiness of sexual and reproductive health services in COVID-19 affected areas," conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) Department of Reproductive Health and Research.

Objective: This study aims to assess the availability and use of FP and contraceptive services in primary health facilities during and after the COVID-19 pandemic; assess the risk perceptions of COVID-19 stigma, barriers to access, and quality of services from clients' and providers' perspectives in the COVID-19-affected areas; and assess the postpandemic recovery of the facilities in the provision of FP and contraceptive services.

Improving access to quality family planning services in Nepal and Sri Lanka: insights from a South-South learning exchange.

Nepal and Sri Lanka ministries of health shared best practices and learnings, in a South-South learning exchange (SSLE) to improve access to quality and rights-based family planning services. The SSLE between the two countries followed a five-step methodology designed by the WHO, under the Family Planning Accelerator project. SSLE between the two countries started in January 2020 and is still continuing.

Challenges of diabetes care in India: Results from a Family Cohort Study.

Objectives: Diabetes is a significant public health concern in India, with Kerala being labeled as the diabetes capital of the country. The study aims to evaluate the prevalence, treatment, and management of diabetes to examine the unmet need for care to propose cost-effective strategies.

Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a geographically defined cohort population in Ernakulam.

Resiliency Engagement and Care in Health (REaCH): a telephone befriending intervention for upskilled rural youth in the context of COVID-19 pandemic-study protocol for a multi-centre cluster randomised controlled trial.

Background: The lockdown associated with the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to impact people's mental health, especially those from economically disadvantaged and vulnerable sections of society. Mental health can be affected by many factors, including fear of disease transmission, from response measures against the pandemic like social distancing, movement restriction, fear of being in quarantine, loneliness, depression due to isolation, fear of losing work and livelihood and avoiding health care due to fear of being infected. Telephonic befriending intervention by non-specialists will be used to provide social and emotional support to the youth from the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDUGKY), an initiative of the Government of India.

Scoping review to map evidence on mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, effectiveness and side effects of centchroman as a contraceptive pill.

Objective: To systematically identify and map the available evidence on effectiveness, side effects, pharmacokinetics and mechanism of action of centchroman as a contraceptive pill.

Introduction: Centchroman was introduced in the Indian national family planning programme in 2016 as a once-a-week short-term contraceptive pill/oral contraceptive. At present there are no WHO recommendations on this method of contraception.

Factors Influencing Employment and Employability for Persons with Disability: Insights from a City in South India.

Background: There is a lack of evidence on barriers faced by persons with disability in accessing employment opportunities in India.

Aim: This study was undertaken to ascertain both employee and employer perceptions on barriers existing among Information Technology (IT) and IT-enabled sectors to employ persons with disabilities.

Materials And Methods: Two hundred participants from six IT/IT-enabled sector organizations were included in the study; study was conducted at Hyderabad, India.

Prevalence of disability among adults using Rapid Assessment of Disability tool in a rural district of South India.

Background: There are different estimates of disability prevalence reported in India due to the differences in definitions and methodologies. Reliable data is needed to plan effective disability inclusive strategies.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with disability among adults ≥18 years of age in Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh using the Rapid Assessment of Disability (RAD) tool.

A Mixed-Method Study to Determine the Benefits of Periconceptional Folic Acid Supplementation and Effects of Folic Acid Deficiency in Mothers on Birth Outcomes.

Background: Evidence from high income countries shows mothers who are supplemented with folic acid in their periconceptional period and early pregnancy have significantly reduced adverse outcomes like birth defects. However, in India there is a paucity of data on association of birth defects and folic acid supplementation. We identified a few important questions to be answered using separate scientific methods and then planned to triangulate the information.

Birth prevalence of neural tube defects and orofacial clefts in India: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: In the last two decades, India has witnessed a substantial decrease in infant mortality attributed to infectious disease and malnutrition. However, the mortality attributed to birth defects remains constant. Studies on the prevalence of birth defects such as neural tube defects and orofacial clefts in India have reported inconsistent results.

Challenges in Developing Competency-based Training Curriculum for Food Safety Regulators in India.

Context: The Food Safety and Standards Act have redefined the roles and responsibilities of food regulatory workforce and calls for highly skilled human resources as it involves complex management procedures.

Aims: 1) Identify the competencies needed among the food regulatory workforce in India. 2) Develop a competency-based training curriculum for food safety regulators in the country.

Self-adjustable glasses in the developing world.

Uncorrected refractive errors are the single largest cause of visual impairment globally. Refractive errors are an avoidable cause of visual impairment that are easily correctable. Provision of spectacles is a cost-effective measure.