Community health workers to reduce unmet surgical needs in an urban slum in India: an implementation study.

Background: The Surgical Accredited & Trained Healthcare Initiative (SATHI) project demonstrates how community healthcare workers (CHWs) with merely 8 y of formal schooling and training for a short period can reduce unmet surgical needs.

Methods: A pilot study was carried out in the slums of a metropolitan city in India to know the effectiveness of a SATHI in reducing the burden of unmet surgical needs. In total, 12 730 people from 3000 households were included in the study for a duration of 6 months.

Unmet Surgical Needs and Trust Deficit in Marginalized Communities in India: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Survey.

Introduction: We carried out a household study of surgical unmet needs and trust in the physician and perception of quality in the health system in a rural Tribal area and an urban slum in India.

Methods: A community-based, cross-sectional study was carried out in a Tribal and in an urban slum in Gujarat, India. We surveyed 7914 people in 2066 households in urban slum and 5180 people of 1036 households in rural Tribal area.

Prevalence of high-risk HPV among marginalized urban women in India and its implications on vaccination: A cross sectional study.

Objective: To discover the prevalence and distribution of high-risk human papilloma virus (HPV) subtypes in urban slums and their implications.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed to discover prevalence and distribution of high-risk HPV subtypes. We screened 956 women.

And Still She Rises: Policies for Improving Women's Health for a More Equitable Post-Pandemic World.

The COVID-19 pandemic has spawned crises of violence, hunger and impoverishment. Maternal and Infant Health Canada (MIHCan) conducted this policy action study to explore how changes that have arisen during the COVID-19 pandemic may catalyze potential improvements in global women's health toward the creation of a more equitable post-pandemic world. In this mixed methods study, 280 experts in women's health responded to our survey and 65 subsequently participated in focus groups, including professionals from India, Egypt/Sudan, Canada and the United States/Mexico.

Trust Deficit in Surgical Systems in an Urban Slum in India Under Universal Health Coverage: A Mixed Method Study.

We carried out a mixed method study to understand why patients did not avail of surgical care in an urban slum in India. In our earlier study, we found that out of 10,330 people, 3.46% needed surgery; 42% did not avail of surgery (unmet needs).

Association of family history of cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) and individual health behaviours: Analysis of CARRS study from South Asia.

Objectives: Family history is considered as an important predictor of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and diabetes. Available research findings suggest that family history of chronic diseases is associated with perceived risk of disease and adoption of healthy behaviours. We examined the association between family history of cardio-metabolic diseases (CMDs) and healthy behaviours among adults without self-reported CMDs.

Comparative Profiling of Salivary Cortisol and Salivary DHEA-S Among Healthy Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Women.

During pregnancy, circulatory cortisol levels increase, remaining steady over the second-third trimester. In contrast, profile of salivary cortisol during pregnancy is debatable, more influenced by factors like time of sample collection in the day. Circulatory DHEA-S decrease by at least 50% over the second-third trimester of pregnancy.

Comparative profiling of prenatal cortisol and DHEA-S among pregnant women with poor birth outcome and pregnant women with normal birth outcome.

Context: Cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) are indispensable hormones for normal pregnancy. It is unclear if these hormones, specifically DHEA-S can offer value for predicting poor birth outcome.

Objective: To compare prenatal cortisol and DHEA-S levels among pregnant women with normal or poor birth outcome.

SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions: Concerns, challenges, management and mitigation strategies-a narrative review.

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a global public health problem. The SARS-CoV-2 triggers hyper-activation of inflammatory and immune responses resulting in cytokine storm and increased inflammatory responses on several organs like lungs, kidneys, intestine, and placenta. Although SARS-CoV-2 affects individuals of all age groups and physiological statuses, immune-compromised individuals such as pregnant women are considered as a highly vulnerable group.

Immunological aspects and gender bias during respiratory viral infections including novel Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19): A scoping review.

The human immune system is not adequately equipped to eliminate new microbes and could result in serious damage on first exposure. This is primarily attributed to the exaggerated immune response (inflammatory disease), which may prove detrimental to the host, as evidenced by SARS-CoV-2 infection. From the experiences of Novel Coronavirus Disease-19 to date, male patients are likely to suffer from high-intensity inflammation and disease severity than the female population.

Usefulness of the Sauvegrain Method of Bone Age Assessment in Indian Children.

Introduction: Bone age estimation is very useful in children undergoing epiphysiodesis or guided growth surgery especially during the years of accelerated growth. It may be noted that no data are available on bone age estimation for Indian children of this age group. Sauvegrain (French) method is a very useful and simple method for bone age assessment during the years of accelerated growth.

COVID-19 in the elderly people and advances in vaccination approaches.

The rapid worldwide spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the newly emerged severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has resulted in tens of millions of infections and over one million deaths. SARS-CoV-2 infection affects all age groups; however, those over 60 years old are affected more severely. Moreover, pre-existing co-morbidities result in higher COVID-19-associated mortality in the geriatric population.

Ramping up of SARS CoV-2 testing for the diagnosis of COVID-19 to better manage the next phase of pandemic and reduce the mortality in India.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, a new member of the Coronavirus family. The virus was first identified in Wuhan, China, where the epidemic originated. The viral genome was sequenced and a real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay was developed and used for the detection of virus.

Surgical Unmet Need in a Low-Income Area of a Metropolitan City in India: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: We investigated the burden of surgical conditions, level of unmet needs and reasons for non-utilization of surgical services in a slum of Ahmedabad, India.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out from August to December 2019. Inclusion criteria was age > 14 years; any type of injury/condition that requires surgery; subject has had surgery in last 1 year, and death information of family members.

An invisible workforce: the neglected role of cleaners in patient safety on maternity units.

Hospital cleaning has been shown to impact on rates of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) and good environmental hygiene is critical to quality care, yet those tasked with the role of ensuring a safe and clean environment often go unrecognised as members of the healthcare workforce. Sepsis is a leading cause of maternal and newborn death, a significant proportion of these cases are estimated to be due to HCAIs. Deliveries in health institutions have now reached 75% globally, and in low and middle income countries the corresponding increased pressure on facilities  has impacted both quality of care provided and quality of the birth environment in terms of infection prevention and control (IPC) and HCAIs.

Nipah virus: epidemiology, pathology, immunobiology and advances in diagnosis, vaccine designing and control strategies - a comprehensive review.

Nipah (Nee-pa) viral disease is a zoonotic infection caused by Nipah virus (NiV), a paramyxovirus belonging to the genus Henipavirus of the family Paramyxoviridae. It is a biosafety level-4 pathogen, which is transmitted by specific types of fruit bats, mainly Pteropus spp. which are natural reservoir host.

Caesarean sections in the in the context of the Chiranjeevi Yojana public private partnership program to promote institutional birth in Gujarat, India; does the embedded disincentive for caesarean section work?

Background: The government of Gujarat, India runs a large public private partnership program to widen access to emergency obstetric care (EmOC). The program include a disincentive for Cesareans section (CS) which are capped at seven per 100 women. In this paper, we study if the disincentive works by comparing CS rates among similar groups of women who deliver within and outside the program.

Postpartum quality of life in Indian women after vaginal birth and cesarean section: a pilot study using the EQ-5D-5L descriptive system.

Background: There has been little evaluation of the postpartum quality of life (QOL) of women in India and its association with the mode of birth. This study piloted the use of the generic EQ-5D-5L questionnaire to assess postpartum QOL experienced by rural Indian women.

Methods: A convenience sample of rural women who gave birth in a health facility in Gujarat or Madhya Pradesh was recruited into this pilot study.

Journey to Death: Are Health Systems Failing Mothers?

Background: Annually, about 44,000 maternal deaths occur in India, which is 20% of the global burden. Despite persistent efforts, India failed to meet the fifth millennium development goal by 2015. Lack of reliable data on maternal mortality demands utilization of tools for counting maternal deaths which is vital to implement preventative actions.

Quality of Free Delivery Care among Poor Mothers in Gujarat, India: A Community-Based Study.

Background: Government of Gujarat introduced a public-private partnership scheme called the Chiranjeevi Yojana (CY) in 2005, to improve access to delivery care for poor women. Till date, more than 1 million deliveries have been conducted under CY. Although CY has been evaluated, this is the only study using primary data to evaluate the quality of care.

Knowledge of hepatitis B among healthy population: A community-based survey from two districts of Gujarat, India.

Background: Hepatitis B is the world's most common blood-borne viral infection, accounting for 2 billion infections, 350 million carriers, and 6 lakh deaths annually. Country like India still harbors approximately 30-60 million hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers. A modest estimate would put the number of deaths occurring due to HBV infection per year in India to around 100,000.

Effect of previous utilization and out-of-pocket expenditure on subsequent utilization of a state led public-private partnership scheme "Chiranjeevi Yojana" to promote facility births in Gujarat, India.

Background: In Gujarat, India, a state led public private partnership scheme to promote facility birth named Chiranjeevi Yojana (CY) was implemented in 2005. Institutional birth is provided free of cost at accredited private health facilities to women from socially disadvantaged groups (eligible women). CY has contributed in increasing facility birth and providing substantially subsidized (but not totally free) birth care; however, the retention of mothers in this scheme in subsequent child birth is unknown.