Perception of human rights in health care: A cross-sectional study among tribal young adults of Puruliya, West Bengal.

Background: Human rights provide a universal foundation for pursuing justice in public health in order to achieve the dignity of all individuals. In spite of international attempts to promote human rights in the context of health, a significant portion of India's indigenous population continues to have a limited understanding of these rights.

Objective: This study aims to analyze tribal people's attitudes towards human rights in health care.

A Scoping Review of Barriers and Facilitators for Preconception Care: Lessons for Global Health Policies and Programs.

Preconception care (PCC) encompasses a set of actions taken before pregnancy to support the health and well-being of women before conception to improve maternal and child health (MCH) outcomes. The utilization of PCC services is influenced by multifaceted factors that can either enable or impede women's capacity to access and utilize them effectively. This scoping review examined the barriers and facilitators influencing the utilization of PCC services among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) at both individual and community levels.

Integrative approach to lifestyle management: Implications for public health research & practice in the context of SDG-3.

In the last 100 years, the communicable diseases have been replaced by non-communicable diseases as the leading cause of deaths across the world. Periodically, the communicable disease outbreaks continue to pose a challenge to the public health systems. Change in human behaviors and lifestyles are recognized as risk factors for the public health challenges we face today, which significantly affect wellbeing and quality of life.

A commentary on cancer prevention and control in India: Priorities for realizing SDGs.

In India, cancers along with cardiovascular diseases contribute to significant mortality and morbidity. With less than 10 years remaining towards achieving Sustainable development Goals (SDGs), public health systems in India need to be critically assessed and strengthened, for addressing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in general and cancers in particular. Our Commentary address the public health response to cancer prevention and control, with specific pointers based on emerging evidence.

Do integrative approaches to health contribute to self-reliance in primary healthcare? reflections from a community case study in Kerala, India.

A pluralistic Health system provides options for people to choose appropriate healthcare approach. However, the ability to make informed decision is infleuenced by many factors. An informed decision is one of the attributes of self-reliance.

Socio-demographic, behavioural and clinical factors influencing control of diabetes and hypertension in urban Mysore, South India: a mixed-method study conducted in 2018.

Background: Inadequate control of diabetes and hypertension is a major concern in India because of rising mortality and morbidity. Few studies in India have explored factors that influence control of diabetes and hypertension. The current study aimed to improve the understanding of multifactorial influence on the control of diabetes and hypertension among patients in Primary Health Care Settings(PHC) of urban Karnataka.

Accelerated scale-up of Kangaroo Mother Care: Evidence and experience from an implementation-research initiative in south India.

Aim: Though Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) has demonstrated benefits for low birth weight newborns, coverage continues to be low in India. As part of a World Health Organization (WHO) multi-country study, we explored intervention models to accelerate KMC coverage in a high priority district of Karnataka, India.

Methods: We used implementation-research methods, formative assessments and quality improvement approaches to design and scale-up interventions.

Scaling up Kangaroo Mother Care in Ethiopia and India: a multi-site implementation research study.

Objectives: Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), prolonged skin-to-skin care of the low birth weight baby with the mother plus exclusive breastfeeding reduces neonatal mortality. Global KMC coverage is low. This study was conducted to develop and evaluate context-adapted implementation models to achieve improved coverage.

Meditation, well-being and cognition in heartfulness meditators - A pilot study.

Meditative practices can vary considerably in technique as well as their effects. Heartfulness is a popular meditation technique that includes in its repertoire, a unique passive form of meditation. We carried out a pilot study recruiting male heartfulness meditators (proficient n = 24, with 6-28 years of meditation experience; novice n = 24, 5 to 16 months of experience) and subsequently recruited matched controls (n = 15).

A narrative review of gaps in the provision of integrated care for noncommunicable diseases in India.

Background: Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) account for a higher burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCD) and home to a higher number of premature deaths (before age 70) from NCDs. NCDs have become an integral part of the global development agenda; hence, the scope of action on NCDs extends beyond just the health-related sustainable development goal (SDG 3). However, the organization and integration of NCD-related health services have faced several gaps in the LMIC regions such as India.

Potential contributions of an on-site nurse mentoring program on neonatal mortality reductions in rural Karnataka state, South India: evidence from repeat community cross-sectional surveys.

Background: We assessed the effects of a nurse mentoring program on neonatal mortality in eight districts in India.

Methods: From 2012 to 2015, nurse mentors supported improvements in critical MNCH-related practices among health providers at primary health centres (PHCs) in northern Karnataka, South India. Baseline (n = 5240) and endline (n = 5154) surveys of randomly selected ever-married women were conducted.

Designing a comprehensive Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) programme for hypertension and diabetes at primary health care level: evidence and experience from urban Karnataka, South India.

Background: India accounts for more than two-third of mortality due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in south-east Asia. The burden is high in Karnataka, one of the largest states in southern India. There is a need for integration of disease prevention, health promotion, treatment and care within the national program at primary level.

Design and Implementation of a Structured Programme for Validation of Birth Weights in a District of Southern India: A Case Study.

In India, though the prevalence of low birth weight (LBW) is estimated to be nearly 30%, routine reporting by the government consistently under-reports it as 12%, with resulting mismatched rectification efforts. We designed a programme comprising weight measurement standardization training, a pilot study-based sample size calculation, re-training and certification of personnel and finally a validation exercise. Paired birth weight readings of 404 newborns by a staff nurse and a research nurse were compared.

Adoption and Completeness of Documentation Using a Structured Delivery Record in Secondary Care, Subdistrict Government Hospitals of Karnataka State, India.

Objective: Poor medical record documentation remains a pervasive problem in hospital delivery rooms, hampering efforts aimed at improving the quality of maternal and neonatal care in resource-limited settings. We evaluated the feasibility and completeness of labor room documentation within a quasi-experimental study aimed at improving emergency preparedness for obstetric and neonatal emergencies in 8 nonteaching, subdistrict, secondary care hospitals of Karnataka state, India.

Methods: We redesigned the existing open-ended case sheet into a structured, delivery record cum job aide adhering to principles of local clinical relevance, parsimony, and computerizability.

Influence of integrated community- and facility-based interventions on select maternal and neonatal outcomes in Northern Karnataka, India: Lessons for implementation and measurement.

Background: Sukshema project provided technical assistance to National Health Mission of government of Karnataka to improve maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) outcomes in eight districts of Karnataka between 2009 and 2015. The project designed tools, processes and provided mentoring to frontline workers, community structures, and facilities to improve demand generation and quality of MNCH services.

Objectives: To assess over time changes in selected MNCH care indicators among women who had delivered in the past 2 months in Bagalkot and Koppal districts.

Improving the knowledge of labour and delivery nurses in India: a randomized controlled trial of mentoring and case sheets in primary care centres.

Background: Birthing in health facilities in India has increased over the last few years, yet maternal and neonatal mortality rates remain high. Clinical mentoring with case sheets or checklists for nurses is viewed as essential for on-going knowledge transfer, particularly where basic training is inadequate. This paper summarizes a study of the effect of such a programme on staff knowledge and skills in a randomized trial of 295 nurses working in 108 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in Karnataka, India.

Limited Effectiveness of a Skills and Drills Intervention to Improve Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care in Karnataka, India: A Proof-of-Concept Study.

Objective: The majority of the maternal and perinatal deaths are preventable through improved emergency obstetric and newborn care at facilities. However, the quality of such care in India has significant gaps in terms of provider skills and in their preparedness to handle emergencies. We tested the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of a "skills and drills" intervention, implemented between July 2013 and September 2014, to improve emergency obstetric and newborn care in the state of Karnataka, India.

Effectiveness of Onsite Nurse Mentoring in Improving Quality of Institutional Births in the Primary Health Centres of High Priority Districts of Karnataka, South India: A Cluster Randomized Trial.

Background: In India, although the proportion of institutional births is increasing, there are concerns regarding quality of care. We assessed the effectiveness of a nurse-led onsite mentoring program in improving quality of care of institutional births in 24/7 primary health centres (PHCs that are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) of two high priority districts in Karnataka state, South India. Primary outcomes were improved facility readiness and provider preparedness in managing institutional births and associated complications during child birth.

Availability of emergency neonatal care in eight districts of Karnataka state, southern India: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Emergency Neonatal Care (EmNC) is an important service for the health and survival of newborns. The objective of our study was to assess the availability of emergency neonatal care services in the north-eastern region of Karnataka state in India.

Methods: We undertook a cross-sectional epidemiologic study in the year 2010.

Preferences for infant delivery site among pregnant women and new mothers in Northern Karnataka, India.

Background: The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) of India aims to increase the uptake of safe and institutional delivery among rural communities to improve maternal, neonatal and child health (MNCH) outcomes. Previous studies in India have found that while there have been increasing numbers of institutional deliveries there are still considerable barriers to utilization and quality of services, particularly in rural areas, that may mitigate improvements achieved by MNCH interventions. This paper aims to explore the factors influencing preference for home, public or private hospital delivery among rural pregnant and new mothers in three northern districts of Karnataka state, South India.

An Exploration of Decision-Making Processes on Infant Delivery Site from the Perspective of Pregnant Women, New Mothers, and Their Families in Northern Karnataka, India.

This study was conducted to explore the decision-making processes regarding sites for delivery of infants among women, their husbands, and mothers-in-law in a rural area of northern Karnataka state, south India. Qualitative semi-structured, individual in-depth interviews were conducted in 2010 among 110 pregnant women, new mothers, husbands and mothers-in-law. Interviews were conducted by trained local researchers in participants' languages and then translated into English.

Assessment of facility readiness and provider preparedness for dealing with postpartum haemorrhage and pre-eclampsia/eclampsia in public and private health facilities of northern Karnataka, India: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The maternal mortality ratio in India has been declining over the past decade, but remains unacceptably high at 212 per 100,000 live births. Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) and pre- eclampsia/eclampsia contribute to 40% of all maternal deaths. We assessed facility readiness and provider preparedness to deal with these two maternal complications in public and private health facilities of northern Karnataka state, south India.

Availability and distribution of emergency obstetric care services in Karnataka State, South India: access and equity considerations.

Background: As part of efforts to reduce maternal deaths in Karnataka state, India, there has been a concerted effort to increase institutional deliveries. However, little is known about the quality of care in these healthcare facilities. We investigated the availability and distribution of emergency obstetric care (EmOC) services in eight northern districts of Karnataka state in south India.

The Female Sex Work Industry in a District of India in the Context of HIV Prevention.

HIV prevalence in India remains high among female sex workers. This paper presents the main findings of a qualitative study of the modes of operation of female sex work in Belgaum district, Karnataka, India, incorporating fifty interviews with sex workers. Thirteen sex work settings (distinguished by sex workers' main places of solicitation and sex) are identified.