Evaluation of groundwater quality by adopting a multivariate statistical approach and indexing of water quality in Sagar Island, West Bengal, India.

In the vicinity of the coast, predominantly groundwater is the sole reliable resource for potable purposes as the surface water sources are highly saline and unfit for human consumption. However, the groundwater in Sagar Island is highly vulnerable to saltwater intrusion. The majority of drinking water comes from government-owned hand pump-equipped tube wells.

Application of fuzzy C-means clustering and fuzzy EDAS to assess groundwater irrigation suitability and prioritization for agricultural development in a complex hydrogeological basin.

The current research is focused on detecting a river basin suitable for agriculture and priority for management using a new clustering tool of groundwater quality with fuzzy logic technique in R and Geographical Information System. A new fuzzy clustering-soft computing technique has been executed to determine the different hydrochemical zones considering 13 essential parameters such as electrical conductivity, hardness, chloride, sodium adsorption ratio, residual sodium carbonate, soluble sodium percent, magnesium hazard, permeability index, potential salinity, residual sodium bicarbonate, Kelly's ratio, synthetic harmful coefficient, and exchangeable sodium percentage. The derived fuzzy C-mean clustering (FCM) outperformed other available hard computing techniques like hierarchical clustering, K-means clustering, and agglomerative clustering.

Measuring potential interest in a postpartum contraceptive vaginal ring among breastfeeding women in India.

Access to safe and effective contraception for postpartum women is an important priority in India, where the unmet need for postpartum contraception is high. In this paper, we estimate the potential market size in India for the progesterone vaginal ring (PVR), a novel user-controlled contraceptive method that offers additional contraceptive choice for lactating women. We integrated results of a one-year phase-3 multicenter clinical trial for the PVR conducted in India with an analysis of the National Family Health Survey (2015-16) and 2019 United Nations Population Division data to generate three estimates of potential market size for the PVR among postpartum breastfeeding women in India.

Study of water productivity model on wetlands: a case study of Bhagirathi-Hooghly sub-catchment basin, Southern West Bengal, India.

In this article, we explored how to determine the water productivity of wetlands in a compact and evolving basis with geographic information systems and agro-climatic models. Our research aimed to use the AquaCrop model to determine the extent to which the wetlands in the Bhagirathi-Hooghly Basin in South West Bengal, India, have used their water productivity to meet human needs. The wetland capacity and productivity are declining over time due to pressure from the growing population with declining land area.

Progesterone vaginal ring as a new contraceptive option for lactating mothers: Evidence from a multicenter non-randomized comparative clinical trial in India.

Objectives: Evaluate and compare contraceptive efficacy, safety, continuation rates and duration of lactational amenorrhea (LA) in married lactating women (20-35 years) using the progesterone vaginal ring (PVR) or Copper-T380A intrauterine device (IUD) during the first postpartum year.

Study Design: We conducted a one-year multicenter, non-randomized, non-inferiority, open-label, comparative trial at 20 centers in India and compared efficacy, safety, continuation and LA plus feeding patterns and growth/well-being of participants' infants. Women used four 3-month PVRs consecutively (lost PVRs were not replaced) and were to breastfeed at least four times/day.

Setting priorities in child health research in India for 2016-2025: a CHNRI exercise undertaken by the Indian Council for Medical Research and INCLEN Trust.

Background: Millennium Development Goal 4 (MDGs) mobilised countries to reduce child mortality by two thirds the 1990 rate in 2015. While India did not reach MDG 4, it considerably reduced child mortality in the MDG-era. Efficient and targeted interventions and adequate monitoring are necessary to further progress in improvements to child health.

Research priorities in Maternal, Newborn, & Child Health & Nutrition for India: An Indian Council of Medical Research-INCLEN Initiative.

In India, research prioritization in Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health and Nutrition (MNCHN) themes has traditionally involved only a handful of experts mostly from major cities. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-INCLEN collaboration undertook a nationwide exercise engaging faculty from 256 institutions to identify top research priorities in the MNCHN themes for 2016-2025. The Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative method of priority setting was adapted.

Role of probiotics VSL#3 in prevention of suspected sepsis in low birthweight infants in India: a randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: To assess the effect of the probiotic VSL#3 in prevention of neonatal sepsis in low birthweight (LBW) infants.

Design: Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Setting: Community setting in rural India.

Moving beyond essential interventions for reduction of maternal mortality (the WHO Multicountry Survey on Maternal and Newborn Health): a cross-sectional study.

Background: We report the main findings of the WHO Multicountry Survey on Maternal and Newborn Health (WHOMCS), which aimed to assess the burden of complications related to pregnancy, the coverage of key maternal health interventions, and use of the maternal severity index (MSI) in a global network of health facilities.

Methods: In our cross-sectional study, we included women attending health facilities in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East that dealt with at least 1000 childbirths per year and had the capacity to provide caesarean section. We obtained data from analysis of hospital records for all women giving birth and all women who had a severe maternal outcome (SMO; ie, maternal death or maternal near miss).

Method of delivery and pregnancy outcomes in Asia: the WHO global survey on maternal and perinatal health 2007-08.

Background: There has been concern about rising rates of caesarean section worldwide. This Article reports the third phase of the WHO global survey, which aimed to estimate the rate of different methods of delivery and to examine the relation between method of delivery and maternal and perinatal outcomes in selected facilities in Africa and Latin America in 2004-05, and in Asia in 2007-08.

Methods: Nine countries participated in the Asia global survey: Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Nonoxynol-9 vaginal pessary: a preliminary Indian experience.

Background: Barrier methods of contraception do not have systemic effects and allow the user complete control over their use. For women, the ease of use of a contraceptive is often more important than its efficacy. Hence, barrier methods could be offered as a useful alternative method of contraception.