Vaccine Hesitancy and Factors Related to Vaccine Hesitancy in COVID-19 Vaccination among a Tribal Community of Meghalaya: A Mixed Methods Study.

Vaccine hesitancy should be dealt as an important issue as it carries both individual- and community-level risks; however, it lacks proper assessment in particular among the indigenous tribal population. A community-based sequential explanatory mixed methods study was conducted among 238 eligible individuals in Ri-Bhoi district, Meghalaya. The quantitative part involved a cross-sectional study to determine the proportion of vaccine hesitancy and the qualitative part comprised in-depth interviews among the eligible residents and key informant interviews among the health workers providing the vaccination services, to explore the facilitators and barriers of vaccine uptake.

Unpacking the mysteries of puberty among school going adolescents in district of East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya.

Objectives: Pubertal age carries the risk of different challenges and experiences. However, lack of data on the subject made it necessary to estimate the magnitude of pubertal problems and its determinants.

Methods: A mixed methods study was conducted among the school students aged 10-17 years during May 2022 in three selected schools of Shillong.

Burden of iodine deficiency disorders and its association with various sociodemographic variables in a district of North East India.

Introduction: Iodine is one such micronutrient, the deficiency of which can impair the mental growth and development of young children and is the leading cause of preventable mental impairment. The present study has been conducted to study the prevalence of iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs) and its association with various sociodemographic variables among children (6-12 years) residing in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya.

Methods: The sample size was 2700 with a multistage 30 cluster sampling method.

Psychological impact of Covid-19 pandemic among the Healthcare workers in a North-Eastern state of India.

Background: Previous studies done during SARS 2003 outbreak and early reports related to COVID-19 show that healthcare workers experience considerable anxiety, stress and fear. Although similar studies were done in other parts of India, there is dearth of data on this topic in the Northeastern region.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the mental health status of Healthcare Workers during Covid-19 pandemic in the region.

Unruptured Intradural Posterior Circulation Dissecting/Fusiform Aneurysms Natural History and Treatment Outcome.

Background: The natural history and outcome of unruptured posterior circulation dissecting fusiform aneurysms is not fully understood. These have a high risk of morbidity and mortality, not only due to natural history but also due to the challenging and controversial treatment approaches currently available compared to other types of intracranial aneurysms.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study of a prospectively collected aneurysm database at a quaternary neurovascular hospital.

Long-term sequelae of herpes simplex virus encephalitis-related white matter injury: correlation of neuropsychological outcome and diffusion tensor imaging.

The pathophysiology of the memory impairment following Herpes Simplex virus encephalitis is not yet established and understood. This study attempts to elucidate the role of white matter injury and its impact on neuropsychological outcome in patients with history of Herpes Simplex virus encephalitis. This is a single-institution prospective study assessing 9 patients and 15 matched controls utilizing a combination of MRI with diffusion tensor imaging and neuropsychological testing.

A Community-Based Study on Functional Disability and Its Associated Factors Among Elderly Individuals in a Rural Setting in Northeastern India.

Background Functional disability in older adults is common and adversely impacts the quality of life. Given the paucity of population-based data, the present analysis attempted to determine the prevalence and factors associated with functional disability in basic activities of daily living (ADLs) among the elderly population in a rural setting of Northeastern state of India Methods A total of 430 elderly were recruited in a population-based cross-sectional study among elderly individuals (≥60 years) during the period 2013-2016 in rural areas of the Dibrugarh district of Northeastern India. The Barthel index was used to measure ADL.

Prevalence of Diabetes and Its Relationship With Body Mass Index Among Elderly People in a Rural Area of Northeastern State of India.

Background Diabetes and its complications are a major public health concern in elderly populations. However, there is little population-based data on diabetes and its risk factors among the elderly population living in rural areas of India. The objective of this population-based study was to assess the prevalence of diabetes in the elderly population and its relationship with body mass index (BMI).

Nutritional status and personal hygiene practices of primary school children: A cross-sectional study from Meghalaya, India.

Background: Poor nutritional status in primary school children can lead to several health problems such as easy susceptibility to common childhood diseases. Personal hygiene status is an important predictor of nutritional status and morbidity in children as water- and sanitation-related diseases are the leading causes of early morbidity and mortality in children. The present study was conducted to assess the nutritional status as well as personal hygiene practices of primary school going children.

Introduction of structured feedback for MBBS students: Perception of students and faculty.

Introduction: Feedback is an important part of the assessment process. However, one-to-one structured and constructive feedback to the students is not practiced mostly due to lack of practice and feasibility issues. The present study was conducted to understand the perception of students and faculty toward one-to-one structured feedback.

Pial arteriovenous fistula: A clinical and neuro-interventional experience of outcomes in a rare entity.

Purpose: Pial arteriovenous fistulae (PAVF) are rare intracranial vascular malformations, predominantly seen in children and distinct from arteriovenous malformations and dural arteriovenous fistulae. PAVF often leads to high morbidity and mortality. The aim of our study was to describe the clinical features and endovascular management of PAVF at various intracranial locations; to analyze the use of liquid embolic agents and coils alone or in combination in the treatment of PAVF and to analyze the outcome of embolization.

Iodine Deficiency Disorders in Children in East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya, India.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of iodine deficiency disorders among school-going children in Meghalaya.

Methods: Multi-stage 30 cluster sampling with probability proportionate to size (PPS) method was used. Children (age 6-12years) were examined clinically for goiter.

Mechanical Thrombectomy for Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis: A Case Series and Technical Note.

Background: Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis is a rare cause of acute stroke. It may lead to hemorrhagic venous infarctions, brain swelling, or raised intracranial pressure and can be associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Low-molecular-weight heparin is the mainstay of treatment.

Overview of endovascular thrombectomy accessibility gap for acute ischemic stroke in Asia: A multi-national survey.

Endovascular thrombectomy revolutionized the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. Nevertheless, access to endovascular thrombectomy is limited in many parts of the world. Asia holds 60% of the world's population and its countries carry some of the highest stroke disease burden.

Sociodemographic variations in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among elderly individuals in an urban locality in India.

Background: Elderly population is growing rapidly in India. To direct public health actions to improve quality of life among elderly, it is important to understand the sociodemographic factors associated with quality of life. The aim of study was to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among urban elderly in a setting of Assam, India, and to examine how HRQOL varied across different sociodemographic groups among the elderly populations.

Pattern of ocular morbidities: A cross-sectional study on school-going children in Shillong city.

Introduction: India is plagued by ocular morbidities in school-children. However, there exists paucity of studies, school health check-ups, and health education in the north-eastern region. This study aimed at estimating the prevalence and pattern of various ocular morbidities in school-going children of Shillong.

Association between health related quality of life (HRQOL) and activity of daily living (ADL) among elderly in an urban setting of Assam, India.

Background: Ensuring better quality of life to an increasing number of elderly people is emerging as a stiff public health challenge in India. There is paucity of data on impact of functional health on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in India.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to explore the functional status and its association with different dimensions of HRQOL among elderly individuals in an urban setting of Assam, India.

Early community-based teaching of medical undergraduates for achieving better working skills in the community.

Introduction: It has been perceived that there is a lack of community exposure and active learning in the community for the first-year undergraduates in Community Medicine. This study is designed to evaluate an early community exposure given to the students to help overcome these lacunae.

Methodology: In this study, the first-year students ( = 44) were provided an early community exposure and evaluated to understand their perceptions by a prevalidated, pre- and post exposure questionnaire.

Neuroimaging features of fatal high-altitude cerebral edema.

Acute high-altitude cerebral edema can occur in an unacclimatised individual on exposure to high altitudes and sometimes it can be fatal. Here we have described the neuroimaging features of a patient who suffered from fatal high altitude cerebral edema. Available literature is reviewed.

Tobacco: Consumption pattern and risk factors in selected areas of Shillong, Meghalaya.

Background: The percentage of adults above 15 years who consume tobacco in Meghalaya as per the Global Adult Tobacco survey is 55.2%.

Aim: In the context of the high burden of tobacco use in Meghalaya, this study aims to study the consumption pattern and the sociodemographic correlates of tobacco use in the urban slums of Shillong, Meghalaya.

Loss to follow up during diagnosis of presumptive pulmonary tuberculosis at a tertiary care hospital.

Background: Sputum microscopy is still used for diagnosis of drug-sensitive pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (TB programs) aims to rapidly diagnose and treat all cases of TB. The aim of this study is to find the proportion of loss to follow up during diagnosis of pulmonary TB after the patient reached hospital (was handed over sputum cups for sputum collection) from DOTS center after referral from respective outpatient department (OPD) at a tertiary care hospital.