Rabies death in an adolescent tribal girl diagnosed postmortem, in Kerala - the precious life, preventable loss and equity concerns.

Background: Rabies is a neglected tropical disease endemic in 150 countries, including India where it is present in all states and union territories except Andaman and Nicobar Islands Lakshadweep. Kerala reports high incidence of animal bites. This article discusses the preventable death of a 17-year-old tribal girl due to rabies in Kerala and the equity concerns it raises.

The burden of dengue and force of infection among children in Kerala, India; seroprevalence estimates from Government of Kerala-WHO Dengue study.

Background: Dengue shows high geographic heterogeneity within and across endemic countries. In the context of increasing burden and predicted outbreaks due to climate change, understanding the heterogeneity will enable us to develop region specific targeted interventions, including vaccination. World Health Organisation (WHO) suggests standard methodologies to study the burden and heterogeneity at national and subnational levels.

Obesity Burden and Physical Activity Pattern Among Doctors in South India.

Context: A career as a doctor makes him prone to develop health issues like obesity and obesity-related noncommunicable diseases.

Aims: This study aims to find the burden and determinants of obesity among Modern Medicine doctors in Kerala.

Settings And Design: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 240 doctors working in South Kerala from 2018 to 2019.

Effectiveness of a Non-pharmacological Intervention to Control Diabetes Mellitus in a Primary Care Setting in Kerala: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial.

Despite being the first Indian state with a dedicated Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) program, glycemic control among a large proportion of patients is low in Kerala. This study tries to find evidence for a standardized non-pharmacological strategy delivered through Junior Public Health Nurses (JPHNs) in achieving and maintaining glycemic control among diabetic patients registered with NCD clinics of primary health care settings. A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted among adult patients with Diabetes Mellitus attending NCD clinics of primary care settings of South Kerala, India.

Institutional quarantine centres as a strategy in control of COVID-19 outbreak: An evolving model from Kerala, India.

Background: Institutional quarantine centres were set up in all districts in Kerala as a novel strategy in the fight against novel COVID-19 virus. These were meant for returnees from affected areas, for whom home quarantine was not possible due to lack of facilities. This research aims to evaluate facilities and services of Institutional quarantine centres in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala state and to study profile of persons under quarantine in these centres.

Reliability and validity of PHQ-9 when administered by health workers for depression screening among women in primary care.

Background: Depression is twice more prevalent among women but remains unidentified in primary care.

Objective: We aimed to estimate the reliability and validity of PHQ-9, when administered by health workers, a cadre of public health staff, posted in primary health centres. We translated PHQ-9 to Malayalam, a language spoken by 30 million people in Kerala, India.

Effectiveness of community-based depression intervention programme (ComDIP) to manage women with depression in primary care- randomised control trial.

Background: In low and middle income countries where mental health resources are limited, community based depression intervention models, which can be implemented through the existing health system, are extremely relevant.

Objective: To test the effectiveness of Community based Depression Intervention Programme (ComDIP), newly developed by us, to reduce severity of depression in women, compared to the treatment as usual (TAU).

Methods: An RCT (Trial registration Number: CTRI/2011/08/001978, Clinical Trials Registry -India) was conducted in a primary care setting in Trivandrum, Kerala, South India.

Attitudes towards mental health, mental health research and digital interventions by young adults with type 1 diabetes: A qualitative analysis.

Background: Young people with type 1 diabetes are at increased risk of mental disorders. Whereas treatment need is high, difficulty recruiting young people with type 1 diabetes into psychosocial studies complicates development, testing and dissemination of these interventions.

Objective: Interviews with young adults with type 1 diabetes were conducted to examine attitudes towards mental health and mental health research, including barriers and motivators to participation in mental health studies and preferred sources of mental health support.

Primary care Screening Questionnaire for Depression: reliability and validity of a new four-item tool.

Background: Unidentified depression in primary care is a public health concern, globally. There is a need for brief, valid and easily administered tools in primary care.

Aims: To estimate reliability and validity of the newly developed Primary care Screening Questionnaire for Depression (PSQ4D), a four-item tool, with 'yes' or 'no' options.