Characterisation of the Novel HLA-G*01:06:01:02 Allele in a Tribal Individual From Western Maharashtra, India.

HLA-G*01:06:02:01 differs from HLA-G*01:06:01:01 by one nucleotide substitution in intron 4 at position 1921 (C to T).

Measles and rubella seroprevalence in adults using residual blood samples from health facilities and household serosurveys in Palghar District, Maharashtra, India, 2018 - 2019.

Residual blood specimens collected at health facilities may be a source of samples for serosurveys of adults, a population often neglected in community-based serosurveys. Anonymized residual blood specimens were collected from individuals 15 - 49 years of age attending two sub-district hospitals in Palghar District, Maharashtra, from November 2018 to March 2019. Specimens also were collected from women 15 - 49 years of age enrolled in a cross-sectional, community-based serosurvey representative at the district level that was conducted 2 - 7 months after the residual specimen collection.

Challenges and Insights Gained During the Implementation of Population-Based Birth Defect (BD) Surveillance in a Tribal District of Maharashtra, India.

Birth Defects (BDs) are a significant contributor to childhood mortality worldwide, yet BD surveillance and management in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) like India remain under-prioritised. This article presents findings from a population-based BD surveillance conducted in the Palghar district, Maharashtra, India, aimed at identifying challenges and solutions in the implementation of BD surveillance. The data on BDs was collected between April 2021 and March 2023 from 38 Primary Health Centres (PHCs), nine Rural Hospitals (RH) and three Sub-district Hospitals (SDH) from seven tribal blocks of Palghar district.

Correction: Psychological distress and burnout among healthcare worker during COVID-19 pandemic in India-A cross-sectional study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Laboratory diagnosis and epidemiological features of leptospirosis cases in a tribal region of Western Maharashtra, India: A retrospective study.

Purpose: Palghar district, located in the coastal region of the Konkan division of Maharashtra, has a predominantly tribal population. Leptospirosis is a major neglected public health problem and is highly underreported in Palghar district. The study aimed to evaluate the seropositivity of Leptospira infection and its associated epidemiological factors in tribal areas of the Palghar district of Maharashtra.

Post-campaign coverage evaluation of a measles and rubella supplementary immunization activity in five districts in India, 2019-2020.

Background: In alignment with the Measles and Rubella (MR) Strategic Elimination plan, India conducted a mass measles and rubella vaccination campaign across the country between 2017 and 2020 to provide a dose of MR containing vaccine to all children aged 9 months to 15 years. We estimated campaign vaccination coverage in five districts in India and assessed campaign awareness and factors associated with vaccination during the campaign to better understand reasons for not receiving the dose.

Methods And Findings: Community-based cross-sectional serosurveys were conducted in five districts of India among children aged 9 months to 15 years after the vaccination campaign.

Challenges in screening for sickle cell disease among newborns from the tribal region of Palghar, Maharashtra during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background Objectives: Despite several adversities imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, it was crucial to sustain research having public health relevance such as investigations around sickle cell disease (SCD). Against this background, an ongoing ICMR-multicentric study for newborn screening of SCD in the tribal population at Model Rural Health Research Unit (MRHRU-Dahanu) in Palghar District, Maharashtra constituted the current study setting. This was a descriptive study wherein, certain measures were undertaken and strategies were developed in view of the challenges in newborn screening for SCD due to the COVID-19 pandemic during December 2019-September 2021 at Sub District Hospital, MRHRU-Dahanu.

Impact of training on awareness and Knowledge of Birth Defects among Community Health Workers in tribal district of Maharashtra, India.

Objective: Early identification, referrals and timely treatment is crucial to improve the outcome of Birth Defects (BDs). The role of Community Health Workers (CHWs) in India is largely fulfilled by Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) who can play an important role in community-based reporting and referrals of BDs in newborn. In the study area, ASHAs have been previously trained for identification of BDs under Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK); however, reporting through them was found to be sub-optimal.

Factors associated with stigma and manifestations experienced by Indian health care workers involved in COVID-19 management in India: A qualitative study.

Healthcare personnel who deal with COVID-19 experience stigma. There is a lack of national-level representative qualitative data to study COVID-19-related stigma among healthcare workers in India. The present study explores factors associated with stigma and manifestations experienced by Indian healthcare workers involved in COVID-19 management.

Incidence & factors influencing maternal near miss events in tertiary hospitals of Maharashtra, India.

Background & Objectives: Government of India (GoI) released operational guidelines for maternal near miss-review (MNM-R) in 2014 for use by programme managers of public health system to assist them for conducting MNM-R. The objective of the present study was to review the incidence and factors influencing MNM events in two tertiary hospitals of Maharashtra, India, as per the operational guidelines of the GoI released in 2014 and identify delays based on three-delay model to prevent such events in future.

Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in two tertiary hospitals of Maharashtra, from July 2018 to November 2020.

Challenges in Accessing and Delivering Maternal and Child Health Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Rapid Survey from Six States of India.

Background/objectives: Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic and its prevention and control policies have impacted maternal and child health (MCH) services. This study documents the challenges faced by patients in accessing MCH services, and the experiences of health care providers in delivering those services during the COVID-19 outbreak, explicitly focusing on the lockdown period in India.

Methods: A cross-sectional study (rapid survey) was conducted in 18 districts from 6 states of India during March to June, 2020.

Assessing the potential of self-help group women for improving reproductive health of women in a tribal block of Maharashtra, India.

Background & Objectives: In the current health system, cash incentives are given to accredited social health activists for referring women to public health facilities for specific maternal and child health services, however many reproductive health problems are not included in these services. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of involvement of self-help groups (SHGs) in improving reproductive health seeking behaviour and service utilization by tribal women.

Methods: An experimental study was conducted in two tribal blocks of Nasik district (Kalvan and Surgana) in Maharashtra, India, over a period of 18 months.

Evaluating the effect of measles and rubella mass vaccination campaigns on seroprevalence in India: a before-and-after cross-sectional household serosurvey in four districts, 2018-2020.

Background: India did phased measles-rubella supplementary immunisation activities (MR-SIAs; ie, mass-immunisation campaigns) targeting children aged 9 months to less than 15 years. We estimated measles-rubella seroprevalence before and after the MR-SIAs to quantify the effect on population immunity and identify remaining immunity gaps.

Methods: Between March 9, 2018 and March 19, 2020 we did community-based, cross-sectional serosurveys in four districts in India before and after MR-SIAs.

Experiences of sharing results of community based serosurvey with participants in a district of Maharashtra, India.

A growing number of organisations, including medical associations, recommend that research subjects should be given the option of being informed about the general outcome and results of the study. We recently completed a study involving nine serosurveys from 2018 to 2020 in five districts of India among three age groups (children 9 months to < 5 years; 5 to < 15 years of age, and women 15 to < 50 years of age before and after the measles and rubella (MR) vaccination campaigns). In Palghar district of Maharashtra all individuals in 30 selected clusters were enumerated, and 13 individuals per age group were randomly sampled.

Impact of intervention on nutritional status of under-fives in tribal blocks of Palghar District in Maharashtra, India.

Background: There is a need to improve their nutritional status of under-five children through specific targeted interventions. The present study discusses the impact of intervention on nutritional status among under-five children in Palghar district from Maharashtra.

Objective: The objective is to improve the nutritional status of under-five children by implementing multi-component health and nutrition education intervention, focusing on dietary counseling and modification keeping in view the cultural and socio-economic status of population.

Maternal near miss events in India.

Background & Objectives: Maternal morbidity is an indicator of the quality of a country's maternal health services. Maternal near miss (MNM) can provide valuable information in this context and hence these cases need to be reviewed which can indirectly play a major role in reducing maternal mortality ratio in India. The objectives of the present review were to find the prevalence/incidence, criteria used for identification, review the causes of MNM cases and identify the contributory factors responsible for the occurrence of these cases based on three-delay model.

Experiences and challenges during implementation of operational guidelines of Maternal Near Miss Review of the Government of India at tertiary hospitals in Maharashtra.

The Government of India released operational guidelines for Maternal Near Miss-Review (MNM-R) in December 2014 for implementation at all the tertiary hospitals in India. An implementation research study was conducted at two selected tertiary hospitals in Maharashtra to assess the feasibility of implementation of the MNM-R guidelines at these hospitals and document the experiences and challenges during this process. The study findings suggest that for implementation of MNMR guidelines at these tertiary hospitals, there is need of dedicated staff; revision of MNM facility based form and critical review of the criteria for identification of MNM cases.

Psychological distress and burnout among healthcare worker during COVID-19 pandemic in India-A cross-sectional study.

Background: COVID-19 has inundated the entire world disrupting the lives of millions of people. The pandemic has stressed the healthcare system of India impacting the psychological status and functioning of health care workers. The aim of this study is to determine the burnout levels and factors associated with the risk of psychological distress among healthcare workers (HCW) engaged in the management of COVID 19 in India.

Psychosocial impact of COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers in India & their perceptions on the way forward - A qualitative study.

Background & Objectives: The healthcare system across the world has been overburdened due to the COVID-19 pandemic impacting healthcare workers (HCWs) in different ways. The present study provides an insight into the psychosocial challenges faced by the HCWs related to their work, family and personal well-being and the associated stigmas. Additionally, the coping mechanisms adopted by them and their perceptions on the interventions to address these challenges were also explored.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Dried Blood Spots Collected on HemaSpot HF Devices Compared to Venous Blood Specimens To Estimate Measles and Rubella Seroprevalence.

Fingerprick blood spotted onto filter paper offers an alternative to venous blood for use in population-based surveillance because it is comparatively inexpensive, acceptable, and easy to manage in the field. Prior studies have shown excellent agreement for immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody detection from dried blood spots (DBS) and venous blood samples. However, much of this evidence is from high-income settings or laboratories where the samples were unlikely to be exposed to extreme temperatures and humidity, factors known to degrade DBS.

Improving public health service delivery response to address contraceptive needs of socio-economically disadvantaged HIV positive people in Maharashtra, India.

Background: People living with HIV (PLHIV) receive free antiretroviral treatment (ART) in public health facilities of India. With improved life expectancy, unmet sexual and reproductive health needs of PLHIV have to be addressed through a converged programmatic response strategy. Evidence shows that socioeconomically disadvantaged women are most vulnerable to high reproductive morbidities, especially HIV positive women with an unmet need of contraception.