Community-based approaches to improve tuberculosis services: observations from preintervention and postintervention surveys in a high TB burden disadvantaged community in India.

An alarmingly high prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) was reported among the Saharia tribe in Madhya Pradesh, India. A community-based intervention study was undertaken to improve TB case finding during 2018-2021. The interventions mainly comprised active case detection through village TB volunteers using advocacy, communication and social mobilisation activities.

Adverse Drug Reaction Patterns of First-line Anti-tubercular Drugs among Saharia Tuberculosis Patients: An Observational Study in Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group of Madhya Pradesh, India.

The Saharia tribe of Madhya Pradesh has a very high tuberculosis (TB) burden. However, there is no report of adverse drug reaction (ADR) available in patients receiving anti-TB chemotherapy in the community. Reporting and monitoring of ADRs among TB patients is still rare in marginalized communities.

Burden of malaria during pregnancy in perennial transmission settings of two densely forested and remote blocks (Baihar and Birsa) of district Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh, central India.

Background Malaria in pregnancy (MIP) is a major public health problem due to the vulnerability of pregnant women to infections, resulting in adverse maternal/foetal outcomes in endemic areas. Methods We did a field-based study to assess the burden of MIP (prevalence at the time of enrolment and follow-up) and to identify risk factors for MIP in the Birsa and Baihar blocks of district Balaghat in Madhya Pradesh, which have perennial malaria transmission. Malaria screening (during 2015-2017) was done by microscopy and bivalent rapid diagnostic test (SD Bioline RDT, malaria antigen Plasmodium falciparum/Plasmodium vivax Pf/Pv).

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus prevalence in livestock of Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, Central India and its implications for public health.

The rise of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), poses a significant global health challenge, urging immediate action and continuous surveillance. With no available vaccines, monitoring pathogen presence is critical to identify at-risk areas promptly. A study was designed to assess the incidence of CCHF virus in goats and cattle using commercial ELISA IgG kits in tribal-dominated regions.

Determinants of depression in Indian tribal adults: Evidence from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India Wave-I survey.

Background Objectives: The tribal populations are vulnerable to mental health issues owing to various reasons. However, limited research has been conducted to assess depression and related determinants among tribal adults aged ≥45 yr (45 years and older). The present study aimed to assess the prevalence and sociodemographic and health determinants of depressive symptoms among the scheduled tribe (ST) population aged ≥45 yr in India.

National guidelines for data quality in surveys: An overview.

Good quality health, nutrition and demographic survey data are vital for evidence-based decision-making. Existing literature indicates system specific, data collection and reporting gaps that affect quality of health, nutrition and demographic survey data, thereby affecting its usability and relevance. To mitigate these, the National Data Quality Forum (NDQF), under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) - National Institute of Medical Statistics (NIMS) developed the National Guidelines for Data Quality in Surveys delineating assurance mechanisms to generate standard quality data in surveys.

High incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis in an indigenous Saharia tribe in Madhya Pradesh, central India-A prospective cohort study.

Background: Lack of TB incidence data is an important evidence gap among Saharia-a high TB burden indigenous community in Madhya Pradesh, central India. The present study was undertaken to calculate the incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis in this tribe.

Objective: To calculate the incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) among the Saharia tribal population in Madhya Pradesh, central India.

A comparative assessment of the community frontline health workers for their knowledge and practices of malaria diagnosis and treatment in three contiguous districts Mandla, Balaghat, and Dindori of Madhya Pradesh, India.

Background: Global malaria cases rose by 14 million, and deaths by 69,000, in 2020. In India, a 46% decline has been reported between 2020 and 2019. In 2017, the Malaria Elimination Demonstration Project conducted a needs-assessment of the Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) of Mandla district.

Sociodemographic determinants of high tobacco use in Gond tribe of central India.

Background The prevalence of tobacco use is high in rural India, but limited information on tobacco use among the tribal population is available. We assessed the prevalence of tobacco use and type of tobacco use in the Gond tribal population. Methods We did a cross-sectional survey among the Gond tribal population residing in the Kundam block of Jabalpur district in Madhya Pradesh state in India.

Monitoring of the Village Malaria Workers to conduct activities of Malaria Elimination Demonstration Project in Mandla, Madhya Pradesh.

Background: The capacity of the field staff to conduct activities related to disease surveillance, case management, and vector control has been one of the key components for successfully achieving malaria elimination. India has committed to eliminate malaria by 2030, and it has placed significance on monitoring and evaluation at the district level as one of the key strategies in its national framework. To support and guide the country's malaria elimination objectives, the Malaria Elimination Demonstration Project was conducted in the tribal district of Mandla, Madhya Pradesh.

Reasons for loss to follow-up (LTFU) of pulmonary TB (PTB) patients: A qualitative study among Saharia, a particularly vulnerable tribal group of Madhya Pradesh, India.

Background: Loss to follow-up (LTFU) among pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients is a significant challenge for TB control. However, there is a dearth of information about the factors leading to LTFU among marginalized communities. This study highlights the factors associated with LTFU in Saharia, a tribe of Madhya Pradesh having high tuberculosis (TB) prevalence.

Persistent high prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis in a resource-limited setting: threat to India's TB Free campaign.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem among Saharia, a particularly vulnerable tribal group residing in remote rural areas in central India. This article presents the findings from the baseline survey among Saharias and provides comprehensive prevalence data of pulmonary TB (PTB) in this marginalised community.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional PTB prevalence survey was carried out during January-May 2019 in selected villages using multistage stratified cluster sampling.

Assessing community knowledge, attitude and practices to strengthen communication strategy for Malaria Elimination Demonstration Project in Mandla.

Background: Changes in social, belief, and behavioural practices are essential for the success of any public health delivery programme. In the planning stages of the Malaria Elimination Demonstration Project (MEDP), priority was given to communication with a goal to develop capacity of health workers and to improve the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of the people of Mandla. This paper describes the level of community knowledge on malaria, including its prevention, diagnosis, treatment-seeking behaviour, and the level of satisfaction with the services provided by the project.

Experiences and needs of patients with MDR/XDR-TB: a qualitative study among Saharia tribe in Madhya Pradesh, Central India.

Background: Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) continues to be a major public health threat posing a critical challenge to TB treatment and control worldwide. The present study was conducted among patients with DR-TB of the Saharia tribe residing in Madhya Pradesh state of Central India to document their experiences and needs, and to identify gaps for treatment adherence as this population is known to be poor because of migration and other factors.

Methods: We conducted 16 in-depth interviews on purposively selected patients with DR-TB among the Saharia tribe using a predesigned open-ended in-depth interview guide, which included questions on domains like general physical health, diagnosis, treatment adherence, side-effects of drugs and experience related to the health facility.

Sequential dysregulated plasma levels of angiopoietins (ANG-2 and ratios of ANG-2/ANG-1) are associated with malaria severity and mortality among hospital admitted cases in South Bastar Region of Chhattisgarh, Central India.

Cerebral malaria (CM) is one of the most severe forms of P. falciparum infection, with an associated high case-fatality rate. Angiopoietins (ANG-1 and ANG-2) are important biomarkers of endothelial activation and dysfunction.

Clinical profile of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in first & second wave of the pandemic: Insights from an Indian registry based observational study.

Background & Objectives: India witnessed a massive second surge of COVID-19 cases since March 2021 after a period of decline from September 2020. Data collected under the National Clinical Registry for COVID-19 (NCRC) were analysed to describe the differences in demographic and clinical features of COVID-19 patients recruited during these two successive waves.

Methods: The NCRC, launched in September 2020, is an ongoing multicentre observational initiative, which provided the platform for the current investigation.

Improvement of Indoor Residual Spraying and Long-Lasting Insecticidal Net services through structured monitoring and supervision as part of the Malaria Elimination Demonstration Project in Mandla, Madhya Pradesh.

Background: The Government of Madhya Pradesh employed Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) with alpha-cypermethrin synthetic pyrethroids in sub-centres with Annual Parasite Incidence (API) from 2 to 4.99. In sub-centres with API more than 5, Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) were distributed.

A model for malaria elimination based on learnings from the Malaria Elimination Demonstration Project, Mandla district, Madhya Pradesh.

Background: Malaria Elimination Demonstration Project (MEDP) was started as a Public-Private-Partnership between the Indian Council of Medical Research through National Institute of Research in Tribal Health, Govt. of Madhya Pradesh and Foundation of Disease Elimination and Control of India, which is a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of the Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited. The project's goal was to demonstrate that malaria can be eliminated from a high malaria endemic district along with prevention of re-establishment of malaria and to develop a model for malaria elimination using the lessons learned and knowledge acquired from the demonstration project.

Assessment of ASHA for knowledge, diagnosis and treatment on malaria in Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh as part of the malaria elimination demonstration project.

Background: The role of Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) in the health care delivery services at the periphery level is crucial for achieving disease prevention, control and elimination goals. The objective of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, practices, priorities and capability of ASHA related to malaria diagnosis and treatment as part of the Malaria Elimination Demonstration Project in 1233 villages of district Mandla, Madhya Pradesh.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted using a fully structured, pre-tested interview schedule during June and July 2017 (before the field operations of MEDP were started).

Significance of training, monitoring and assessment of malaria workers in achieving malaria elimination goal of Malaria Elimination Demonstration Project.

Background: The Malaria Elimination Demonstration Project (MEDP) maintained a workforce of 235 Village Malaria Workers (VMWs) and 25 Malaria Field Coordinators (MFCs) to conduct disease surveillance, case management, IEC/BCC activities, capacity building, and monitoring of vector control activities in 1233 villages of Mandla, a high malaria endemic district of Madhya Pradesh in central India.

Methods: The induction training was conducted for 3 days on malaria diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and ethics. All trainings were assessed using a pre and post-training assessment questionnaire, with 70% marks as qualifying threshold.

Socio-economic determinants of malaria in tribal dominated Mandla district enrolled in Malaria Elimination Demonstration Project in Madhya Pradesh.

Background: Malaria is known as a disease of poverty because of its dominance in poverty-stricken areas. Madhya Pradesh state in central India is one of the most vulnerable states for malaria morbidity and mortality. Socio-economic, environmental and demographic factors present challenges in malaria control and elimination.

A study of malaria vector surveillance as part of the Malaria Elimination Demonstration Project in Mandla, Madhya Pradesh.

Background: Understanding of malaria vector density, distribution, insecticide resistance, vector incrimination, infection status, and identification of sibling species are some of the essential components of vector control measures for achieving malaria elimination goals.

Methods: As part of the malaria elimination demonstration project, entomological surveillance was carried out from October 2017 to October 2019 by collecting indoor resting mosquitoes using hand catch method. Susceptibility test was done for determining the insecticide resistance status of vector mosquito Anopheles culicifacies using standard protocols by the World Health Organization.

Study design and operational framework for a community-based Malaria Elimination Demonstration Project (MEDP) in 1233 villages of district Mandla, Madhya Pradesh.

Background: In the past decade substantial reduction in malaria morbidity and mortality has been observed through well-implemented case management and vector control strategies. India has also achieved a significant reduction in malaria burden in 2018 and has committed to eliminate malaria by 2030. The Mandla Malaria Elimination Demonstration Project (MEDP) was started in 2017 in 1233 villages of District Mandla to demonstrate malaria elimination in a tribal district with hard-to-reach areas was possible using active and passive surveillance, case management, vector control, and targeted information, education and communication campaigns.

Prevalence of torch infections and its associated poor outcome in high-risk pregnant women of Central India: Time to think for prevention strategies.

Introduction: The TORCH infections during pregnancy are associated with adverse congenital abnormalities, poor foetal outcome and subsequent reproductive failures. The absence of baseline data on status of TORCH infections and associated foetal outcomes prompted us to conduct the current study in Central India.

Materials And Methods: : A total of 144 high-risk pregnant women attending tertiary care unit, suspected for TORCH infections were enrolled from August 2017 to December 2018.