The PROMISES study: a mixed methods approach to explore the acceptability of salivary progesterone testing for preterm birth risk among pregnant women and trained frontline healthcare workers in rural India.

Introduction: India has an overall neonatal mortality rate of 28/1000 live births, with higher rates in rural India. Approximately 3.5 million pregnancies in India are affected by preterm birth (PTB) annually and contribute to approximately a quarter of PTBs globally.

Rationale & design of the PROMISES study: a prospective assessment and validation study of salivary progesterone as a test for preterm birth in pregnant women from rural India.

Background: In India, 3.6 million pregnancies are affected by preterm birth annually, with many infants dying or surviving with disability. Currently, there is no simple test available for screening all women at risk of spontaneous PTB in low income setting, although high resource settings routinely use cervical length measurement and cervico-vaginal fluid fetal fibronectin for identification and care of women at risk due to clinical history.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism among Gaddi tribe of Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.

Background: Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism has been suggested to be positively associated with several disorders. Distribution of the mutant T-allele varies in ethnic and geographical populations of the world.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the distribution of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism in a transhumant (Gaddi) tribal population of Himachal Pradesh dwelling at high and middle altitude and exposed to strong ultraviolet radiation.