Early and extended erythropoietin monotherapy after hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy: a multicentre double-blind pilot randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To examine the feasibility of early and extended erythropoietin monotherapy after hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE).

Design: Double-blind pilot randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Eight neonatal units in South Asia.

Clinical outcome post treatment of anemia in pregnancy with intravenous versus oral iron therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Oral iron therapy is often the most common way of treating anaemia; however intravenous iron is considered effective due to rapid iron replenishment. We have dearth of evidence on clinical outcomes post treatment of anaemia. We have searched studies published in English in PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, ProQuest, and Google Scholar.

Assessment of needs and gaps in public health cadre in India - a situational analysis.

Background: A structured and organized public health set up with systematically trained personnel to manage and deliver public health services from grassroot levels to higher administrative levels with separate public health directorate is the need of the hour. The objective of this study was to conduct a situational analysis of public health cadre in select states in India to gain an in-depth understanding of the progress and explore the gaps and challenges in its implementation.

Methods: Four states from the country were selected based on stages of implementation of the cadre.

Alarming Trends of Cesarean Section-Time to Rethink: Evidence From a Large-Scale Cross-sectional Sample Survey in India.

Background: Cesarean section (CS) delivery rate has increased significantly both globally and in India, thereby posing a burden on overstretched health systems.

Objective: This study plans to understand the factors associated with CS rate with an objective to (1) analyze the trends of CS delivery from 1998-99 to 2019-21 and (2) understand the proximate determinants of CS deliveries in India.

Methods: Analysis of secondary data (National Family Health Survey) of a nationally representative sample of 230,870 women (year 2019-21) was undertaken to explore the trends, distribution, and determinants of CS deliveries in India and within states.

Improving the approach to assess impact of anaemia control programs during pregnancy in India: a critical analysis.

Around 42.7% of women experience anaemia during pregnancy in low- and middle-income countries. Countries in southeast Asia (with prevalence ranging between 40 and 60%) have reported a modest decline over the past 25 years.

The predictors of COVID-19 mortality among health systems parameters: an ecological study across 203 countries.

Background: Health systems responsiveness is the key to addressing infectious disease threats such as pandemics. The paper outlines an assessment of health systems resilience by exploring the association of health systems and Global Health Security (GHS) parameters with case load and mortality resulting from COVID-19 across 203 countries using an ecological design.

Methodology: Correlation analysis was performed to assess the relationship of each of the indicators with COVID 19 cases and deaths per million population.

Effect of in utero exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infection on pregnancy outcomes and growth and development of infants: protocol for a multicentre ambispective cohort study in India.

Introduction: Poor pregnancy and neonatal outcomes in infants born to COVID-19 positive mothers have been reported, but there is insufficient evidence regarding subsequent growth and development of these children. Our study aims to explore the effect of in-utero exposure to SARS-CoV-2 on pregnancy outcomes and growth and development of infants.

Methods And Analysis: A multicentric ambispective cohort study with comparison group (1:1) will be conducted at six sites.

Need for Gender Focused Policies Addressing Smokeless Tobacco Use among Women in India: A Review.

Background: Nearly 8 million annual deaths occurring globally are attributable to tobacco use. Among more than 356 million smokeless tobacco (SLT) users in 140 countries, 82% reside in Southeast Asia with the vast majority being in India and Bangladesh. According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey -2 data, 21.

Catalytic Support for Improving Clinical Care in Special Newborn Care Units (SNCU) Through Composite SNCU Quality of Care Index (SQCI).

Objective: To develop a composite index that serves as a proxy marker of quality of clinical service and pilot test its use in 11 special neonatal care units (SNCUs) across two states in India.

Design: Secondary data from SNCU webportal.

Setting: Special new-born care units in Rajasthan and Orissa.

Tracking Weight-for-Age of Infants Using Home Based Newborn Care Plus by ASHA Workers.

Background: Malnutrition in all its forms remains a serious global concern, particularly affecting children, a highly vulnerable population group. Home visits during the first year of life using the community worker platform is an unexplored opportunity for making improvements in nutritional status.

Objective: To analyze the nutritional status (weight for age) of a cohort of infants between 3 and 12 months of age.

Situational Analysis of Management of Childhood Diarrhea and Pneumonia in 13 District Hospitals in India.

Objective: To generate evidence on the current situation of hospital care (emergency, inpatient and outpatient), for managing children presenting with diarrhea and pneumonia at 13 district hospitals in India.

Design: Facility-based assessment of district hospitals.

Settings: 13 district hospitals in four states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan.

Special Newborn Care Plus Project in India: Preliminary Findings from Community-Based Follow-up of Newborns Discharged from Facilities.

Objective: An innovation of structured community based followup of SNCU discharged babies by ANM and ASHA was piloted under Norway India Partnership initiative. The current study describes the survival status and other outcomes among newborns discharged from SNCUs and followed at community level in first 42 days of life.

Methods: It is a retrospective cohort study on newborns discharged from SNCUs from 13 districts across four states of India.

An Assessment of Implementation of Family Participatory Care in Special Newborn Care Units in Three States of India.

Objective: To study special newborn care units (SNCUs) in terms of family participatory care (FPC) quality initiative as per Government of India guidelines in select public health facilities, and to document the perspectives of the doctors and mothers.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Settings: SNCUs with functional FPC units in the states of Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Burden and management of obstetric fistula in South-East Asian region countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Each year, between 50,000 and 100,000 women worldwide develop obstetric fistulae. Approximately 2 million girls across Asia and Africa are estimated to be affected by this condition. However, there is no reliable data on its prevalence in South-East Asia region (SEAR).

Is IV iron sucrose a cost-effective option for treatment of severe anaemia in pregnancy as compared with oral iron?

Anaemia in pregnancy is a public health concern because it is strongly associated with maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. An open label randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted in India across four government medical colleges, comparing intravenous (IV) iron sucrose and oral iron for the treatment of anaemia in pregnancy. This RCT failed to demonstrate superiority of IV iron sucrose compared with oral iron therapy in reducing adverse clinical (maternal and foetal/neonatal) outcomes in moderate-to-severe anaemia in pregnancy.

Assessing health systems' responsiveness in tackling COVID-19 pandemic.

Health systems' responsiveness is the key to addressing infectious disease threats such as pandemics. The article outlines an assessment of health systems based on World Health Organization's building blocks for select countries. It also compares these with the findings from a more comprehensive analysis of Global Health Security (GHS) Index, which assesses the preparedness of the health system for such pandemics.

Diagnostic accuracy of point-of-care devices for detection of anemia in community settings in India.

Background: Accurate diagnosis of anemia by community workers using a point-of-care device is a challenge. The objective of the study was to establish the diagnostic accuracy of point-of-care devices for detecting anemia in community settings.

Methods: It was diagnostic accuracy study with cross-sectional design on adult patients attending the outpatient department of rural/ urban health centres of Medical colleges from India.

Safety and effectiveness of intravenous iron sucrose versus standard oral iron therapy in pregnant women with moderate-to-severe anaemia in India: a multicentre, open-label, phase 3, randomised, controlled trial.

Background: Intravenous iron sucrose is a promising therapy for increasing haemoglobin concentration; however, its effect on clinical outcomes in pregnancy is not yet established. We aimed to assess the safety and clinical effectiveness of intravenous iron sucrose (intervention) versus standard oral iron (control) therapy in the treatment of women with moderate-to-severe iron deficiency anaemia in pregnancy.

Methods: We did a multicentre, open-label, phase 3, randomised, controlled trial at four government medical colleges in India.

Utilization of maternal health services and its determinants: a cross-sectional study among women in rural Uttar Pradesh, India.

Background: Proper utilization of antenatal and postnatal care services plays an important role in reducing the maternal mortality ratio and infant mortality rate. This paper assesses the utilization of health care services during pregnancy, delivery and post-delivery among rural women in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and examines its determinants.

Methods: Data from a baseline survey of UP Community Mobilization (UPCM) project (2013) was utilized.

Global sex selection techniques for family planning: a narrative review.

Objective: To document the varying methods of sex selection, both primitive (traditional) as well as advanced forms available around the world.

Context: With the increasing desire of couples to choose the gender of their offspring, scientific sex-selection methods and techniques have evolved over time; unfortunately, the medical and social consequences have remained poorly emphasised.

Methods: We searched electronic search engines and grey literature that included research articles from journals, books, websites and news articles in English until August 2016.

Factors associated with stillbirths in Haryana, India: a qualitative study.

Background: Each year, 2.6 million babies are stillborn worldwide, almost all in low- and middle-income countries. Several global initiatives, including the Sustainable Development Goals and the Every Newborn Action Plan, have contributed to a renewed focus on prevention of stillbirths.

Heavy Metals in Indigenous Preparations Used for Sex Selection During Pregnancy in India.

Indigenous preparations (IPs) have evoked a considerable interest in alleviating infections and chronic diseases and improving wellbeing. While such formulations have been a part of traditional practice in several countries and many have been reviewed scientifically for their claims, several of them until date remain to be investigated. A class of IPs for sex selection by Indian pregnant women exists with an aim of begetting a male offspring.

Risk factors for stillbirths: how much can a responsive health system prevent?

Background: The stillbirth rate is an indicator of quality of care during pregnancy and delivery. Good quality care is supported by a functional heath system. The objective of this study was to explore the risk factors for stillbirths, particularly those related to a health system.