Community Dynamics and Engagement Strategies in Establishing Demographic Development and Environmental Surveillance Systems: A Multi-Site Report from India.

Background: Six diverse Demographic Development and Environmental Surveillance System (DDESS) sites were established in urban slum, urban resettlement, peri-urban, rural, and tribal areas located in Northern, North-East, Eastern, and Southern regions of India from June 2020 to March 2022. Understanding the community dynamics and engaging people in the community is critically important in the process of establishing DDESS. We ascertained the barriers, challenges, and facilitators during the establishment of multiple DDESS sites across India.

Estimating the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic Related Lockdown on Utilization of Maternal and Perinatal Health Services in an Urban Neighborhood in Delhi, India.

Objective: To estimate utilization of maternal, perinatal healthcare services after the lockdown was implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the period before.

Methods: This study conducted in Dakshinpuri, an urban neighborhood in Delhi, reports data over a 13-month period which includes the period "before lockdown" i.e.

Impact of supplementation with milk-cereal mix during 6-12 months of age on growth at 12 months: a 3-arm randomized controlled trial in Delhi, India.

Background: A large proportion of infants in low- and middle-income countries are stunted. These infants are often fed complementary foods that are low-quality, primarily in terms of protein and micronutrients.

Objectives: We aimed to test 2 milk-cereal mixes supplemented with modest and high amounts of protein during 6-12 mo of age, compared with no supplementation, for their effect on length-for-age z score (LAZ) at 12 mo of age.

Impact of nutritional interventions among lactating mothers on the growth of their infants in the first 6 months of life: a randomized controlled trial in Delhi, India.

Background: In lower-middle-income settings, growth faltering in the first 6 mo of life occurs despite exclusive breastfeeding.

Objective: The aim was to test the efficacy of an approach to improve the dietary adequacy of mothers during lactation and thus improve the growth of their infants.

Methods: Eligible mother-infant dyads (infants ≤7 d of age) were randomly assigned to either intervention or control groups.

Antenatal Uterotonics as a Risk Factor for Intrapartum Stillbirth and First-day Death in Haryana, India: A Nested Case-control Study.

Background: Use of uterotonics like oxytocin to induce or augment labor has been shown to reduce placental perfusion and oxygen supply to the fetus, and studies indicate that it may increase the risk of stillbirth and neonatal asphyxia. Antenatal use of uterotonics, even without the required fetal monitoring and prompt access to cesarean section, is widespread, yet no study has adequately estimated the risk of intrapartum stillbirth and early neonatal deaths ascribed to such use. We conducted a case-control study to estimate this risk.

Does early vitamin B supplementation improve neurodevelopment and cognitive function in childhood and into school age: a study protocol for extended follow-ups from randomised controlled trials in India and Tanzania.

Introduction: As many as 250 million children under the age of 5 may not be reaching their full developmental potential partly due to poor nutrition during pregnancy and the first 2 years of life. Micronutrients, including vitamin B, are important for the development of brain structure and function; however, the timing, duration and severity of deficiencies may alter the impact on functional development outcomes. Consequently, to fully explore the effect of vitamin B on cognitive function, it is crucial to measure neurodevelopment at different ages, in different populations and with vitamin B supplementation at different times during the critical periods of neurodevelopment.

Supplementation of vitamin B12 or folic acid on hemoglobin concentration in children 6-36 months of age: A randomized placebo controlled trial.

Background & Aims: The main objective of this report is to measure to what extent folate or vitamin B12 given daily for 6 months to young North Indian Children improves hemoglobin (Hb) concentration.

Methods: In a randomized placebo controlled trial in low-to-middle income neighborhoods in New Delhi, India, children were randomized into four groups in a 1:1:1:1 ratio and supplemented daily for 6 months with 2 RDAs of vitamin B12, folic acid, both, or placebo. All children with anemia at baseline were given iron supplementation daily for 2 months.

Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid Improve Gross Motor and Problem-Solving Skills in Young North Indian Children: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Objectives: Deficiencies of vitamin B12 and folate are associated with delayed development and neurological manifestations. The objective of this study was to measure the effect of daily supplementation of vitamin B12 and/or folic acid on development in young North Indian children.

Methods: In a randomized, double blind trial, children aged six to 30 months, received supplement with placebo or vitamin B12 and/or folic acid for six months.

Diarrhea, stimulation and growth predict neurodevelopment in young North Indian children.

Background And Objective: Infants and young children in low to middle-income countries are at risk for adverse neurodevelopment due to multiple risk factors. In this study, we sought to identify stimulation and learning opportunities, growth, and burden of respiratory infections and diarrhea as predictors for neurodevelopment.

Methods: We visited 422 North Indian children 6 to 30 months old weekly for six months.

Vitamin B-12, folic acid, and growth in 6- to 30-month-old children: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Folate and vitamin B-12 are important for growth. Many children in low- and middle-income countries have inadequate intakes of these nutrients.

Methods: We undertook a randomized, placebo controlled double-blind trial in 1000 North Indian children, 6 to 35 months of age, providing twice the recommended daily allowance of folic acid and/or vitamin B-12, or placebo, daily for 6 months.

Prevalence and predictors of anemia in a population of North Indian children.

Objective: Anemia is an important health concern worldwide, particularly in poor populations such as in India. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of anemia and iron status.

Methods: One thousand children ages 6 to 30 mo were included in a study undertaken in low- to middle-income neighborhoods in New Delhi, India.

Folic acid and vitamin B-12 supplementation and common infections in 6-30-mo-old children in India: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Young children in low- and middle-income countries frequently have inadequate vitamin B-12 (cobalamin) status. Poor folate status is also common and is associated with increased diarrheal and respiratory morbidity.

Objective: The objective was to measure the effect of folic acid and/or vitamin B-12 administration on the incidence of diarrhea and acute lower respiratory tract infections.

The assessment of developmental status using the Ages and Stages questionnaire-3 in nutritional research in north Indian young children.

Objective And Background: For large epidemiological studies in low and middle-income countries, inexpensive and easily administered developmental assessment tools are called for. This report evaluates the feasibility of the assessment tool Ages and Stages Questionnaire 3.edition (ASQ-3) "home procedure" in a field trial in 422 North Indian young children.

A dose-escalation safety and immunogenicity study of live attenuated oral rotavirus vaccine 116E in infants: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Rotavirus infections cause approximately 122,000 deaths among Indian children annually.

Methods: The neonatal rotavirus candidate vaccine 116E was tested in a double-blind, placebo-controlled dose-escalation trial in India. Two doses of the Vero cell-adapted vaccine were evaluated.