Mapping of MPH programs in terms of geographic distribution across various universities and institutes of India-A desk research.

Background: Landscaping studies related to public health education in India do not exclusively focus on the most common Masters of Public Health (MPH) program. The field of public health faces challenges due to the absence of a professional council, resulting in fragmented documentation of these programs. This study was undertaken to map all MPH programs offered across various institutes in India in terms of their geographic distribution, accreditation status, and administration patterns.

COVID-19 Resilience and Risk Reduction Intervention in Rural Populations of Western India: Retrospective Evaluation.

Background: Globally, especially in the low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), rural populations were more susceptible to the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic due to lower levels of community awareness, poor hygiene, and health literacy accompanying pre-existing weak public health systems. Consequently, various community-based interventions were engineered in rural regions worldwide to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic by empowering people to mount both individual and collective public health responses against the pandemic. However, to date, there is paucity of information on the effectiveness of any large-scale community intervention in controlling and mitigating the effects of COVID-19, especially from the perspective of LMICs.

Interventions for Tobacco Prevention and Control in Humanitarian Settings: A Scoping Review.

Introduction: Tobacco usage is an epidemic as statistics point towards smoking as the second leading cause of death. Populations experiencing humanitarian emergencies may experience a higher propensity for tobacco, alcohol, and other substance abuse disorders. This review aimed to map tobacco prevention and control interventions in humanitarian settings.

Non-communicable diseases, digital education and considerations for the Indian context - a scoping review.

Introduction: The increasing ageing of the population with growth in NCD burden in India has put unprecedented pressure on India's health care systems. Shortage of skilled human resources in health, particularly of specialists equipped to treat NCDs, is one of the major challenges faced in India. Keeping in view the shortage of healthcare professionals and the guidelines in NEP 2020, there is an urgent need for more health professionals who have received training in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of NCDs.

Health promotion at higher educational institutions: a clarion call for action in India.

This article introduces the concept of a health-promoting university (HPU) in an Indian context. The importance of health promotion through a 'settings-based' approach that focuses on India's needs is outlined. We highlight the aims and objectives of a HPU and the mechanisms to evaluate its impact.

Strengthening of District/Taluk Level Hospitals Through Implementation of Post-graduate Medical Courses in Karnataka, India.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the requirement of human resource for health (HRH) stands at 44.5 skilled health workers per 10,000 population. WHO recognizes India as one of the countries which has HRH crisis.

Perceived Gaps in Academic Training and Expectations From Refresher Training in Primary Care Nurses at an Urban Metropolis in Northern India: A Qualitative Study.

Background Nursing professionals, comprising the largest workforce engaged in the primary healthcare system, play a pivotal role in addressing population health needs. However, gaps in the training of nurses and midwives in lower-middle-income countries may undermine their performance and necessary skill development for fulfilling key population health needs. Substantial challenges exist in improving the regular curricular and refresher training of diplomate nurses and midwives working in primary care facilities and supporting both clinical care and health promotion functions.

COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among healthcare workers in India: Results from a cross-sectional survey.

Remarkable scientific progress has enabled expeditious development of effective vaccines against COVID-19. While healthcare workers (HCWs) have been at the frontline of the pandemic response, vaccine acceptance amongst them needs further study. We conducted a web-based survey to assess vaccine acceptance among HCWs in India between January and February 2021, shortly after the launch of India's vaccination campaign.

Achieving universal health coverage and sustainable development goals by 2030: investment estimates to increase production of health professionals in India.

Background: COVID-19 has reinforced the importance of having a sufficient, well-distributed and competent health workforce. In addition to improving health outcomes, increased investment in health has the potential to generate employment, increase labour productivity and foster economic growth. We estimate the required investment for increasing the production of the health workforce in India for achieving the UHC/SDGs.

Key factors influencing public health students and curricula in India: Recommendations from a mixed methods analysis.

Background: Building on a distinguished history of community medicine training, public health programs have been expanding in India in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought additional attention to the importance of public health programs and the need for a strong workforce. This paper aims to assess the current capacity for public health education and training in India and provide recommendations for improved approaches to meet current and future public health needs.

Challenges and Motivators to Organ Donation: A Qualitative Exploratory Study in Gujarat, India.

Purpose: Despite the global efforts to improve organ donation, there is a demand-supply gap for organs in India. The only solution to meet this disparity is to improve deceased donor transplants in the country through victims of road accidents. The government has instituted several initiatives to achieve this goal.

Tobacco prevention and control interventions in humanitarian settings: a scoping review protocol.

Introduction: Tobacco has been a complex global problem that has adversely affected almost all the sectors of society. However, the ill-effects are often most reflected in humanitarian settings, which inadvertently are surmounted by fragile systems. We aim to map tobacco prevention and control intervention in humanitarian settings.

Strengthening institutions for public health education: results of an SWOT analysis from India to inform global best practices.

Background: Developing public health educational programs that provide workers prepared to adequately respond to health system challenges is an historical dilemma. In India, the focus on public health education has been mounting in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic is a harbinger of the increasing complexities surrounding public health challenges and the overdue need to progress public health education around the world.

Determinants of severity among hospitalised COVID-19 patients: Hospital-based case-control study, India, 2020.

Background: Risk factors for the development of severe COVID-19 disease and death have been widely reported across several studies. Knowledge about the determinants of severe disease and mortality in the Indian context can guide early clinical management.

Methods: We conducted a hospital-based case control study across nine sites in India to identify the determinants of severe and critical COVID-19 disease.

Shifting research priorities in maternal and child health in the COVID-19 pandemic era in India: A renewed focus on systems strengthening.

Background: The remarkable progress seen in maternal and child health (MCH) in India over the past two decades has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to undertake a rapid assessment to identify key priorities for public health research in MCH in India within the context and aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A web-based survey was developed to identify top research priorities in MCH.

Public health nutrition in Afghanistan-policies, strategies and capacity-building: current scenario and initiatives.

Background: Afghanistan is grappling with high burden of malnutrition in women and children and a rising burden of noncommunicable diseases.

Aims: A narrative review was conducted with the aim of mapping current nutrition policies and capacity development initiatives to assess policy and the institutional environment and identify gaps and opportunities.

Methods: A comprehensive, broad based search was conducted, including databases and websites and policy and programme documents.

Optimal governance and implementation of vaccination programmes to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the recent introduction of several viable vaccines for SARS-CoV-2, vaccination uptake has become the key factor that will determine our success in containing the COVID-19 pandemic. We argue that game theory and social network models should be used to guide decisions pertaining to vaccination programmes for the best possible results. In the months following the introduction of vaccines, their availability and the human resources needed to run the vaccination programmes have been scarce in many countries.

Size, composition and distribution of health workforce in India: why, and where to invest?

Background: Investment in human resources for health not only strengthens the health system, but also generates employment and contributes to economic growth. India can gain from enhanced investment in health workforce in multiple ways. This study in addition to presenting updated estimates on size and composition of health workforce, identifies areas of investment in health workforce in India.

Indian Public Health Students' Perspectives on Global Health Education.

Global health discipline is of increasing interest for educators and students in public health across the world. Public health education is recently gaining momentum in India, but global health is still at an embryonic stage. Value of students as stakeholders in curriculum development is increasingly recognized but literature about perspectives of public health students regarding global health education is limited.

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.