Prevalence and correlates of metabolic syndrome among rural women in Mysore, India.

Aims: Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a strong predictor of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). Studies in urban India have found about one-third of Indians suffer from MetS. Less is known about the prevalence of MetS in rural areas, where 70% of the population reside.

An Integrated Approach to Improve Maternal Mental Health and Well-Being During the COVID-19 Crisis.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has led to disruption of normal life across the globe, severely affecting the already vulnerable populations such as the pregnant women. Maternal mental health and well-being is a public health priority and the evidence about the impact of COVID-19 on mental health status of pregnant women is gradually emerging. The findings of the recently published studies suggest that increased risk perception about contracting COVID-19, reduced social support, increase in domestic violence, disruption of antenatal care, and economic consequences of COVID-19 mitigation strategies can lead to adverse mental health outcomes in antenatal period.

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and exacerbation of COPD.

Introduction: Low Vitamin D levels have been associated with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and acute exacerbations.

Objectives: There is a paucity of data on Vitamin D and COPD, its severity and exacerbations in populations that are exposed to sunlight regularly with high levels of physical activity most of their lives.

Methods: Serum levels of 25-OH-Vitamin-D were assessed in 100 COPD subjects and 100 age- and gender-matched controls from the rural community-based MUDHRA cohort in South India.

Design and implementation of a portable colposcope Mueller matrix polarimeter.

Significance: Mueller matrix polarimetry can provide useful information about the function and structure of the extracellular matrix. A portable and low-cost system could facilitate the clinical assessment of cervical anomalies in low-resource settings.

Aim: We introduce a low-cost snapshot Mueller matrix polarimeter that does not require external power, has no moving parts, and can acquire a full Mueller matrix in ∼1  s, to conduct a feasibility study for cervical imaging in the low-resource setting.

Multilevel influences of women's empowerment and economic resources on risky sexual behaviour among young women in Zomba district, Malawi.

Gender disparities are pronounced in Zomba district, Malawi. Among women aged 15-49 years, HIV prevalence is 16.8%, compared with 9.

Attitudes, beliefs, and norms about sex and sexuality among young Indian male adults: A qualitative study.

Objective: Little is known about the risky sexual behaviors, attitudes, beliefs, and sources of information regarding sexual health among young adult Indian males. Currently, students in Indian secondary schools do not receive a structured comprehensive sexual health education. This qualitative study explored the sources of information, knowledge, and attitudes around sexual behaviors among young men in Mysore, India.

Structural equation modeling to detect correlates of childhood vaccination: A moderated mediation analysis.

Objectives: This study used a health belief theory derived framework and structural equation model to examine moderators, mediators, and direct and indirect predictors of childhood vaccination.

Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted using data collected from a cross-sectional survey of a random sample of 1599 parents living in urban and rural areas of Mysore district, India. Applying two-stage probability proportionate-to-size sampling, adolescent girls attending 7th through 10th grades in 23 schools were selected to take home a questionnaire to be answered by their parents to primarily assess HPV vaccine intentions.

Using photovoice to understand the context of cervical cancer screening for underserved communities in rural India.

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed among women in India and current estimates indicate low screening rates. To implement successful population-based screening programs, there is an urgent need to explore the social and cultural beliefs among women residing in underserved communities. An innovative, community-based participatory approach called photovoice was used with 14 women aged between 30-51 years, residing in rural and tribal villages around Mysore, Karnataka, India.

Interventions to increase uptake of cervical screening in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review using the integrated behavioral model.

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) experiences disproportionate burden of cervical cancer incidence and mortality due in part to low uptake of cervical screening, a strategy for prevention and down-staging of cervical cancer. This scoping review identifies studies of interventions to increase uptake of cervical screening among women in the region and uses the Integrated Behavioral Model (IBM) to describe how interventions might work.

Methods: A systematic search of literature was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and CINAHL databases through May 2019.

Snoring is associated with obesity among middle aged Slum-dwelling women in Mysore, India.

Background: Globally, rates of obesity have trebled in the past four decades. India has more than 9.8 million men and 20 million women classified as obese.

Cohort profile: the Kisalaya cohort of mother-infant dyads in rural south India (2008-2012).

The Kisalaya cohort was established in 2008, providing integrated antenatal care (ANC) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing in order to reduce adverse birth outcomes and pediatric HIV infections. The program used a mobile clinic model to deliver health education, ANC, and HIV/sexually transmitted infection testing and management to pregnant women in rural communities in southern India. This cohort includes pregnant women residing in 144 villages of the Mysuru taluk (a rural region) who received ANC through the mobile clinic and delivered their infants between 2008 and 2011.

The association between social support through contacts with Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and antenatal anxiety among women in Mysore, India: a cross-sectional study.

Purpose: In India, antenatal anxiety prevalence estimates range from 6 to 48%. Social support is strongly associated with mental wellbeing, yet most studies have examined the impact of support from partners and family members rather than peers, community members, or health care providers. This study explores the supportive role of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) contacts for antenatal anxiety.

Cardiovascular Risk Factor Knowledge and Behaviors Among Low-Income Urban Women in Mysore, India.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading causes of death among women globally. Cardiovascular disease-related events are more common in older women compared with men and are more likely to result in death. Although research in high-income countries suggests that women have unique sociobiological CVD risk factors, only a few study authors have examined risk factor knowledge among women from low- and middle-income countries.

Bacterial vaginosis-A brief synopsis of the literature.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) affects women of reproductive age and can either be symptomatic or asymptomatic. Approximately 50 % of women are symptomatic and experience vaginal malodor, discharge, itching and increased vaginal pH. BV can increase the risk of contracting many sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Neisseria gonorrhea (NG), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) and herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2).

A Network Analysis of Domestic Violence Beliefs Among Young Adults in India.

This study sought to describe the system of beliefs on gender, attitudes toward women, and wife beating, in young adults who live in Mysore, India. Furthermore, it identified structural sex differences in the interplay of values among these matters that can affect individual and community views toward domestic violence. Drawing from survey data gathered from 265 young adult Indian men and women, this study used network analysis to graph a correlation network of beliefs and attitudes toward domestic violence.

Exploring biocultural models of chewing tobacco and paan among reproductive-aged women: Self-medication, protection, or gender inequality?

Objectives: Tobacco and areca nut are two of the most widely used psychoactive plant substances worldwide, yet the biocultural factors that account for variation in use patterns are not well understood. Here we attempt to understand the high prevalence of, and variation in, tobacco and areca nut use among reproductive-aged women.

Methods: Research was carried out in Mysore, Karnataka, India.

A community-based, cross-sectional study of hrHPV DNA self-sampling-based cervical cancer screening in rural Karnataka, India.

Objective: To examine the feasibility of implementing a high-risk HPV (hrHPV) DNA-based screening program for cervical cancer and the prevalence of hrHPV DNA-positive women in a community setting in rural India.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the community level in the Hunsur taluk of the Mysore district from January to August 2016. Cervical cancer screening was conducted with self-collected vaginal samples that were analyzed using the Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2) assay (Qiagen, USA).

Effect of ABO blood group on asymptomatic, uncomplicated and placental Plasmodium falciparum infection: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Malaria clinical outcomes vary by erythrocyte characteristics, including ABO blood group, but the effect of ABO blood group on asymptomatic, uncomplicated and placental Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) infection remains unclear. We explored effects of ABO blood group on asymptomatic, uncomplicated and placental falciparum infection in the published literature.

Improving socioeconomic status may reduce the burden of malaria in sub Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: A clear understanding of the effects of housing structure, education, occupation, income, and wealth on malaria can help to better design socioeconomic interventions to control the disease. This literature review summarizes the relationship of housing structure, educational level, occupation, income, and wealth with the epidemiology of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines.

Reframing HIV Stigma and Fear : Considerations from Social-ecological and Evolutionary Theories of Reproduction.

HIV stigma and fears surrounding the disease pose a challenge for public health interventions, particularly those that target pregnant women. In order to reduce stigma and improve the lives of vulnerable populations, researchers have recognized a need to integrate different types of support at various levels. To better inform HIV interventions, the current study draws on social-ecological and evolutionary theories of reproduction to predict stigma and fear of contracting HIV among pregnant women in South India.

An integrative behavior theory derived model to assess factors affecting HPV vaccine acceptance using structural equation modeling.

The study examined factors that affect parental intention-to-vaccinate adolescent daughters with HPV vaccine in Mysore district, India. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1609 parents of adolescent girls attending schools in Mysore District between February 2010 and October 2011. A validated questionnaire was used to assess parental attitudes, beliefs related with HPV infection, cervical cancer, HPV vaccine and vaccination in general.

Knowledge, gender, and guidance: Factors influencing Indian mothers responses to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

In the current study, we examined the socio-demographic characteristics and attitudes of Indian mothers, their knowledge about behaviors related to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and the relationship with ADHD diagnosis among their children. Previous research showed 11.3% of primary school children in India have been diagnosed with ADHD, yet little research has been conducted on how mothers perceive these behaviors.

Conversations about sexual activity within Haitian families: implications for HPV vaccine uptake.

: Parents play an integral role in young adults' sexual health including human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine decision-making. The objective of this study was to explore conversations regarding sexual activity in Haitian households and the influence of such conversations on young Haitian women's HPV vaccine discussion with their parents. From a large university in the southeastern United States, 30 Haitian-American college women (ages 17-26) were recruited for semi-structured in-depth interviews.

Determinants of exclusive breastfeeding in rural South India.

Background: While breastfeeding rates have improved globally, disparities in breastfeeding practices persist particularly in rural and low resource settings. In India, only 56% of Indian mothers practice exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the recommended six months. As India leads the world in the number of preterm births, under 5 years of age malnutrition and neonatal mortality, understanding the factors associated with EBF can help improve the nutritional status for millions of infants.