Melari Shisha Nongrum, Carinthia Balabet Nengnong, Mattimi Passah, Bethabara Decruse, Wilson Dohling, Safeeda G Warjri
{"title":"Understanding Drug Use in Meghalaya: A Drug Users' Perspective.","authors":"Melari Shisha Nongrum, Carinthia Balabet Nengnong, Mattimi Passah, Bethabara Decruse, Wilson Dohling, Safeeda G Warjri","doi":"10.4103/ijph.ijph_664_24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/ijph.ijph_664_24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Despite being considered a low prevalence state for illicit drug use in 2005, presently Meghalaya faces heightened vulnerability to drug use. The absence of updated data in Meghalaya underscores the necessity for this study to profile drug users. A qualitative descriptive approach was adopted; 128 opioid substitution therapy clients and 17 service providers from three districts of Meghalaya were interviewed. Drug users were generally males with low educational attainment and 80% working in the unorganized sector. A quarter started drug use during their school years. The reasons for drug initiation are curiosity and experimentation, family problems, peer pressure, and de-stressing. Heroin, the most injected drug, accounted for a daily average expenditure of '500-'2000. The age of initiation of drugs is lower than in other states, thus warranting the need for enhanced sensitization about drug risks among school adolescents, youth, and the unorganized employment sector.</p>","PeriodicalId":13298,"journal":{"name":"Indian journal of public health","volume":"69 2","pages":"224-226"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144600266","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Litna George, Asha Kiran, Neelam Nalini, Manisha Kujur, Amit Kumar
{"title":"Prevalence of Malnutrition among Adolescent Tribal Girls in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.","authors":"Litna George, Asha Kiran, Neelam Nalini, Manisha Kujur, Amit Kumar","doi":"10.4103/ijph.ijph_34_24","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijph.ijph_34_24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>About 104 million tribal people make up India's total population, and among them, 4.7 million tribal children suffer from malnutrition.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the pooled prevalence of malnutrition among adolescent tribal girls in India.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>We conducted this study from March 22, 2023, to April 4, 2023, using various databases such as PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and various websites, adhering to PRISMA guidelines. This study included only the articles published from 2013 to 2023 in the English language. We used Rayyan software to compile eligible studies. Two independent reviewers assessed the risk of bias in the included studies by using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool (JBI). This review used a random effect model to obtain the pooled prevalence of malnutrition among adolescent tribal girls. Database searches yielded a total of 17,608 studies, and this review included six of those that met the inclusion criteria. This review represents a total of 1964 participants.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The result of this study found that the pooled prevalence of undernutrition in India was 18.04% (95% CI: 0.49-0.67), P = 0.001.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study's findings indicate the need for more stringent interventions and policies to prevent malnutrition among adolescent tribal girls in India.</p>","PeriodicalId":13298,"journal":{"name":"Indian journal of public health","volume":"69 2","pages":"197-202"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144527720","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Priscilla Nethala, Rohith G Chitrapur, Nirupama Navamani Franklyn, Shreyas Hanmantgad
{"title":"Socioeconomic Factors Influencing Treatment and Outcomes in Acute Myeloid Leukemia.","authors":"Priscilla Nethala, Rohith G Chitrapur, Nirupama Navamani Franklyn, Shreyas Hanmantgad","doi":"10.4103/ijph.ijph_1168_23","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijph.ijph_1168_23","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Evaluation and reduction of socioeconomic inequalities in cancer survival are a public health priority worldwide. In developing countries such as India, the high-economic burden of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains understudied despite its severe impact on outcomes. This study investigated the impact of socioeconomic factors on mortality and survival in AML. Conducted from January 2019 to February 2022 at a tertiary care center in India, it included 41 newly diagnosed AML patients. Socioeconomic determinants such as education, insurance status, social support, and socioeconomic status (SES) (using the Modified Kuppuswamy Scale, 2021) were assessed. Using adjusted multivariable Cox proportional hazards ratio (HR), the study found that lower SES was associated with an increased mortality risk compared to the upper socioeconomic class (lower-middle class HR = 19.9 [P = 0.027], upper-lower class HR = 400 [P = 0.004], and lower class HR = 1221 [P = 0.002]). The overall survival difference between SES classes was not statistically significant. This evidence emphasizes the need for equitable access to AML treatment in developing countries.</p>","PeriodicalId":13298,"journal":{"name":"Indian journal of public health","volume":"69 1","pages":"96-99"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143970046","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Barkha Rani, Anu Gauba, Vivek Jaglan, Sanjay Kumar Mattoo
{"title":"A Study to Evaluate the Impact of M-teaching on Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice about Digital Health Utilization in Tuberculosis Prevention and Control among Active Tuberculosis Cases and Their Close Contacts in Faridabad, Haryana.","authors":"Barkha Rani, Anu Gauba, Vivek Jaglan, Sanjay Kumar Mattoo","doi":"10.4103/ijph.ijph_1348_23","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijph.ijph_1348_23","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The wise use and deployment of digital health (e/m-health) technologies with conventional approaches (in-person directly observed therapy) can play an essential role in improving access to information and providing people-centered tuberculosis (TB) care and support, preventing and controlling TB more effectively globally (by 2030) and in India (by 2025).</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The objectives of this study were to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) level and to evaluate the impact of \"mobile-based teaching session\" (time taken: 10-12 min) on that KAP level toward digital health technology utilization for TB prevention and control.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A preexperimental (single group) pre- and posttest design was employed with cluster simple random sampling among 51 active TB cases and their close contacts (age group: 12-78 years) in Faridabad, Haryana, from July to October 2022. Data were collected through telephonic interviews (total time taken: 5-6 min) using a structured questionnaire. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was computed to compare pre- and posttest rank scores using the SPSS (29.0.0.0) version at the P < 0.05 (two-tailed) significance level.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Despite having a positive attitude, the majority showed a lower knowledge and practice level preintervention, whereas after the intervention, their KAP level improved statistically significantly.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The study results provide a significant preliminary base for decision-makers and health-care providers to plan and impart digital literacy for TB prevention and control more effectively.</p>","PeriodicalId":13298,"journal":{"name":"Indian journal of public health","volume":"69 1","pages":"67-73"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144063533","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Devyani Wanjari, Mohnish Giri, Abhishek V Raut, Madhuri Dighikar, R J Paradkar, Subodh S Gupta
{"title":"\"Want a Job with a Safer Future\" Findings from an Exploratory Qualitative Inquiry with Community Health Officers Using Time-Motion Study.","authors":"Devyani Wanjari, Mohnish Giri, Abhishek V Raut, Madhuri Dighikar, R J Paradkar, Subodh S Gupta","doi":"10.4103/ijph.ijph_1175_23","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijph.ijph_1175_23","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Community Health Officer (CHO) is a newer cadre of health-care providers introduced under the Ayushman Bharat Program to enhance the functioning of Health and Wellness Centres by taking health-care services closer to the community.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The objectives of this study were to assess the work pattern and workload of CHOs and understand the barriers and challenges faced by them during delivery for improving their efficiency.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>An exploratory qualitative inquiry was done with six purposively chosen CHOs from all the primary health centres of a rural community development block in Central India using time-motion study as a tool. Each CHO's work pattern, workload was studied for 1 week using 24-h recall method. Validation of the information provided by CHOs was done by asking them to submit activity photographs. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with CHOs and analyzed using thematic analysis to understand their perspectives, barriers, and challenges.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>They were found to spend roughly 64.2% of their time on curative work, 21.3% on managerial work, and around 14.5% on promotive, preventive work. On data triangulation, a knowledge-application gap was observed. The major barriers and challenges found were focus on clinical care, lack of microplanning, insufficient resources, and no job security.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The work distribution of the CHOs is focused more on curative and managerial aspects with minimal focus on promotive, preventive aspects. To foster \"Wellness\" of the community through a holistic approach as envisaged under the Ayushman Bharat Program, strategies need to be devised with greater emphasis on health promotion, addressing the challenges raised by this new cadre.</p>","PeriodicalId":13298,"journal":{"name":"Indian journal of public health","volume":"69 1","pages":"18-26"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143984503","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sri Poedji Hastoety Djaiman, Anissa Rizkianti, Rika Rachmalina, Komang Ayu Henny Achjar, Agus Sri Lestari, Idewa Made Ruspawan
{"title":"Contextual Risk Factors of Stunting and Severe Stunting among Indonesian Children Under 2 Years: Based on Cross-sectional Data from Basic Health Research.","authors":"Sri Poedji Hastoety Djaiman, Anissa Rizkianti, Rika Rachmalina, Komang Ayu Henny Achjar, Agus Sri Lestari, Idewa Made Ruspawan","doi":"10.4103/ijph.ijph_1276_23","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijph.ijph_1276_23","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Stunting is the most common form of chronic malnutrition in children that continues to be a public health concern in Indonesia. Local capacity at district, subdistrict, and village levels is still insufficient and remains a major constraint that needs to be addressed.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to assess factors related to stunting and severe stunting among children aged under 2 years at the individual, household, and district levels.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>The integrated 2018 Indonesian Basic Health Research and National Socioeconomic Survey were analyzed utilizing multilevel multinomial logistic regression analysis to examine the role of the individual, household, and district levels with stunting and severe stunting among children aged under 2 years. The magnitude of the role of the individual/household level and district level in the prevalence of stunting and severe stunting can be seen from the Interclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) value.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>At the district level, food insecurity status is the main predictor of increased odds of severe stunting. ICC individuals and households for stunting 83. 6% severe stunting 25.4%, ICC at the district stunting 16.4%, and severe stunting 74.7%. This indicates that the district level has a greater contribution to the prevalence of severe stunting and the individual/household level contributes more to the prevalence of stunting.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study's findings have resulted in the influence of district contextual factors on severe stunting and an effect of the individual household factors on stunting indicating that multilevel interventions are the key to preventing and reducing stunting and severe stunting.</p>","PeriodicalId":13298,"journal":{"name":"Indian journal of public health","volume":"69 1","pages":"50-56"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143989941","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Trends in Noncommunicable Diseases among Brazil, Russian Federation, India, China, and South African Countries (2000-2016): An Investigation of Fruits and Vegetables Intake and Health-care Financing on Noncommunicable Diseases Mortality Rate.","authors":"Sridevi Manchala, Khadar Babu Chinta","doi":"10.4103/ijph.ijph_1052_23","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijph.ijph_1052_23","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Globally, 41 million people die annually from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). The trends in deaths attributed to NCDs increased by 13.58, 154, 108, and 5.12 thousand per annum each in Brazil, China, India, and South Africa, respectively, while declined (16.14 thousand per annum) in Russia during the period 2000 and 2016. Regression estimates reveal that for every 1 US$ increase in current health expenditure per capita, NCD mortality rate declined by 0.32, 0.27, 1.68, 0.49, and 0.12 per 100,000 population in Brazil, China, India, Russia, and South Africa, respectively. Further, vegetables intake per capita is found to be highly negatively correlated with NCD mortality rate with statistical significance (P < 0.05) for China, underscoring the importance of vegetables in reducing risk factors for NCDs. This study underscores the need for further research and better implementation of policies, for reducing NCDs and catastrophic loss to the population and economies.</p>","PeriodicalId":13298,"journal":{"name":"Indian journal of public health","volume":"69 1","pages":"91-95"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144008651","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Challenges and Mitigation Strategies in Providing Family Planning Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Health-care Providers' Perspectives from Rural and Urban Public Health Facilities in Maharashtra, India.","authors":"Deepti Tandon, Ranjan Prusty, Rita Kabra, Komal Preet Allagh, Beena Joshi","doi":"10.4103/ijph.ijph_1437_23","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijph.ijph_1437_23","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>The World Health Organization conducted a multicountry study to identify the challenges and barriers faced by health-care providers (HCPs) in delivering family planning (FP) services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Focused on two districts in Maharashtra using qualitative methods, the study revealed shift in contraceptive demand toward short-term options due to fear associated with health facility visits. Postpandemic recovery involved restarting sterilization camps and improved contraceptive availability. HCPs faced workplace challenges, hindering FP outreach. Notably, Accredited Social Health Activists played crucial role in delivering supplies and boosting temporary method use. Recommendations include ensuring dedicated workforce readiness, maintaining depot supplies, and promoting accessible methods for future emergencies.</p>","PeriodicalId":13298,"journal":{"name":"Indian journal of public health","volume":"69 1","pages":"127-129"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144017610","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Strengthening the Health-care System: Need for Nursing Education Reforms.","authors":"Sonali Tarachand Jadhav","doi":"10.4103/ijph.ijph_398_23","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijph.ijph_398_23","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":13298,"journal":{"name":"Indian journal of public health","volume":"69 1","pages":"148"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143963423","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mumps in Patients with Acute Encephalitis Syndrome in Assam, India during January 2018 to July 2021.","authors":"Kimmi Sarmah, Kishore Sarma, Prasanta Kumar Borah, Ajanta Sharma, Jagadish Mahanta, Biswajyoti Borkakoty","doi":"10.4103/ijph.ijph_175_23","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijph.ijph_175_23","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Acute encephalitis syndrome (AES), a major public health problem, has been reported worldwide. The potential etiology of AES varies from viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites with viruses being most prevalent. The virus-mediated AES in Assam is not well characterized. Most viruses causing AES lack specific treatment, but encephalitis caused by mumps virus (MuV) can be effectively treated. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to identify MuV positivity in AES cases during January 2018-July 2021. Using enzyme immunoassay MuV immunoglobulin M antibodies were tested in 317 samples (cerebrospinal fluid and serum) of which positivity was found in 22.0% (70/317), with higher prevalence in males and bulk of cases occurring in July. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction positive MuV cases were genotyped targeting small hydrophobic gene which revealed the circulation of genotypes C and G during the studied period. Despite Japanese encephalitis (JE) being considered the major viral etiology for AES, the present study highlights the emergence of MuV over JE with time.</p>","PeriodicalId":13298,"journal":{"name":"Indian journal of public health","volume":"69 1","pages":"107-110"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144013909","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}