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Background: Despite decades of a call to action to engage men in reproductive health, men are often left out of programs and interventions. In India, where half of pregnancies are reported as unintended, patriarchal gender norms and still dominant patterns of arranged marriages make engaging men in family planning and strengthening couples communication critical in increasing reproductive autonomy and helping young couples meet their reproductive goals. This study explores the feasibility and acceptability from the men's perspective of the pilot of a gender transformative intervention for newly married couples in India. Methods: A pilot study was conducted of TARANG, a 4 month intervention for newly married women, with light touch engagement of husbands (4 sessions). A total of 41 husbands participated in the pilot, and we collected baseline knowledge and endline feasibility and acceptability data from them, along with in depth qualitative interviews with 13 men. The study was conducted in June 2023-January 2024. Results: Men had low levels of knowledge about biology, family planning, with the majority of men reporting that no one had provided them information about these topics. Most men wanted to delay the first birth by at least 2 years, yet less than a quarter had discussed childbearing plans with their partner or engaged in family planning methods. While all men reported high acceptability (satisfaction and usefulness), feasibility (participation) was low, with only 43% attending 2 or more sessions. Main barriers to participation included commitments due to work and migration. Men reported that the intervention led to improvements in their relationships with their wives, gave them a sense of empowerment, and led them to become resources for other men in their community. Conclusions: Men in these rural communities are not receiving the information that they need to meet their reproductive goals, however, they greatly desire this information and ways to improve relationships with their new wives. Such an intervention appears to have the potential to help change norms and spread information in the community and provide men with positive, life affirming feelings. Providing information through technology could address barriers to in-person engagement. Trial registration clinicaltrials.gov : 03/13/24.NCT06320964 Plain language summary: Despite many years of calls to engage men in reproductive health programming, there are still a paucity of interventions that engage men. In the Indian context, with high prevalence of arranged marriages, strict gender norms, and patrilocal marriage patterns where women move into their husbands family's home, engaging men is especially important as they are critical decision-makers. With this in mind, we designed an intervention for newly married women, with an add on component for their husbands, to help young couples meet their reproductive goals. In this paper we report on the feasibility and acceptability of a 6 month pilot of this intervention with 40 newly married men in Rajasthan, India using mixed methods. We find that the intervention was highly feasibility and acceptable, and men felt that the intervention had value and should be considered. However, attendance was low due to work commitments and migration. The intervention appeared to change norms and increase knowledge about family planning and communication about childbearing. Men reported that the intervention led to improvements in their relationships with their wives, gave them a sense of empowerment, and led them to become resources for other men in their community. This suggests that engaging newly married men is possible, but interventions must be designed carefully to be sure to be able increase participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a case study of an Outreach and Drop-in Centre (ODIC) established under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. In the quantitative part, data were gathered from the ODIC office documents and analysed using MS Excel. Linear regression analysis demonstrated a relationship between the number of in-centre clients and the number of Community Outreach Programmes (COPs). Similarly, this study examined the relationship between the number of networks established and the number of participants in COPs. Hence, two regression lines were derived accordingly. In addition, qualitative data collected through key informant interviews corroborated the quantitative results. This case study highlights the importance of networks and COPs in increasing the reach of ODIC and ensuring the quality of services. Finally, in partnership with other government agencies, this ODIC sets a model for engaging marginalised adolescents in reducing substance abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Depression is a major public health concern among Indian adolescents. Pre- and post-natal depression can often alter fetal development and have negative consequences on the physical and mental health of the mother. This paper aims to draw attention to the prevalence of depression and its correlates among currently married, ever-pregnant adolescents from two Indian States, i.e. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Methods: This study utilizes data from a subsample (n = 3116) of the prospective cohort study Understanding the Lives of Adolescents and Young Adults (UDAYA) among 10 to 19 year-old adolescents. Bivariate analysis was performed to assess the prevalence of depression by sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics. To further access the predictors associated with depression a logistic regression model was applied. Results: Around one-tenth (9%) of pregnant adolescents had depression. Regression analysis indicated that substance use, religion, autonomy, considering attempting suicide, premarital relationship, violence, dowry, adverse pregnancy outcome, menstrual problem, and parental pressure for the child immediately after marriage were significantly associated with depression. Conclusions: This study confirms the pre-existing annotation that teen pregnancy is linked with depression. Findings indicate that Adolescent mothers experiencing violence, and a history of adverse pregnancy outcomes are at increased risk of developing depression. These study findings call for an urgent need to address depression among adolescent mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myths and mythological figures serve as cultural symbols that people live by and emulate. Śravaṇ Kumār is one such mythological figure. He carried his blind parents on his shoulders and, with great hardships, tried to fulfil their wish for a pilgrimage. However, before he could complete the journey, he met a tragic end at the hands of Prince Daśrath. Due to his devotion to his parents, he is revered as an ideal youth in the Indian Hindu context. One wonders what values are conveyed about a society that has, for centuries now, idealised the tragic mythical figure of Śravaṇ Kumār? What could be the underlying fascination with the tragic story of Śravaṇ Kumār, his parents, and the guilt-ridden prince responsible for their tragic deaths and the subsequent ordeal the prince's son Rām had to endure in accordance with a curse? This paper reinterprets this myth and examines its relevance in contemporary times. The reinterpretation of the myth is further discussed in connection with the relevant psychoanalytic identity development theories, keeping in view the adolescents in the urban metropolitan context in India. The paper concludes by discussing the significance of having relevant mythical and cultural ideals for the identity development of youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India is a country having a largest youth population. According to census 2011 data around 41% of India's population is below the age of 20 years. During adolescence period most of the peoples are influenced by their peers. This influence can be in terms of attitude, values, behavior, decision regarding clothing, music, fashion, food habit etc. In some of the cases high influence of peer pressure can also be seen which had a very awful and long lasting effect on the person. Some issues like drug abuse, drinking alcohol, smoking, depression, mental illness, drop out, suicide etc are found among the students and peer pressure is one of the major causes behind this problems or issues. In spite of these, peer pressure also influence on the academic achievement of the students. In this paper we have studied the level of peer pressure among the students as well as peer pressure on the basis of gender. For the study researcher has taken 120 students of Tezpur University (2nd semester) from the school of Humanities, Sciences, Management and engineering as a sample. Standardized tool has been used for data collection. This paper is helpful for the teacher as well as the parents in handling their child during adolescence period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses a semiparametric structural model of school choice to identify the effects of private school during early adolescence on composite measures of self-efficacy and self-esteem in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The average treatment effect of attending private school is an increase in self-efficacy and self-esteem measures of 0.16 and 0.22 standard deviations, respectively, between ages 12 and 15. These results are within the range of credible estimates of private school effects on cognitive outcomes in India, suggesting that private school may play at least as significant a role in early psychosocial development as in cognitive development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Girls' education has for many decades been central to the global development agenda, due to its positive impact on girls' health and wellbeing. In this paper, the authors revisit boys' attitudes, behaviours and norms related to girls' education, following the Samata intervention to prevent girls' school dropouts in Northern-Karnataka, South India. Data were collected from 20 boys in intervention villages before and after the intervention, and analysis was undertaken using a thematic-framework approach. Findings suggest that while boys did hold some attitudes and beliefs that supported girls' education and delayed-marriage, these remained within the framework of gender-inequitable norms concerning girls' marriageability, respectability/family-honour. Participants criticised peers who sought to jeopardise girls' respectability by teasing and community gossip about girls-boys' communication in public. Boys who rejected prevailing norms of masculinity were subjected to gossip, ridicule and violence by the community. Boys' attitudes and beliefs supported girls' education but were conditional on the maintenance of gendered hierarchies at household and interpersonal levels. Social norms concerning girls' honour, respectability and the role of boys as protectors/aggressors appeared to influence boys' response to girls' school dropouts. Future interventions aiming to address girls' education and marriage must invest time and resources to ensure that intervention components targeting boys are relevant, appropriate and effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION India has unique tobacco-free film and TV rules designed to prevent tobacco uptake. In this study, we examined the potential influence of exposure to smoking imagery in regionally famous films, on susceptibility to smoke in teenagers enrolled in schools in a district in Southern India. METHODS A longitudinal survey of students, in grades 6 to 8 at baseline in 2017 and grades 7 to 9 one year later in 2018, ascertained prospective incident susceptibility to smoking during the study period in relation to baseline exposure to 27 locally popular films with actual or implied smoking imagery. RESULTS We analyzed linked data from 33676 participants, and 3973 (11.8%) of the adolescents reported incident susceptibility. There was a significant increase in susceptibility to smoking with increasing exposure at baseline to smoking imagery in films on univariable analysis, highest tertile of exposure relative to no exposure (OR=1.4; 95% CI: 1.0 -2.1, ptrend<0.001), and this trend remained significant (p=0.022) after mutual adjustment for recognized confounders, highest vs no exposure (AOR=1.3; 95% CI: 0.9-1.8). We found no statistically significant association between exposure to tobacco-free film rules and change in susceptibility. CONCLUSIONS Prospectively, watching films featuring smoking imagery increases adolescents' vulnerability to smoking. Further research revealed no difference in susceptibility change between youth who saw partially compliant films and those who watched non-compliant films. Our findings, thus, underscore the need to incorporate comprehensive approaches to prevent the inclusion of smoking imagery in films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women and girls constitute half of India's population. However, gender inequities continue to be a severe problem in India, affecting women's and girls' access to school, health care, and employment. According to the data, girls and boys are largely at par until adolescence. However, as girls enter puberty, their results start to differ, and their freedom of movement and mobility rights are further constrained. Even though India has over 355 million menstruating women and girls, many still face significant barriers to enjoying a respectable and comfortable period (MHM). In India, 70% of women say their families have trouble affording sanitary napkins. In 2012, 40% of all government schools lacked a standard functional toilet, not to speak of separate toilets for girls [Menstrual Health in India | Country Landscape Analysis, 2016]. Donors, the government, and businesses have all increased their efforts to address problems with menstruation health. Products and, more recently, boosting awareness, particularly among ladies, have received the majority of emphasis. In the present study, the Researcher tried to identify and assess the vulnerability status of menstrual hygiene behaviour and address the core issues prevalent in the Tribal areas of Ramgarh and Ranchi Districts of Jharkhand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies whether exposure to female politicians during adolescence affects postprimary education, including a longer-term intergenerational impact in India. Using close mixed-gender elections won by women as an instrument for the election of female legislators, I find that female politicians increase the likelihood of urban women completing higher secondary schooling. Further, exposure leads rural women to spend more on their children's education years later, particularly in households with more girls, participate more in household decision making, and exhibit a decline in son preference. Given the pro-male bias in educational expenditures in rural households, the results underscore the importance of exposure to more gender-equal settings during adolescence in mitigating such biases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing concern over the health and safety concerns of underage sex has prompted calls for increased initiatives to teach sex education in schools. Teenagers engage in harmful practices and suffer the consequences because of a lack of sex education. It would be foolish, if not reckless, to try to deny that truth. Why deny teenagers the information they need to stay healthy and avoid getting pregnant too soon if it will help them avoid the negative effects of not receiving sexual education? Despite major advances in science, the implementation of sex education in modern schools is hampered by cultural, political, and systemic constraints that strongly influence many layers of teenagers' environments. Knowledge among adolescent females regarding sexual and reproductive health issues is mandatory to ensure their healthy growth, both mentally and physically, by various agents of socialization, mainly parents and teachers, to prepare them for pubertal transition. Healthcare experts such as psychologists, counselors, social workers, and psychiatrists can be useful in achieving this goal. Women's health-related policies need to be formed, and sexual education in schools needs to be mandatory. This paper highlights some of the opportunities, intentions to provide relevant sexuality education for young people, potentially exacerbating confusion and individuals who do not conform to societal stereotypes of sex, gender, and ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The worldwide lockdown and social isolation measures during COVID management are likely to have a negative impact on emotional wellbeing. While the psychological impact on health care workers or the general adult population are being studied, not much data is available about the psychological impact on adolescent population (and none from India so far), an already sensitive and vulnerable developmental age. This study tried to bridge that gap. AIM: This pilot study was planned to assess the emotional wellbeing of adolescents during these socially distant times causing school closures. METHOD: 60 Indian adolescents enrolled from 9th to 12th standards of a few private schools with medium of instruction as English, participated in web based assessments where standardized tests were used to assess different components of emotional wellbeing: Positive affect, Negative affect, Difficulty in emotion regulation, and Life satisfaction. The measures used for these were Positive And Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). RESULTS: The adolescents were found to be experiencing high negative affect and low positive affect. Also, mild to severe difficulties with emotion regulation were found in 23.33 percent of the sample, and low satisfaction with life in 30 percent of the sample. Gender differences weren’t found in all study variables. While satisfaction with life was found to be modestly negatively associated with difficulty in emotion regulation, both these variables were found to be strongly associated with relative presence of positive affect over negative affect, with nil to low correlations with absolute values of both kinds of affects, revealing thought provoking insights about this differential. The results have been discussed in the context of restrictions on wellbeing promoting activities, and other factors associated with the lockdown. CONCLUSION: Relevant recommendations for caregivers and mental health practitioners in contact with adolescents have been offered in the paper, which may help buffer the impact of the lockdown, and help enhance adolescents’ emotional wellbeing while they cope with a new albeit temporary norm of being, and communicating. For mental health practitioners and psychotherapists especially, the case for more tele mental health services, mental health apps, web based group interventions becomes stronger than ever. Therapeutic focus could be on introducing more experiences and opportunities in their lives which allow for an increase in positive affect, irrespective of the level of negative affect experienced by them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In India, the prevalence of overweight among adolescents is on the rise, setting the stage for an increase in metabolic syndrome (MS). This paper presents the national prevalence of MS in adolescents in India. Methods: A nationally representative data of adolescents (10–19 years) from the Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey was used. MS was defined based on the NCEP–ATP III criteria for adolescents. Bivariate analysis was used to report socio-demographic differentials in prevalence and to assess interstate variability. Multivariate logistic regression model was constructed to measure the association between socio-demographic characteristics and prevalence of MS. Census data from 2011 was projected to 2017 to calculate burden. Results: The prevalence of MS was 5.2% among adolescents. 11.9%, 15.4%, 26.0%, 31.9% and 3.7% had central obesity, high blood pressure, hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL-cholesterol and high fasting glucose, respectively. The prevalence was higher among males (5.7% vs. 4.7%, adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.3, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0, 1.6), those residing in urban areas (7.9% vs 4.2%, AOR: 1.4, 95% CI: 1.1, 1.8), and from wealthier households as compared to their counterparts (8.3% vs. 2.4%, AOR: 3.4, 95% CI: 2.1, 5.5). There was wide interstate variability in the prevalence of MS (0.5% – 16.5%). In 2017, 14.2 million adolescents had MS in India. Conclusions: The prevalence of MS among adolescents in India is low and clustered in urban areas and richer households. Early prevention interventions promoting a healthy lifestyle, especially in high prevalence areas, are needed to keep MS from becoming a public health issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Spleen has been found to be the earliest organ involved in sickle cell disease (SCD) patients with variable manifestations in different geographical regions. It usually undergoes autosplenectomy by adolescence but in countries like India, the course of the disease and splenic manifestations are different. And here we aim to study these differences and the relationship between spleen size and fetal hemoglobin (HbF) and various splenic complications in our patients with sickle cell disease. Materials and Methods: This is an observational study of 62 adult patients with sickle cell disease admitted in our prestigious institute in the northwestern part of India, mostly hailing from the tribal population. The clinical and ultrasonographic methods have been used to identify splenomegaly and spleen size and prevalence have been calculated. The correlation coefficient has been calculated between fetal hemoglobin, sickle hemoglobin, and spleen size. Results: The analysis done revealed that 77.4% of patients had abnormal spleen with high average HbF(14.9±5.0) values compared to those who had normal spleen(12.12±4.1). Only 2 patients were found to have no spleen and 3.3% had splenic infarct. All patients with splenomegaly had anemia, 51.6% of patients were in sickle cell crisis and 22.5% were having infections. We also found a weak but positive correlation between spleen size and HbF. Conclusion: This study revealed the persistence of the spleen, the high prevalence of splenomegaly in the Indian adult population with sickle cell disease, and higher levels of fetal hemoglobin, the exact reason for which is still a subject of speculation that needs research. But this paper provides clear evidence of different natural courses of SCD in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agroalimentaria is the property of Alejandro Antonio Gutierrez Socorro and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Globally, suicide is the second leading cause of mortality among young people and is an important public health problem. The main aim of the study is to identify the pattern of suicide among adolescent age group and to suggest preventive methods. This is a retrospective autopsy-based study from 01 June 2018 to 31 May 2019 conducted at the Department of Forensic Medicine, B. J. Government Medical College, Pune, Maharashtra, India. Total 84 cases of suicidal death among adolescent (11 to 19 years) were recorded during the study period. Maximum number of cases (52.38 %) was observed in late adolescent age group (18-19 years) with Female predominance (70.23 %) with F:M ratio was 2.45:1. Hanging (79.76 %) was the most common method used for committing suicide and maximum adolescent (73.80%) preferred their own residence for committing suicide. Love affair was observed as most common precipitating factor for committing suicide (42.85 %) and other precipitating factors were quarrel between parents, depression and addiction, school related problems, sex related problems, one sided love. The paper discussed different preventive methods, specific to adolescent age so as to help in identifying vulnerable adolescent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION The World Health Organization recommends banning all forms of e-cigarette advertising, promotion, and sponsorship. The aims of the present study were to: 1) examine young people's exposure to e-cigarette advertising across a wide range of media in four diverse countries; and 2) identify any association between the number of different types of media exposures and e-cigarette use. METHODS A cross-sectional online survey was administered to approximately 1000 people aged 15-30 years in Australia, China, India, and the United Kingdom (n=4107). The survey assessed demographic characteristics, e-cigarette and tobacco use, numbers of friends and family members who vape, and exposure to multiple forms of e-cigarette advertising (e.g. television, radio, print, and various types of social media). Descriptive analyses were conducted on those who had heard of e-cigarettes (n=3095, significance threshold p<0.001) and a logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with e-cigarette ever use (significance threshold p<0.05). RESULTS The majority (85%) of respondents who had heard of e-cigarettes reported being exposed to e-cigarette advertising on at least one type of media, and the average number of types of media to which respondents were exposed was 5 (range: 0-17). The number of media types was significantly associated with ever use of e-cigarettes (OR=1.05; 95% CI: 1.02-1.08, p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS Despite advertising restrictions in place in all four countries, large majorities of young people reported being exposed to e-cigarette advertising. Social media and advertising on/around vape shops and other retailers appear to be key exposure locations. Urgent attention is needed to address these forms of exposure given their apparent association with e-cigarette use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present paper examined the association of physical activity and substance use with depressive symptoms among adolescents in lower socio-economic settings in India. We hypothesized that physical activity would be positively associated with lower depression levels and that the relationship would be inverse in case of substance use. Methods: We utilized data from the Understanding the lives of adolescents and young adults (UDAYA) survey. The depression level was assessed by combining nine questions on symptoms, having a higher internal validity (Cronbach alpha value: 0.86), and adopting a negative binomial regression model. Results: The study demonstrated a higher mean depression score among educated, girls, and adolescents who consumed substance and were not involved in physical activity. Adolescents who are physically inactive (IRR: 1.33; CI: 1.25–1.41) and use substance (IRR- 1.26; CI: 1.11–1.43) were more likely to have depressive symptoms compared to their counterparts. However, after controlling the effect of background variables, the incidence rate ratio (IRR) decreased for physical activities (IRR: 0.88; CI: 0.81–0.94) and increased for substance use (IRR: 1.39; CI: 1.22–1.58). Conclusion: Substance use predisposes adolescents toward depression; therefore, educating teens on the effects of substance use is important as it would control possible substance use among adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescence, the transition period between childhood and adulthood, is a period of great risks and possibilities. Teen years comprise a period of intense growth not only physically but also morally and intellectually. The adolescence has traditionally been portrayed as a state of internal civil war. In the period of revolutionary change, social competence refers to the social, emotional, and cognitive skills and behaviors that child need for successful social adaptation. So in this critical period of change, parents have to deal their child with proper guidance, love, and sympathy to enable his or her to tackle various problems of adolescence of his or her life. This may successfully bring about the welfare of the society and help the child to grow into the distinct individual. In this paper, an attempt is made to explore the connection between parental role and development of social competence among adolescents using effective tools covering various dimensions. A sample of 160 adolescent students of various schools of Ajmer district of India in the age group of 13 to 18 years was randomly selected covering male-female students, rural-urban students, and students of government and private schools. Tools developed for parental role scale and social competence scale were administered. Various statistical techniques were applied on the data collected. ANOVA test results show that three groups of parental role, e.g., higher parental role group, average parental role group, and lower parental role group, significantly differ in achieving social competence. Based on the findings, the paper presents educational implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Education is the process of learning that runs through a person's entire life, from birth to death. It can also be said that education is a social process that encourages people to engage in developmental activities. Academic stress and anxiety can be caused by the learning process. The present study was conducted to find out the factors influencing academic stress and anxiety among 1200 school going girls (600 each for stress and anxiety) in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, India. A pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire, focus group discussion and observation tool were used for collecting information and a standardized psychological instrument was used for assessing academic stress and anxiety. The present study shows that in addition to studies, family problems, domestic violence, emotional peer pressure and health problems have a significant impact on academic stress and anxiety. More attention should be paid to understanding the need for a studentand teacher friendly environment at school as well as a positive environment at home so that students' academic stress and anxiety can be reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background This paper describes the pilot evaluation of 'POD Adventures', a lay counsellor-guided problem-solving intervention delivered via a smartphone app in Indian secondary schools. Objective To test the feasibility and acceptability of POD Adventures for adolescents with a felt need for psychological support, and to explore the intervention's effects on self-reported mental health symptoms, prioritised problems, stress and well-being. Methods We used a mixed-methods pre-post cohort design. Participants were self-referred from grades 9-12 in two coeducational government-aided secondary schools in Goa, India. The intervention was delivered in two formats, 'mixed' (comprising individual and small group sessions) and 'group' (small group sessions only). Findings 248 participants enrolled in the study and 230 (92.7%) completed the intervention. Outcomes at 4 weeks showed significant improvements on all measures that were maintained at 12 weeks. Large effects were observed on problem severity scores (4 weeks, d=1.47; 12 weeks, d=1.53) while small to moderate effects were seen on mental health symptoms, stress and well-being. 22 students completed qualitative interviews about their experience of the intervention. Participants found POD Adventures easy to use, engaging and helpful in solving their problems. They were satisfied with the guidance provided by the counsellor irrespective of delivery format. Conclusions POD Adventures was feasible to deliver with guidance from lay counsellors in Indian schools, acceptable to participants and associated with large improvements in problem severity and mental health symptom severity. Clinical implications POD Adventures has promise as an early intervention for adolescents with a felt need for psychological support in low-resource settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this systematic review was to examine the pooled prevalence of common mental disorder (CMD) and to evaluate the predictability of screening instruments to detect CMD in the children and adolescent population in India. Data sources included the MEDLINE, PubMed, PyschEXTRA, and PyschINFO up to 2020, with additional studies identified from a search of reference lists to examine the diagnostic utility of tools carried out in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines, PRISMA within parentheses after the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines (PRISMA). Only studies involving children and adolescents with an independent measure of depression and anxiety in India were included. Random effects meta-analyses were employed to calculate a pooled estimate of depression prevalence. Twenty studies met all inclusion and exclusion criteria for the systematic review. The analysis showed that several tools were used in different regions of the nation to measure CMD such as the beck depression inventory (BDI), Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R), and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale. The pooled prevalence of depression was 19% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 12.57–27.12), 15% (95% CI = 4.67–30.90) for anxiety, and 11% (95% CI = 4.37–19.77) for any depressive disorder. In terms of BDI had the highest sensitivity (61%) while CDRS-R had the highest specificity (75%). Given the high heterogeneity of the studies, there is insufficient evidence that any tool accurately screens for CMD and likely to underestimate the true prevalence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify what lifestyles best explain and impact ecological behavior among young Indian consumers.Design/methodology/approach This paper adapts the lifestyle scale developed by He et al. (2010) and the Actual Commitment scale to the Indian context to describe its impact on the young consumer’s ecological profile. The study is based on an extensive literature review. The data were obtained from a questionnaire handed out to a sample of 250 students. With the information obtained, and after the scale validation process, a structural equation analysis has been conducted.Findings Findings of the study highlight that environmental patterns and lifestyle factors are those that best characterize the ecological market segment. This group of young consumers is characterized by their self-identity and a feeling of uniqueness. They are people who always try to improve themselves and take actions which pose a new challenge for them. They are also characterized by having an ecological lifestyle, selecting and recycling products and taking part in events to protect the environment. This type of consumer is a present and future investment for firms that are committed to the environment.Originality/value The results of this study might interest consumer behavior researchers and those firms that care about the ecological consumers. Moreover, previous studies have not dealt with young consumers. Further research is needed including new psychographic variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose School-based nutrition education programmes have the potential to reinforce healthy dietary behaviours in adolescents. The purpose of this paper is to understand the views of secondary school students in Kolkata, India, regarding the food and nutrition curriculum, food skill acquisition at school and home and barriers to learning food skills.Design/methodology/approach The sample of 1,026 year nine students was drawn from nine private, English-speaking secondary schools in Kolkata, India to participate in a cross-sectional, self-reported paper-based survey. Data analyses including descriptive statistics and χ2 analyses were performed.Findings The majority of the respondents (65.3 per cent) were female. Biology, Home Science and Life skills classes were the main places in which students acquired food and nutrition knowledge. Almost two-thirds of the respondents acknowledged the importance of acquiring food-related knowledge and skills. Approximately half (48.3 per cent) reported that the food and nutrition curriculum involved excessive memorisation while around the same proportion described the curriculum as interesting (47 per cent) and easy to comprehend (50.3 per cent). However, relatively few students said they enjoyed attending food and nutrition classes (38.7 per cent). Only a minority reported receiving food skills training, i.e. cooking skills (23 per cent), meal planning skills and food purchasing skills (12.3 per cent) at school. Despite some parental support received at home, time constraints (50.5 per cent) and lack of interest (26.3 per cent) were cited as prominent barriers to learning food skills.Practical implications These data underscore the need for a skills-focussed food and nutrition curriculum to improve Indian adolescents’ food-related skills, nutritional knowledge and dietary behaviours.Originality/value This is the first cross-sectional survey to investigate the delivery of nutrition education and food skills in the Indian school context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: The objective of the paper was to develop a comprehensive "Adolescence Stress Scale" and to examine different psychometric issues in the development, initial validation, and standardization of this scale. Method: Exploratory factor analysis was conducted on the data procured from a sample of 634 (11–18 years) school-going adolescents in India. Results: An exploratory analysis provided a 10 factor structure, namely, major loss induced stress, enforcement or conflict induced stress, phobic stress, interpersonal conflict induced stress, punishment induced stress, illness and injury induced stress, performance stress, imposition induced stress, insecurity induced stress, unhealthy environment induced stress. The 10 oblique factor solutions are found to be interrelated and interdependent with good indices of internal consistency, and content validity. Conclusions: This scale development is a novel and powerful measure that taps onto various aspects of stress experienced by school-going adolescents. The scale can facilitate researchers, clinicians, and teachers to identify and quantify the significant sources of stress in adolescents in school, or clinic settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand the involvement of adolescents in family vacation and dining out on the basis of the type of family. Also, the purpose of this paper is to refine the Scanzoni’s sex role orientation scale (SSRS) in the Indian context.Design/methodology/approach Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires from adolescents in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh (states in India). The response rate is 44.88 per cent. Sex role orientation was measured using the Scanzoni’s SSRS.Findings There is a decline in the involvement of adolescents through the major decision-making stages for both the services, family vacation and dining out. There is no significant difference in the involvement of adolescents in dual-income and single-income families for a vacation and dining out, except that the children from dual-income families are more involved in destination selection for a vacation. Also, the adolescents in modern families are significantly involved in the sub-decision stages, spending and selection of travel agent.Practical implications The marketers should advertise the vacation destinations to adolescent children in dual-earning families. Also, the travel agencies should design their promotion strategies so as to appeal to the adolescent children with modern attitudes. While catering to the needs of a family, travel agencies must present their services in a way that appeals to adolescents in modern families. Also, this aspect must be taken care of in all the pricing strategies and promotions for the modern families.Originality/value Despite the large number of studies in various Western countries in this area, few studies investigate adolescent influence in family decision-making in India. The present study takes into account the type of family, single income or dual income (on the basis of the employment of parents) and traditional or modern (on the basis of gender role orientation). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India as a country has always been seen as a repository of culture and heritage. The historical ruins, temples, scriptures of this ancient land foster liberty regarding sexuality and its significance in the advancement of civilization. However, sex education is still a taboo and an alien topic in the Indian education system. On the other hand, in the USA, one of the most advanced countries, sex education is a mandate, but sadly, there are middle schools in many states in the USA, which do not ponder over the subject at all.The reason behind this is the fact that there is no unified National Policy regarding Sex-Education in the USA, it is vested with the states individually. The USA government had been promoting 'Abstinence-only-until-marriage' (AOUM) education till Obama came. Even after implementing an evidence-based sex education system, the overall status of comprehensive sex education is unsatisfactory in the USA. This research aims at dealing with the issues associated with implementing and practising sex-education in the middle school and how the popular media deals with it and influences it. The paper takes into account the famous Netflix series Sex Education which is hugely applauded for its candid and inclusive approach towards sex and sexuality of teenagers and the recent bollywood film OMG2 which serves as a critique of the Indian education system which fails to provide proper knowledge on the subject and jeopardises the adolescent life. • Popular media fostering Sex-education in Middle School and its psychological implications on the adolescent mind. • Limitations of Abstinence-only-until-marriage Program in the USA. • Netflix Series Sex Education imparting valuable knowledge on Teen-age pregnancy, STIs and consent and addressing the issue of LGBTQIA+. • Sex Education and Oh My God 2 emphasising the importance of parent-child communication on teenage sexuality. • Popular media bringing reforms to the existing education system of the USA and India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Suicide is a major public health concern in India especially among children and adolescents. The yearly national statistics show a concerning trend of rising suicide deaths in these age groups. Methods: The present study, taking 26 years of national data from the National Crime Record Bureau during 1995–2021, examined the trend, patterns, means, and modes of children/adolescent suicides in India. We also undertook a time series analysis by using ARIMA (0,2,1) model to forecast the expected suicide rate for the next one decade. Results: A rising trend of suicide rate among children and adolescents was observed in India over the last 26 years. The forecast indicates a continuance of rising suicide cases for the upcoming decade in India. A substantially different trend of suicide rate was observed among early and late adolescents indicating significantly high vulnerability of late adolescents. Among children /adolescents, the most common causes of suicide were family problems, academic failure, illness, and unemployment. Illness has emerged as one of the leading causes of suicide, with a significant rise over time. Poverty and unemployment were also found as the important contributors with a steadily increasing trend of suicide among children and adolescents facing these problems in recent years. Conclusion: The study provides important analysis and information on suicide among children/adolescents in India, by providing useful insights for parents, teachers, policymakers, healthcare practitioners, and stakeholders aiming to prevent and control children and adolescent suicide and boost mental health. The study also provides important leads on risk factors with a forecast of suicide trends for the next 10 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tobacco is one of the major causes of preventable deaths worldwide. Around the world, tobacco is one of the leading causes of tobacco-related cancer. Objectives: To estimate the proportion of tobacco use among tribal adolescents in Terai-Doars region, and to determine the related risk factors. Methodology: A school based cross-sectional study was conducted among 680 tribal adolescent students of government schools in Teria-Dooars region of West Bengal, from April 2022 to October 2022. After obtaining consent, data on socio-demographics and tobacco consumption were collected. Significance was tested using multivariable logistic regression. Results: The proportion of tobacco consumption among tribal adolescent students was found to be 45.7%. Male (58.1%) and female (28.2%) adolescents were found to be regular consumers. Male adolescents primarily prefer smokeless tobacco, with 58% starting their habit between 12-15 years age. Male adolescents preferred smokeless tobacco, with a significant proportion starting their habit between 12-15 years (58%). High consumption of Khaini (52.6%), Guthka (46.6%), and Cigarette (42.4%) is observed. Age (<0.001), sex (<0.001), religion (0.029), socio-economic level (0.004), and family history (0.003) significantly associated with tobacco consumption. Conclusions: Overall proportion of tobacco use was high among the tribal adolescents, with most starting smoking at an early age. The major risk factor that contributed was the family members' tobacco use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the narratives of 18 adolescent boys as they engaged with issues of sex, sexuality and peer relations in their daily lives. The ethnographic research was conducted in two public secondary schools in a working-class community within KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Participants were boys aged between 16 and 19 years, who self-identified as either Black African or Indian. Theories of positioning are employed in this paper to delve into the complexity and intricacies of boys enacting their masculinities and sexual identities within a one-to-one interview space with one of the researchers. Identity performance in this private space is read in relation to public positions (in the company of peers), exposing the malleable nature of positioning and its subjective use in different spaces. Findings suggest that boys' struggle with the concept and social practice of 'masculinity', and that while they may not want to be seen as aspiring to certain ideals regarding male sexuality, these values remain a standard against which to evaluate self and other. In the individual interviews, authenticity as a heterosexual man is negotiated through various rhetorical strategies, namely a tendency to self-position as mature and sensible. It is argued that positionality is a useful conceptual tool for highlighting diversities in the performance of masculinities, and that intervention strategies need to pay attention to how spaces are constructed and nurtured for boys to engage with the ideological dilemmas in their identity development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Iron-deficiency anaemia is most common form of anaemia affecting adolescents in rural and urban setting in India. This condition has worsening effects on overall growth and cognitive development of children and adolescents. The paper evaluates sex and age-wise prevalence of anaemia in adolescents of Kukna tribe of Valsad, Gujarat. Methodology: Cross-sectional study on 296 Kukna adolescents(168 females and 128 males)aged 14-18 years was conducted. Dietary preference along with height, weight and haemoglobin status were taken. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS18.0. Result: Overall prevalence was estimated as 61.5%. Sex-wise prevalence was found to be 45.3%(females) and 16.2%(males). Frequency of anaemia was observed to be higher in vegetarians(n=112) than mix-diet individuals(n=68). Frequency of anaemia was reported to be greater in normal body mass index(BMI) females(n=55) and underweight males(n=37) with respect to females and males lying in other BMI categories. Prevalence rates of current study were greater than national prevalence of anaemia(53%) and greater proportion of females were found to be anaemic. Conclusion: There is a dire need for more micro-level and communitybased studies for assessment of anaemia which will enhance the understanding about the vulnerable groups in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescent girls vulnerable to early marriage and school dropout in rural India may be at elevated risk of psychosocial problems. However, few screening instruments have been culturally adapted and validated to measure this risk. This paper describes the process by which the Primary Health Questionnaire PHQ-9, a screening instrument for depression, was tested for cultural validity as part of the Samata evaluation – an intervention to support low caste adolescent girls in rural south India to attend and complete secondary school and to delay marriage until adulthood. Three focus groups discussions (FGDs) were held with 20 adolescent girls and six outreach workers of the Samata programme in rural north Karnataka, south India. The FGDs were used to explore local expressions of psychosocial problems and to understand the acceptability and appropriateness of PHQ-9 items. A thematic content analysis was conducted on the transcripts of the FGDs. Descriptions of local expressions of psychosocial problems generally matched the items on the PHQ-9. However, not all representations of psychological symptoms were captured by this tool. Persistent worry, loneliness and isolation, and externalised behaviours were also described by participants as common expressions of psychosocial distress. Based on the limitations of translation methods, local stakeholders must be involved in evaluating the cultural appropriateness of mental health screening tools. The current research demonstrates a strategy by which to assess the cultural validity of Western psychiatric instruments with key stakeholders in low- and middle-income settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper looks at patterns of growth faltering and catch up of around 1000 children as they moved from 8 to 19 years of age, from middle childhood through adolescence to young adulthood, using Height for Age Difference (HAD) and the more conventional Height for age z-scores (HAZ). It also looks at what individual and household characteristics may have moved these children into or out of situations of nutritional deprivation and how their stunting profile in later childhood correlates with psychosocial outcomes at age 19 and how it may have intergenerational consequences. The paper uses 4 rounds of longitudinal data collected in 2002, 2006, 2009 and 2013 from Andhra Pradesh and Telengana, India when the children were aged 8, 12, 15 and 19. The paper finds that there are significant gender based biases in growth faltering later in childhood disfavouring girls and that becoming newly stunted as an adolescent is strongly correlated with a child reporting to have poorer relationships with peers compared to the group that were never stunted. We also find that a girl experiencing stunting in middle childhood or adolescence (even if they were not stunted at age 8 or eventually moved out of being stunted by age 19) correlates significantly with offspring being shorter and thinner than the offspring of girls never stunted. This is one of few, if any, studies that look at growth patterns in middle childhood and adolescence and outcomes as a young adult and the results are important for their implications for further research and policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Women undergo menstruation as part of their normal physiological cycle. In Indian society, it is associated with taboos, myths, misbelieves and malpractice. Majority of adolescent girls are unprepared in terms of knowledge, attitude and hygienic practices for managing the menstrual cycle when they enter menarche. A better understanding of the scientific process of menstruation and good menstrual hygiene is very crucial for the health and well-being of adolescent girls. Unsafe practices are associated with unwanted outcomes. Aim: To assess the knowledge, beliefs and sources of information adolescents have about menstruation, along with their management of menstrual hygiene. Materials and Methods: The present school-based crosssectional study was conducted in 2019 in Vadodara, Gujarat, India, among 240 adolescent girls of 14-17 years of age using multistage sampling methods. Data were collected by using pre tested, structured self-administered questionnaire after having informed consent. Results: A total of 98 (40.8%) of girls were aware of menstruation before attaining menarche; 19.58% and 54.17% of girls did not knew about the cause and source of the menstrual bleeding, respectively; 55.42% girls used only sanitary pads whereas 43.33% used both old clothes and sanitary pads as the absorbents. A 46.25% changed absorbent frequently (≥4 times in a day). A 54.17% washed their genitals frequently. The most common method of absorbent disposal was disposal in a dustbin. Mother was the main source of information regarding menstruation. Conclusion: Majority of adolescent girls were not having enough knowledge regarding menstruation and their menstrual practices are inexact. This is requisite for menstrual hygiene programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Eliminate rheumatic fever (RF) and minimize the burden of rheumatic heart disease by 2025" is the goal of World Heart Federation (WHF). The most important step to achieve the goal of WHF is the implementation of the prevention and control of RF in India. The program can be implemented with minimal fund allocation from government making use of the existing manpower in the government and private health sector and schools with the concurrence of National Health Mission, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Public Education and under the guidance of Cardiological Society of India, National Rheumatic Heart Consortium, Rheumatic Heart Club India, Association of Physicians of India, Indian Academy of Pediatrics, and Association of Otolaryngologists of India. By the successful implementation of this program, the children of 5--15 years in India can be protected from RF. India eradicated smallpox in 1980 and Polio 2012. With this program, we can start our efforts to eliminate RF by 2025. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Anaemia is a global public health concern affecting individuals of all ages, particularly adolescents who are in a stage of rapid growth and development, making them more susceptible to iron deficiency anaemia. In India, the prevalence of anaemia among adolescents is high, with significant variations across regions. Literature regarding knowledge about anaemia and related dietary practices is scarce in Pune district, especially in Mulshi taluka. Aim: To study knowledge related to anaemia and assess the dietary practices in terms of consumption of iron-rich foods among adolescents aged between 14 to 17 years enrolled in public schools of Mulshi Taluka, Pune District. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among school-going adolescents aged 14 to 17 years in Mulshi taluka, Pune district, Maharashtra, India, from June 2023 to August 2023. Data were collected from public schools using a pretested structured questionnaire administered through one-on-one interviews. A total of 285 responses were obtained. Descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test were applied to analyse the collected data using Microsoft (MS) Excel and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Results: The study revealed that more than half of the adolescents were familiar with anaemia (59.6%). However, a lower percentage considered it a health problem (45.6%). Only a few adolescents had taken Iron-folic Acid (IFA) tablets within the past year (13%), while a higher percentage had consumed deworming tablets in the past six months (70.2%). Adolescents consumed roti or rice daily (90.2%), pulses (54.7%), and Dark Green Leafy Vegetables (DGLV) (73.7%) weekly. Fruits were consumed mainly weekly (46%) and occasionally (39.6%), whereas fried food and aerated drinks were regularly consumed. The findings revealed poor implementation of the National Iron Plus Initiative (NIPI) program. Conclusion: The study highlighted a lack of anaemia-related knowledge and observed inadequate dietary practices among adolescents. Thus, comprehensive efforts are required to bridge the knowledge gaps, improve dietary practices, and strengthen program implementation to ensure the comprehensive health and well-being of adolescents in Mulshi Taluka. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digitalization, which is a requirement of today's people, is the result of technological progress all over the world. Each nation is aspiring to accomplish digitalization to make a powerful society in a superior technique. The Digital India program is started by the government of India to convert India into a digitally given power with an information financial system Enthusiasm of the Government of internet program, Digital India supports infrastructure and provides actions to India came in the form of an idea project to make India digital. Digital India aims at reaching the unreached through broadband highway, worldwide right to use mobile connectivity, the community ensures citizens digital services, manufacturing products, and employment opportunities to allow thus creating a knowledge economy that promotes comprehensive development. The plan to modernize India digitally would be especially hard except there is consciousness among the people. This research paper strives to examine the consciousness among adolescence as regards Digital India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a systematic review on the effectiveness of prevention, early intervention, and harm reduction including treatment of substance abuse among adolescents for tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs. Taxation, public consumption bans, restriction on advertisements, and minimum legal age for consumption, are effective measures to reduce the use of tobacco and alcohol. School-based prevention and skill-training interventions are effective tools to reduce substance use among adolescents. Social norms and intervention to reduce substance use in adolescents do not have strong evidence of effectiveness. Road-side testing and reduction of injection related harm are effective. However, further research is needed to support it. Moreover, the available research evidence comes from the Western countries with questionable applicability in Indian setting. Research is needed to increase the evidence base on interventions that aim to reduce the high burden of substance use in adolescents in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migration scholars have long regarded the trajectory of the third generation as a critical test of assimilation; however, scholarship to date has been limited and largely focused on socioeconomic attainment. In this article, we rely on a large dataset of adolescent respondents in England, Germany, and the Netherlands to compare the second and third generations in terms of their social networks and cultural identities. The third generation shows stronger ties to the native fourth-plus generation alongside weaker ties to coethnics. We document comparable, albeit more moderate, dynamics of assimilation over generations in regard to national and ethnic identification, along with substantial variation by country of destination and ethnic origin group. Our results point to a dominant trend of assimilation at the third generation and suggest future challenges to provide a more durable assessment of postwar migration waves two generations after settlement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, adolescent pregnancy is one of the key issues in women's reproductive health. Adolescent mothers face a higher risk of obstetrical concerns, and motherhood in adolescence is strongly influenced by lower education level and lower socioeconomic status. The present study was carried out across all Indian states and Union Territories using the National Family Health Survey, rounds 1 to 5 (1992–1993 to 2019–2021) in which various socioeconomic and cultural factors associated with adolescent pregnancies was examined in detail. The article uses univariate, bivariate with chi-square test, and multivariate logistic regression models to understand the extent of which socioeconomic factors and sexual behavior of the couple are related to early motherhood experiences. It was found that age at marriage, respondent education, employment, age gap between partners, and religion are some of the important variables that affect the likelihood of adolescent pregnancy among females in Indian states. Comprehensive institutional efforts like free contraceptives and counseling services should be provided to address the increasing risk of pregnancy among adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After Africa, India has been a home for many indigenous communities who are still untouched by modern lifestyle. In particular indigenous adolescence is the one with the least exposure to the external world. There is a huge gap between how indigenous adolescence perceives them and how they understand interpersonal relationship with the non-indigenous group. Even though Government takes many initiatives they still hesitate to come out their comfort-zone and lagging in interpersonal relationship with non-indigenous people. Results found that rationality indirectly mediates the relationship between self-identity and social intelligence. Adolescence's who are taught to think rationally are better able to assess events using facts and evidence, which allows them to respond appropriately with a deeper comprehension of the circumstances through reasoning. So, rational thinking helps to reduce perceptual bias, conflict resolution between their group likewise improves scientific thinking and effective communication of indigenous students. Indigenous researchers should develop intervention programs to improve their rational thinking, which helps to enhance their social intelligence and most importantly they believe their own ability to make wise decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescents are vulnerable to stressors because of the rapid physical and mental changes that they go through during this life period. Young people residing in slum communities experience additional stressors due to living conditions, financial stress, and limited access to healthcare and social support services. The Adolescents' Resilience and Treatment nEeds for Mental Health in Indian Slums (ARTEMIS) study, is testing an intervention intended to improve mental health outcomes for adolescents living in urban slums in India combining an anti-stigma campaign with a digital health intervention to identify and manage depression, self-harm/suicide risk or other significant emotional complaints. Methods: In the formative phase, we developed tools and processes for the ARTEMIS intervention. The two intervention components (anti-stigma and digital health) were implemented in purposively selected slums from the two study sites of New Delhi and Vijayawada. A mixed methods formative evaluation was undertaken to improve the understanding of site-specific context, assess feasibility and acceptability of the two components and identify required improvements to be made in the intervention. In-depth interviews and focus groups with key stakeholders (adolescents, parents, community health workers, doctors, and peer leaders), along with quantitative data from the digital health platform, were analysed. Results: The anti-stigma campaign methods and materials were found to be acceptable and received overall positive feedback from adolescents. A total of 2752 adolescents were screened using the PHQ9 embedded into a digital application, 133 (4.8%) of whom were identified as at high-risk of depression and/or suicide. 57% (n = 75) of those at high risk were diagnosed and treated by primary health care (PHC) doctors, who were guided by an electronic decision support tool based on WHO's mhGAP algorithm, built into the digital health application. Conclusion: The formative evaluation of the intervention strategy led to enhanced understanding of the context, acceptability, and feasibility of the intervention. Feedback from stakeholders helped to identify key areas for improvement in the intervention; strategies to improve implementation included engaging with parents, organising health camps in the sites and formation of peer groups. Trial Registration: The trial has been registered in the Clinical Trial Registry India, which is included in the WHO list of Registries, Reference number: CTRI/2022/02/040307. Registered 18 February 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CONTEXT: Flatfoot is a common foot condition that can be classified into flexible or rigid flatfoot. It is more prevailing among young children, adolescents, and adults. There has been an association seen between flatfoot and increased weight; however, the research is more focused on the prevalence of flatfoot in younger children. AIMS: The purpose of the present study is to report the prevalence of the flexible and rigid flatfoot and its association with body mass index (BMI) among adolescents. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: One-hundred adolescents including both males and females were included from Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School, Amritsar. Parental consent was obtained through the process of informed consent. The height and weight of subjects were measured using a standard apparatus. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Obesity was calculated by BMI. Flatfoot assessment was done using the Staheli index and plantar arch index (PAI), and flatfoot severity was graded with the Denis method. A relationship between BMI and flatfoot was observed. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Statistical analysis was done using the SPSS 15 version statistical program for Microsoft Windows. The statistical analysis employed included calculating the average, standard deviation, cumulative percentage, conducting a t-test, and performing Pearson's correlation test. The probability value P ≤ 0.05 was statistically significant. RESULTS: Fourteen percent of participants had left flatfoot, and 8% had right flatfoot. Further, left and right flatfoot types were also analyzed, and it was found that 12% of participants had flexible flatfoot on the left, and 5% had it on the right. The results showed a positive correlation between BMI and the right foot (r = 0.222, P = 0.026), indicating that as BMI increases; the right PAI also increases. However, there was no significant correlation between BMI and left foot (r = 0.111, P = 0.273). CONCLUSIONS: This study found a low prevalence of flexible and rigid flatfoot among adolescents; however, a positive correlation between BMI and flatfoot was found, indicating that individuals with higher BMI may be at increased risk for flatfoot. The findings of this study suggest that flexible flatfoot is common among adolescents, whereas rigid flatfoot is rare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescents are at risk of various psychosocial problems, due to pressure from parents, educational agencies, peers, and society. Often, it is not recognized and goes unnoticed. There is an immense need to screen this group for early detection and proper management. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of psychosocial problems among adolescents and to determine their risk factors. Methodology: The study employed a nonexperimental, exploratory, cross-sectional research design with a quantitative approach. Using a two-stage random sampling technique, a total of 2030 adolescents from 37 schools were chosen. The data collection tool for study participants consisted of three parts: (a) A sociodemographic proforma, (b) a pediatric symptom checklist-youth report, and (c) a checklist for assessing determinants of psychosocial problems. Results: Three hundred five (15.02%) of the 2030 respondents had significant impairment to internalizing problems, 350 (17.24%) to attention deficit problems, and 378 (18.62%) to externalizing problems. Pediatric symptom checklist scores and academic performance showed a moderately positive correlation. There is a significant association between psychosocial problems and adolescent characteristics at a P = 0.05 level of significance. Conclusion: Adolescents have a high prevalence of psychosocial problems such as anxiety and attention deficit. Periodic screening, counseling, and referral to psychotherapy can help to lessen the severity of the condition and improve psychosocial well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Violence against women is a severe public health issue and an unacceptable violation of human rights. The Kabaddi group work project in West Bengal, India, integrates sports and socio-emotional learning as a strategy for preventing violence against women through the empowerment of adolescent girls. Delivered by Praajak, a non-governmental organization, the Kabaddi project involves participants in athletic training and weekly study circles that raise awareness; build knowledge, skills, and confidence; and generate mutual trust and motivation to promote individual and social change. Guided by social learning theory and feminist theory, the carefully designed group work intervention follows a developmental approach that is consistent with Linda Schiller's relational model of group development. Testimonies from group participants demonstrate the intergenerational impact of the Kabaddi project on participants, families, and communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unhealthy behaviors including smoking, drinking, and drug use often begin during adolescence and are closely related to morbidity and mortality. This study examines the prevalence and factors associated with substance use among adolescent boys in Bihar, India. Data from the Understanding the Lives of Adolescents and Young Adults (UDAYA), conducted in 2015–16 in two Indian states, was used for analysis (n = 2004 adolescent boys aged 14–19 years). A multivariate logistic regression model was applied to estimate the effect of various correlates on substance use. Prevalence of tobacco consumption (19%) is high, followed by consumption of alcohol (8%) and drug use (1.2%) among adolescent boys in Bihar. One-fifth have ever used at least one substance. Age, education, current schooling status, wealth quintile, household head's educational attainment, and mother's education level are found to be important factors influencing substance use. It is essential to adopt more pointed programs which can effectively reduce substance use among adolescents in this and similar states. Programs related to prevention of substances should be expanded effectively through health education programs, media messages at the grassroots level, especially in the socio-economically backward states in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]