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Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is a significant cause of morbidity worldwide, especially in the low and middle-income countries like India and is found to be more common in the rural areas. Delays in diagnosis and initiation of treatment along with lower treatment adherence and completion rates have increased the morbidity and mortality of TB in the rural areas. The collation of information accumulated through the assessment of people's Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) towards TB, helps in charting new health programs for the public, identifying lacunae, and devising interventions based on these lacunae which in turn will help us to achieve the vision of a "TB free India” by 2025. Aim: To find out KAP and any association amongst them regarding TB among the study subjects. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted on patients attending Outpatient Department (OPD) at the Rural Health Training Centre (RHTC) attached to NCR Institute of Medical Sciences, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India, during January 2021 to April 2021. From a sample of 106 patients data of KAP regarding TB was collected via a structured questionnaire which was predesigned and pretested. Pearson’s Chi-square test was used to ascertain the association between subjects' KAP about TB. A p-value <0.05 was taken as the predictor of statistical significance. Results: Out of 106 patients, 72 (67.92%), 80 (75.47%) and 52 (49.06%) had adequate KAP respectively. Participants having adequate knowledge showed positive attitude and good practices and this association was found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: The study results reflect that having adequate knowledge of the disease transforms into good practices and a positive attitude towards a person suffering from the said disease as well as helps the people to have a positive frame of mind in case they themselves contract the disease. Health education and behaviour change communication hence needs to be scaled up in rural communities to prevent, detect and treat tuberculosis in order to achieve a TB free India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Protein-Energy Malnutrition (PEM) and prevalence of under-weight children in India, is an important health concern. Aim: To evaluate the effect of Oral Nutritional Supplement (ONS) on growth, overall nutrient intake and frequency of illness in nutritionally at-risk Indian children. Materials and Methods: In this prospective, randomised, gender-stratified, controlled, parallel group, open label study, 216 children (aged 4-6 years with weight-for-age z-score between -2 and -1) were randomised (1:1) to receive either 45 g of ONS {Test product+Dietary advice (T+D)} or control group {Dietary advice only (D-only)} for three months. Primary endpoints included weight-for-age z-score and weight gain in terms of g/kg/day from baseline to three months. Secondary endpoints included change in height-for-age z-scores; frequency of illness, change in dietary nutrient intake and Protein/Energy (P/E) ratio from baseline through three months. Safety endpoint included Adverse Events (AEs). PROC MIXED was used to perform Repeated Measures Analysis Of Variance (RMANOVA) based on the changes in z-scores. The z-scores changes within the group from baseline to the end of three months End-of-Study (EOS) were compared using paired t-test. Results: At baseline, the mean (SD) weight-for-age z-scores were similar in both the groups {1.50 (0.309) and -1.49 (0.312) in T+D and D-only groups, respectively}. At the EOS, only T+D group showed significant mean (SD) change from baseline in weight-for-age z-score compared to the D-only group {0.59 (0.296), p<0.001 vs. 0.04 (0.267), p=0.0974}. Mean rate of weight gain (g/kg/day) was significantly higher in T+D group vs. D-only group (1.12 vs. 0.26, p<0.0001). At baseline, height-for-age z-scores were similar in both the groups {-1.36 (0.668) vs -1.37 (0.638) in T+D and D-only groups, respectively}. At EOS, the mean (SD) change from baseline in height-for-age z-score was -0.02 (0.198), p=0.2389 in T+D group and -0.15 (0.171), p<0.001 in the D-only group. However, the change was not proportionate to weight-for-age z-score. Total absolute number of illness episodes was less in T+D group vs. D-only group (9 vs. 13). Improvement in dietary nutrient intake (carbohydrate, fat, protein and energy) and P/E ratio was significantly higher (p<0.001) in T+D group vs. D-only group. Overall, 8.3% children in T+D group experienced at least one treatment-emergent AE. Conclusion: The ONS helps to improve growth, nutrient intake and reduces frequency of illness in nutritionally at-risk children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]