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Aim: To assess the prevalence of non‐communicable disease risk factors among the nursing staff and educate them on prevention. Background: Nursing staff is integral to the Indian community healthcare systems. Recent studies report a high prevalence of non‐communicable diseases in Indian nursing staff. Therefore, data on the prevalence of non‐communicable disease risk factors among nursing staff are crucial for education on prevention. Design: A cross‐sectional digital survey‐based study. Method: We invited 4435 nursing staff to attend our online survey. We used a customized questionnaire for data collection, including a digitized version of the Community‐Based Assessment Checklist form. A score of >4 was considered high risk and warranted screening. Result: Among 682 nursing staff who attended, 70% had never undergone screening for non‐communicable diseases. The prevalence of non‐communicable disease risk factors was significantly higher in male nursing staff. In addition, logistic regression analysis showed that age, tobacco and alcohol use, increased waist circumference, physical inactivity and family history of non‐communicable diseases were significant risk factors among nursing staff. Conclusion: The study findings suggest that the nursing staff have suboptimal self‐health concerns on non‐communicable diseases. This situation warrants continued medical education, awareness campaigns on adopting a healthy lifestyle and health promotion. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? The prevalence of non‐communicable diseases (NCDs) among Indian nursing staff is a growing concern, underscoring the need for comprehensive research and targeted interventions.Despite the significant health risks faced by this demographic, there is a notable lack of data on NCD risk factors specific to Indian nursing professionals. What this paper adds? This paper adds information on the prevalence of NCD risk factors chiefly among nursing staff in the Delhi National Capital Region.Male nursing staff have particularly high NCD risk factors. The implications of this paper: Findings may help develop routine screening programmes for nursing staff, continued nursing education and good, safe nursing practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the distribution of mortality across social groups classified by caste, gender and sector of origin in India in the mid-2010s: as such, the essay is intended to be both a methodological/measurement-oriented study and a substantive empirical assessment of an important dimension of human functioning in India. The analysis is carried out employing micro-data on the age-distributions of population and death-rates available in the National Family Health Survey of 2015–16 (NFHS-4). Mortality in the paper is measured in terms of the crude death rate, an indicator of "inefficiency" in the age-distribution of deaths, and an "age-adjusted" death rate which takes account of both the mean and the dispersion of a distribution. The last-mentioned indicator is taken to be the preferred measure of mortality. The analysis in the paper suggests that mortality outcomes across castes replicate the caste hierarchy and that there is a sharp rural-urban divide in the distribution of death. Mortality sex-ratios are found to be relatively more favourable for the lower than the higher castes. The results presented in the paper are not unexpected, but they provide quantitative confirmation of one's worst suspicions regarding the skewed distribution of mortality across social groups in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Population ageing is a demographic transition and burdens every country's health sector. A lack of social security combined with low government health-sector spending has made health-care utilisation difficult among elderly in many developing countries like India. This makes population ageing a global phenomenon for policymakers, researchers and stakeholders to discuss and debate in 21st century. The purpose of this paper is to examine the behavioural determinants of health-care utilisation among elderly population in Punjab. Design/methodology/approach: This study examines health-care utilisation among the elderly population in Punjab. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the data in the state of Punjab, with a multi-stage stratified random sample of 385 respondents. Logit regression was used to analyse the association between several behavioural factors like age, gender, place of residence, source of livelihood, education and frequency of visits with health-care utilisation among elderly aged 60 and above. Findings: This study revealed that gender, age, place of residence, source of livelihood, education and frequency of visits were significant determinants of health-care utilisation among elderly population. Originality/value: This study directs the need to improve health-care utilisation in a country, reducing inequalities that exist among the elderly population with respect to socio-economic and demographic differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India has witnessed a dramatic expansion of higher education, and women have emerged as noteworthy winners in the process. This paper focuses on the role of female college education on four dimensions of marriage: age at marriage, autonomy in the choice of spouse, work and financial empowerment, and quality of marital relationship. The study uses a sample of 35,561 currently married women from the 2011-2012 wave of the nationally representative India Human Development Survey (IHDS). It demonstrates that higher education, particularly college education, enables women to lead lives substantively different from their less-educated peers. College-educated women marry at later ages, enjoy greater autonomy in choosing their husbands, and have a more egalitarian relationship with their spouses. Furthermore, the study finds that educational homogamy and hypogamy afford greater autonomy to women. Even without a concomitant increase in labor force participation, college education among women appears to have a transformative effect on marriage in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Data mining in healthcare is a nascent arena of research in healthcare. Heterogeneity of Diabetes Mellitus in terms of clinical presentation calls for newer methods of research to study potential risk factors. Aim: The paper aims to use clustering techniques to identify the relationship between the four variables, namely the pre-prandial and postprandial sugar level, age and sex. Methods: The data was taken from a diagnostic laboratory in Wagholi, Pune. We conducted K-mean algorithm, EM algorithm, model-based clustering and t-mixture model. Results: It is evidenced that the data was best fitted to the t-mixture model. Our 50% samples were people with diabetes, 17% had prediabetes. Trivial correlation existed between age and sugar level. Males and females were equally at risk of having diabetes. Data presented concludes that age and sex have no effect on the risk of having diabetes. Data mining can be used to deduce meaningful clusters to drive plan-based interventions in the population. Conclusion: Methods of data mining can be used to deduce meaningful clusters in a heterogeneous dataset thus providing policymakers and healthcare researchers with novel information that will potentially contribute in formulating evidence-based policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Road traffic accidents are preventable public health issues and are becoming more common. These accidents can be linked to a number of factors, including an increase in the number of vehicles on the roads, changes in daily life, a nasty habit of breaking traffic laws, anarchic traffic systems, and risky driving practices. Thoraco-abdominal injury in different forms is one of the major causes of mortality in the victims of fatal road traffic accidents. The aim of this study was to know the pattern of thoraco-abdominal injuries in victims of fatal road traffic accident cases. Material & Method: The present study was conducted at the tertiary healthcare centre in southern Haryana. Total of 75 cases of fatal road traffic accident cases were enrolled during one year of study period. The basic information about the deceased like age, gender, mode of travel of the victim was obtained from investigating officer narration and inquest papers. During autopsy, detailed examination of injuries was carried out and the autopsy findings were recorded and analyzed. Results: It was observed that out of 75 cases male outnumbered females in ratio 5.25:1. Majority of the victims belonged to the age group 21-30 years. The commonest injury of the thoracic region was rib fracture (41.3%). It was also observed that 17.3% of victims had pelvic fracture. Conclusion: Human error is a major contributing factor to fatal RTAs, which can be avoided in many cases. A more stringent licensing policy, particularly for four-wheelers, increased knowledge of traffic laws, the reduction of drug abuse and an appropriate road network that is in line with traffic volume can help to reduce the number of fatal road traffic accidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we contend that urban middle-class older Indians engaged in "serious leisure" as a way to reimagine and reconfigure the structure of everyday life during the pandemic-led epochal downtime. In particular, we heuristically show that leisure activity patterns and constraint negotiation strategies among older Indians followed conceptual semblances with the dominant leisure-based typology of Serious Leisure Perspective. By thematically analysing household surveys (n = 71), time-use diaries and in-depth interviews (n = 15) of middle to upper middle-class individuals (55–80 years), we show how both men and women distinguished between serious leisure that is marked by motivation, agency and perseverance with that of unstructured, routinized free-time (or causal leisure). Time-use diaries suggested that despite the changed realities of heightened domestic time available to both genders due to the pandemic, women recorded higher proportion of their daily hours in household management and caregiving. Although women were governed by moral-cultural self-descriptions in their engagement with leisure, it was often associated with an enhanced sense of self-actualisation, self-management and identity. Overall, we show how the social codes of age and gender were inextricably linked with the practice of leisure during the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to indicate the current situation of the COVID-19 outbreak in India, the world's second-most populous country. India reported its first COVID-19 case in the southern province of Kerala in late January 2020. Since then, the outbreak has spread to other provinces and union territories, with the highest number of cases reported in Maharashtra province as of 24 May 2020. Design/methodology/approach: This paper presents the age- and gender-wise analysis of COVID-19 patients in Maharashtra province and the whole nation. Findings: It shows that 75% of them belong to the age group of 21–60 years and the age above 50 years has a very high fatality rate of 14.52% in Maharashtra. This analysis also shows that 76% of COVID-19 cases are in males in the nation. The data indicates that in the nation, 75.3% of the deaths are in the age group over 60 years and 86% of cases of death had diabetes-related comorbidity, hypertension, chronic kidney problems and heart problems. In India, the case-fatality rate, which estimates the proportion of deaths among identified confirmed cases, is 2.93% as of 24 May, which is significantly less than that many countries. Originality/value: To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first attempt to indicate the current situation of the COVID-19 outbreak in India based on age and gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Therapy process research focuses on understanding how therapy is conducted by professionals in the field. It is a nascent field of psychotherapy enquiry in India. This paper explores how novice therapists in India perceive their clients, and how this influences the process of therapy. In depth interviews were conducted with ten novice therapists, with less than six years of practice experience, from Mumbai, India. The data was thematically analysed. The data revealed that therapists' perceptions of their clients were defined by socio‐demographic features of age and gender, along with presenting complaints and personal attributes. Participants had defined beliefs about good clients as contrasted with difficult ones. Distinct preferences for particular client types were identified. The antecedents to these beliefs were attributed to the therapist's worldview, their training and the supervision received. These views, and the conceptualisation of the client, influenced the choice of client, the process of therapy and how they proceeded with sessions, and their methods of referral. The data from the study has implications for therapist training, supervision and further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elder abuse is evil in human society. The present paper unveils this social issue from two major factors psychological and physical abuse. The study sensitizes the subject matter of study by examining the effects of demographic variables like gender and age on elders. For achieving the purpose of the study the research is a design by exploring and validating the factors of measuring elder abuse through the mix method approach, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). To test the established hypotheses of the effects of the demographic variable on elders the two-way ANOVA was applied. The present study verdicts the development of a sound measurement scale with two influence factors. The separate and composite effect of aging and gender type on elder abuse was evidenced. These findings are crucial especially when the prevalence of elder abuse is higher during COVID-19. The limited novel understudied variable opens an avenue for further research in behavioral and demographic variables like marital status. The present study has practical insinuation for caring the elders in any human society like physical and psychological treatment of elders to avoid abusive situations. In addition, the study attempts to validate the novel issues like psychological and physical abuse of elders in the dimensions of demographic variables. Some rare studies in the Indian continent established the motivation of conducting the research on this dimension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The absence of reliable registration of Covid-19 deaths in India has prevented proper assessment and monitoring of the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, India's relatively young age structure tends to conceal the severity of Covid-19 mortality, which is concentrated in older age groups. In this paper, we present four different demographic samples of Indian populations for which we have information on both their demographic structures and death outcomes. We show that we can model the age distribution of Covid-19 mortality in India and use this modeling to estimate Covid-19 mortality in the country. Our findings point to a death toll of approximately 3.2–3.7 million persons by early November 2021. Once India's age structure is factored in, these figures correspond to one of the most severe cases of Covid-19 mortality in the world. India has recorded after February 2021 the second outbreak of coronavirus that has affected the entire country. The accuracy of official statistics of Covid-19 mortality has been questioned, and the real number of Covid-19 deaths is thought to be several times higher than reported. In this paper, we assembled four independent population samples to model and estimate the level of Covid-19 mortality in India. We first used a population sample with the age and sex of Covid-19 victims to develop a Gompertz model of Covid-19 mortality in India. We applied and adjusted this mortality model on two other national population samples after factoring in the demographic characteristics of these samples. We finally derive from these samples the most reasonable estimate of Covid-19 mortality level in India and confirm this result using a fourth population sample. Our findings point to a death toll of about 3.2–3.7 million persons by late May 2021. This is by far the largest number of Covid-19 deaths in the world. Once standardized for age and sex structure, India's Covid-19 mortality rate is above Brazil and the USA. Our analysis shows that existing population samples allow an alternative estimation of deaths due to Covid-19 in India. The results imply that only one out of 7–8 deaths appear to have been recorded as a Covid-19 death in India. The estimates also point to a very high Covid-19 mortality rate, which is even higher after age and sex standardization. The magnitude of the pandemic in India requires immediate attention. In the absence of effective remedies, this calls for a strong response based on a combination of non-pharmaceutical interventions and the scale-up of vaccination to make them accessible to all, with an improved surveillance system to monitor the progression of the pandemic and its spread across India's regions and social groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the socio-economic inequalities that exist in the use of unhygienic menstrual practices in India and its states, as well as to identify the contribution of various socio-economic factors that leads to these inequalities. Design/methodology/approach: Data from the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–21) for 240,285 menstruating women aged 15–24 years is used to examine the above objectives. The concentration index for unhygienic menstrual practices is calculated to measure the socio-economic inequalities, which are then decomposed into their determining factors. Findings: The state of Punjab experiencing the highest level of economic inequality, followed by Telangana and Haryana. The results from decomposition analysis suggest that rural residence (13%), illiteracy (7%), poor economic status (53%), not reading newspaper (12%) and not watching TV (14%) contribute 99% to the total socio-economic inequality in using unhygienic menstrual practices in India. The contribution of economic status to total inequalities is more in all the states except for Kerala and Mizoram, where caste and residence play an important role. Originality/value: This paper signifies the role of economic inequality in the use of unhygienic menstrual practices in India as well as the contribution of various socio-economic factors contributing towards these inequalities. The results from decomposition analysis suggest the need for unique health intervention strategies for different states following the evidence of major contributions to total inequalities in the use of unhygienic menstrual practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents data on the U–Pb chronology of detrital zircon grains and radiogenic isotopic composition (87Sr/86Sr, ɛNd) from the Proterozoic clastic successions of the Garhwal‐Kumaon Lesser Himalaya representing the extended northern Indian cratonic margin, NW India. The Proterozoic Lesser Himalayan Basin in Garhwal‐Kumaon Himalaya is divided into two sectors, namely, Inner Lesser Himalaya (ILH) and Outer Lesser Himalaya (OLH) by a tectonic boundary, namely the Tons Thrust (TT). Age distribution from inner and outer sectors of the Lesser Himalaya shows that the U–Pb chronology of most of these zircons provides Palaeoproterozoic (between 1.6 and 1.8 Ga) to Neoproterozoic (800 Ma) ages. The age data suggest sedimentation of the Rautgara Formation (Damtha Group) of ILH continued till the Neoproterozoic (~850 Ma), which was earlier regarded as ≤1.6 Ga. Tracking the detrital U–Pb zircon ages in the near adjacent cratonic parts point towards Aravalli Orogen as the major source region. Whole‐rock ƐNd(0) values for ILH rocks range from −37.6 to −14.6 and for OLH it ranges from −19.6 to −6.7. More negative ƐNd values along with dominance of Neoarchean‐Palaeoproterozoic ages in ILH indicates supply from more evolved protolith or recycled sources and less negative ƐNd values with major Neoproterozic zircon ages from OLH supports for less evolved source rock. The change from more negative ƐNd to less negative ƐNd values progressively upward the stratigraphy can be due to a shift in source with time. Both U–Pb zircon and ƐNd supports for a continuous sedimentation model, rule out the presence of ~500 Ma unconformity within the LH and argues for separate evolution of the Lesser Himalayan Basin on the trailing edge of the extended north Indian craton in "Columbia" configuration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Diabetes is a significant public health concern in India, with Kerala being labeled as the diabetes capital of the country. The study aims to evaluate the prevalence, treatment, and management of diabetes to examine the unmet need for care to propose cost-effective strategies. Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a geographically defined cohort population in Ernakulam. Sample: This paper presents diabetes data of adults ≥30 years enrolled from the community cohort. The interviews were conducted with 997 participants at their residence. Measurement: Random blood glucose was assessed for each participant using a finger prick test. Results: The overall prevalence of diabetes was 30.1%, of which 4.1% of participants had undiagnosed diabetes. Among those with diabetes, 86.3% were aware of their diagnosis; among those aware, 86.5% were on treatment. Among those on treatment for diabetes, 54% achieved controlled blood sugar. Conclusion: The challenge in diabetes management is controlling the blood glucose levels of people who adhere to treatment. Younger employed females from lower-income quartiles have the highest risk. The study also raises questions about quality and strategies for medication compliance. The findings inspire future research on care needs, policies, and program responses to reduce the diabetes disease burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to assess the knowledge on use of diaper and its impact on child health among mothers of infants. The objectives of the study was to assess the knowledge on use of diaper and its impact on child health among mothers of infants and to find out the association between the knowledge onuse of diaper and its impact of child health among the mothers of infants and selected socio personal variables. Non experimental descriptive study design was used in the study. The data was collected by using a semi structured questionnaire. The collected data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The result shows that out of 50 samples majority of the children are of age range 0-2 months, 52% were male children and was first born (54%). Majority of the sample are at age group 26-30 years (36%), 58% samples are educated upto graduate level, 42% of samples were housewives and 48% have family income above 30,000, 94% of children were using disposable diapers ,42% of children using diapers for 3-4 hours and 80% children had no exposure to diaper rash. Among the samples, 56% of mother had moderate knowledge, 34% of mothers had poor knowledge and, 10% of mothers had good knowledge. There is significant association between the age of mother and occupation of mother and there is no association between age of child, sex of child, birth order of child, education of mother, income of family, type of diaper used, duration of diaper used, previous exposure to diaper rash. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attacks perpetrated using acid are a particular form of interpersonal violence, possibly one of the most heinous manifestations of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). Acid attacks are mainly motivated by extramarital cheating, marital conflicts, women's rejection of marriage proposals, and sexual advances. As these attacks are not well understood from a psychological perspective, we conducted a systematic review, following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, of 284 articles identified, 13 were eligible for inclusion. Three main focuses were identified: "Risk and vulnerability factors," "Consequences and implications," and "Interventions and treatments." Acid attacks seem to be more frequent in countries where social and economic development leads to greater tensions over traditional gender roles like Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India. Identified risk factors were young age, low socioeconomic status, low educational attainment, ethnicity, unemployment status of the victim, alcohol, and drug use of the perpetrator. Among the main psychosocial consequences of acid attacks, isolation and social exclusion emerged. Additionally, the paper will discuss the role of mental health consequences and specific treatments from psychological, clinical, and medical-legal points of view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on the association between population ageing and health spending are inconclusive. Though per capita health spending has a strong age gradient, evidence from the developed countries attributes increasing health expenditure to high spending in terminal year of life. In India, though studies have examined the level, trends and determinants of health care spending, no attempt has been made on association of population ageing and per capita health spending across the districts of India. The objective of this paper was to examine the spatial dependencies and heterogeneities of population ageing and per capita health spending across 640 districts of India. Data from the Census of India (2011) and the consumption expenditure rounds of the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) (2009–10 and 2011–2012) were used in the analysis. Univariate and bivariate LISA analysis, ordinary least square regression, and spatial error model were used to decipher the spatial pattern of population ageing and health spending in the districts of India. Results suggest that per capita health expenditure is positively associated with the proportion of the older adults (aged 60 years and above) in the districts of India. Districts with less than 5% older adults have an annual per capita health expenditure of ₹629 compared to ₹2432 in districts with older adults 12% or more. Districts of India also exhibit large spatial heterogeneity in household health spending. Bivariate Moran's I statistic of proportion of older adults and per capita annual health expenditure was 0.48, suggesting spatially association of the share of the older adults and the per capita annual health expenditure in India. Results of the spatial error model confirmed that share of urban population, mean wealth score, and mean household size are significant predictors of per capita annual health expenditure in India. This study is important to monitor the progress of universal health coverage across the disadvantaged districts and to integrate age component in universal health coverage programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India enacted a new child sexual abuse law in 2012 and made important changes to the rape law in 2013 to expand the definition of rape and sexual assault, introduce several reforms and improve gender sensitivity in rape trials. However, the child sexual abuse law with its definition of who is a child has increased the age of consent for sex from 16 years to 18 years, echoed by similar changes in the rape law. This paper revisits the debates on the age of consent in India in the late nineteenth century. It reviews them in the light of the new legislative changes, adjudication of cases of sexual assault, and examines the implications of the new laws on adolescents and their sexuality. We contend that the changes in the law have resulted in several challenges: for adolescents exploring their sexuality on the one hand, and for courts to adjudicate on love, romance, and elopement, on the other. Further, in conjunction with raising the age of consent, other changes such as mandatory reporting of sexual activity among adolescents, especially by hospitals, have increased family control on adolescents' sexuality and strengthened regressive social norms linked to marriages. One of the most troubling developments is the resulting barriers to adolescents' access to reproductive and sexual health care. This paper explores how laws devised to address harm and extend protection to children play into dominant social norms and are in the service of protectionist and patriarchal control on young people and their sexuality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: More than forty million people suffer from depression in India. A lack of awareness, stigma related to mental health issues, and limited accessibility to treatment services magnify the profound personal and societal impact of depression. Given the rise of smartphones in India, mobile technology can help alleviate some of these depression-related challenges. Aims and method: The aim of this paper is to investigate the essential features of an India targeted depression smartphone app. We conducted an online survey to profile the needs of individuals with depression in India, which varied based on variables such as socioeconomic background, age, level of awareness toward depression, and the extent of exposure to mental health stigma. We also conducted a systematic evaluation of depression apps currently available to Indian users to investigate the user needs that these apps met and the needs that they failed to meet. Based on our findings, we made a set of recommendations related to the essential features of a future app targeted at managing depression in India. Results: Presently available depression apps fall short in providing some significant features such as local language options, content in audio and video formats, and user location matched resources. These gaps make these apps less than fully relevant to a diverse set of Indian users. Conclusions: It is essential to provide depression-related information in a targeted manner depending upon each user's particular needs and context. Potential customizations, such as offering content in local languages and flexible formats (e.g. audio, video, and text); and providing user-relevant diagnostic tools and location matched treatment resources can help improve the suitability of the app for diverse users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women in low-and-middle income countries (LMICs) are disproportionately exposed to secondhand smoke (SHS), particularly in the home environment. Girls married before the age of 18 are more likely to remain at home and may be at higher risk of SHS exposure. This paper investigates whether women who were married as child brides had a higher risk of SHS exposure than their peers who were married as adults in India, where both burden of smoking and child marriage are critical public health concerns. Data were obtained from the 2015–2016 wave of the nationally representative India National Family Health Survey and included 306,788 married women ages 18 to 35 years. We estimated bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions to obtain odds ratios in favor of SHS exposure. The prevalence of SHS exposure for those who were married as adults was 50.3% while that was 55.2% for those who were married before age 18. After controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, the adjusted odds of SHS exposure for those who were married as child were 1.06 (95% CI: 1.03, 1.09) times that of those who were married as adults. Findings of this study inform policies for coordinated efforts to eliminate child marriage and strengthen tobacco control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Recent studies highlight the negative impact of social isolation and involvement in leisure activities on enhanced well‐being of individuals. However, there is dearth of evidence on relationship between social isolation and leisure activities on cognitive abilities and depression of older adults in the Indian context. The paper reports the impact of social isolation and leisure activities on cognitive functioning and depression of older adults. Methods: Data were collected from the Longitudinal Ageing Study of India (LASI), and 63,806 participants aged 45 years or above were considered for the study with adherence to the exclusion criteria. Multivariate analysis was carried out to analyse the group‐based differences. Results: Social isolation (F = 102.09, p < 0.01; η2 = 0.09) and leisure (F = 224.54, p < 0.01; η2 = 0.07) had a statistically significant impact on the cognition and depressive symptoms of participants. Socially isolated older adults with little involvement in leisure activities had the worst cognitive functioning (M = 32.76, SD = 4.41), whereas middle‐aged adults who were actively involved in leisure activities and experienced the least social isolation exhibited the best cognitive functioning (M = 32.76, SD = 4.41). However, leisure and age as independent factors did not have a significant impact on depression. Conclusion: Socially isolated participants, irrespective of age, and involvement in leisure activities exhibit poor cognitive functioning and are more likely to suffer from depression as compared to their counterparts. The findings of the study can be used to design intervention strategies aimed at reducing social isolation by incorporating leisure activities to ensure the optimal functioning of middle‐aged and older adults. Key points: Socially isolated older adults with least involvement in leisure activities reported the worst cognitive functioning.Socially isolated participants reported a positive association with depressive symptomatology.Both middle‐aged and older adults who engaged in leisure activities reported better cognitive functioning as compared to their counterparts who did not engage in any form of leisure activities.Leisure as an independent factor is not significantly associated with depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study examines the levels and predictors of malnutrition in Indian children under 5 years of age. Methods: Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure was applied to data from the India National Family Health Survey 2019–2021. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to assess the predictors. Results: 52.59% of children experienced anthropometric failure. Child predictors of lower malnutrition risk included female gender (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.881) and average or large size at birth (AOR = 0.729 and 0.715, respectively, compared to small size). Higher birth order increased malnutrition odds (2nd-4th: AOR = 1.211; 5th or higher: AOR = 1.449) compared to firstborn. Maternal predictors of lower malnutrition risk included age 20–34 years (AOR = 0.806), age 35–49 years (AOR = 0.714) compared to 15–19 years, normal BMI (AOR = 0.752), overweight and obese BMI (AOR = 0.504) compared to underweight, and secondary or higher education vs. no education (AOR = 0.865). Maternal predictors of higher malnutrition risk included severe anemia vs. no anemia (AOR = 1.232). Protective socioeconomic factors included middle (AOR = 0.903) and rich wealth index (AOR = 0.717) compared to poor, and toilet access (AOR = 0.803). Children's malnutrition risk also declined with paternal education (primary: AOR = 0.901; secondary or higher: AOR = 0.822) vs. no education. Conversely, malnutrition risk increased with Hindu (AOR = 1.258) or Islam religion (AOR = 1.369) vs. other religions. Conclusions: Child malnutrition remains a critical issue in India, necessitating concerted efforts from both private and public sectors. A 'Health in All Policies' approach should guide public health leadership in influencing policies that impact children's nutritional status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Population ageing represents a significant global challenge, particularly pronounced in countries like India. Aims: This study aims to explore how factors such as socio-economic status, behaviour, and health influence healthy ageing across the Indian older population. Methods: In this study, we utilized the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India – wave 1 dataset for analysis purposes. Scores were generated for five dimensions of healthy aging, including physical, functional, mental, cognitive, and social aspects and these scores were treated as the target variables. Multivariate Regression Trees analysis was employed to identify the behavioural and socio-demographic factors associated with each dimension of healthy ageing. Results: Years of education emerge as crucial across all dimensions, positively impacting cognitive health and mitigating age-related decline in healthy ageing. Marital status, engagement in household activities, spiritual practices, and living arrangements impacts the scores of different aspects of healthy ageing. Gender disparities in healthy aging are noticeable in the 60–74 age group, with women generally having lower scores. Safety of the living environment is a crucial determinant of the mental health of the elderly across all age groups.These findings highlight the complex interplay of factors in healthy ageing outcomes. Conclusion: Our study emphasizes the pivotal role of education in fostering healthy ageing in India. Factors such as environmental safety and social participation also influence well-being. Targeted interventions addressing education, gender equality, safety, and healthcare access are vital for enhancing the ageing experience and overall well-being of older adults. [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]

Background: Music learning induces significant neural changes, enhancing auditory, verbal, and visuospatial skills, IQ, and speech perception. Research studies reveal structural and functional brain plasticity due to music training in adults and children. While musical abilities are linked to formal training, the existence of "musical sleepers" with heightened speech perception without formal training is noteworthy in adults. This study addresses the gap in understanding such phenomena in children, exploring psychophysical abilities in musically adept children, and aiming to impact rehabilitation models. Materials and method: A pre-experimental study involved 164 typically developing children (mean age: 9.93) without musical training. Musical abilities were evaluated using the abbreviated version of Montreal Battery for Evaluation of Musical Abilities (MBEMA) test in DMDX software, covering melody, rhythm, and memory subtests. Psychophysical tests in MATLAB assessed temporal, frequency, intensity, timbre, and binaural resolution. Results: Using a median split based on MBEMA test scores (median: 42), 84 children exhibited poor musical abilities, while 80 showed good ones. Descriptive statistics for MBEMA scores and psychophysical tests were conducted. As data did not follow normal distribution, non-parametric inferential statistics were employed. Mann–Whitney U tests revealed significant differences favouring good musical abilities in all assessments: gap deduction (p = 0.01), pitch discrimination at 500 Hz and 4 kHz (p = 0.00), intensity discrimination at 500 Hz (p = 0.00) and 4 kHz (p = 0.01), profile analysis (p = 0.01), interaural level difference (p = 0.023), and interaural time difference (p = 0.038). Spearman correlation showed highest correlation with pitch discrimination at 500 Hz (r = − 0.538), 4 kHz (− 0.416), intensity discrimination at 4 kHz (r = − 0.367), and 500 Hz (r = − 0.311), profile analysis (r = − 0.313), interaural level difference (r = − 0.276), and gap deduction (r = − 0.235). All were significant (p < 0.01), except for the interaural time difference. Conclusion: Children excelling in music surpassed those with weaker abilities in psychophysical tasks. This echoes past research, underscoring auditory discrimination's influence on musical skills in untrained children. These results potentially support the concept of musical sleepers in children. Key predictors include pitch discrimination, while interaural time difference exhibited minimal correlation. Utilising such assessments may predict musical training outcomes for children with auditory disorders, but additional robust statistical investigation is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Fire is one of the greatest discoveries in the history of mankind. It fully transforms the way of living of humans. But just like a double edged sword it also affects the human life in a negative way. Fire is easy and dangerous weapon in kitchen to be used for suicide for females in developing country like India. Due to this, thermal burn is a big problem and have significant share in medico-legal autopsies. Aim and objective: The aim of present study is to provide a brief analysis of thermal burn mortality across all age group brought in the mortuary of GRMC, Gwalior and to study the various medico-legal aspects of fatal thermal burn cases. Material & Method: This is a retrospective analysis of 82 cases of thermal burns which were brought for medicolegal autopsy at Forensic Medicine & Toxicology department in Gajra Raja Medical College, Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh) during the whole year. The data was complied, tabulated and analysed statistically. Results: 3.6% of total medico-legal autopsies are of thermal burn. Most of the thermal burn cases fall in the age group of 21-30years. 57.3% victims are female.81.1% of the victims are married. Most of the victims (64.6%) showed total body surface area involvement between 71-100%. Most of the cases (39%) survived for 7 days or more. Most common cause of death (74.4%) in this study is Septicaemia. About 69.5% of thermal burn cases were accidental manner. Conclusion: In most of the cases thermal burn is totally preventable and manageable. Education at school level plays a key role. Most of the accidental thermal burns can be avoided if, people know the proper safety measures for using fuels for cooking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Accidental ingestion of foreign bodies in children is critical, as the inability to effectively communicate can potentially lead to devastating consequences. We aimed to determine the epidemiology of foreign body ingestion and variability according to age, gender, type, and location of foreign body, and describe its management. Aim and Objective: The aim was to study the various types of foreign body ingestions in children admitted to pediatric surgery and their management. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted from January 2020 to June 2022 on children under the age of 12 years with a confirmed diagnosis of foreign body ingestion. Patients were clinically and radiologically assessed, after which standard protocols were followed wherein patients were followed by either observation or emergent management. Emergent management included removal of the foreign body by either endoscopy or surgery. Comparisons among multiple age groups, gender, type of foreign body, location of foreign body, and their management were analyzed. Results: Out of 99 subjects in our study, there were 76 boys and 23 girls. The median age of presentation was 5 years. Most children were asymptomatic at presentation. The most frequently ingested foreign body was a coin in all age groups. The majority of the foreign bodies were suspected to be in the small bowel. The foreign bodies that had crossed the duodenojejunal flexure (n = 74, 74.7%) were managed conservatively with the observation of a variable period of a minimum of 24 h and a maximum of 48 h. 21 cases were managed by endoscopic removal, while three cases required surgical intervention. Conclusions: Overall, the most common gastrointestinal foreign body was a coin in all age groups. Button battery is the most worrisome foreign body; however, depending on its position, it can be managed conservatively. Upper GI foreign bodies can be safely removed endoscopically. Parental counseling is very important for the prevention of ingestion of foreign bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Suicide has become a societal crisis owing to the recent increasing trends globally. Of the total suicide deaths globally, two-thirds occur in the developing countries including India. The available data on suicide in India reflect a rate of 11% (according to the National Crime Records Bureau 2013) with the highest rates in older adult males and an increasing trend of suicide deaths in younger age groups. Much of the literature is from the southern part of India with a relatively sparse data from North India. Aim and Methodology: The aim was to examine the 15-year (2004-2019) trend of suicide (age and gender distribution, methods used, and reasons) in an urban city in North India. Information was collected from the leading newspapers (English, Hindi, and Punjabi) of the area. Duplication of information was avoided, and statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 20. Results: Fluctuations in the total number of suicide cases over the 15-year period were observed with nearly 63% of people committing suicide being younger than 30 years of age, of whom 53% were male. More females in the younger age group and more males in the older age group were suicide victims. Of all the methods used, hanging was the most common (70%), followed by consuming poisonous substance, jumping from height, shooting self, and stabbing in the descending order. A ceiling fan was used for hanging by 32% of victims who hanged themselves, of whom 65% were male. Among the cited reasons, stress/depression was experienced by 19% of victims. Discussion and Conclusion: The trends with respect to age distribution, gender, and method used that is reported in the current study are in line with the trends reported globally. The preventive measures, especially using technological advances in designing fans not suitable for tying noose around it, can be explored. [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]

Intellectual disability in India is substantially under-reported, especially amongst females. This study quantifies the prevalence and gender bias in household reporting of intellectual disability by estimating the age-and-gender specific prevalence of the intellectually disabled by education, Socio-Demographic Index (SDI) score, place of residence, (rural/urban) and income of household head. We estimated prevalence (per 100,000) at 179 (95% CI: 173 to 185) for males and 120 (95% CI: 115 to 125) for females. Gender differences declined sharply with increased education, was higher for lower ages and low income and varied little by state development. Under-identification and under-reporting due to stigma are two plausible reasons for the gender differences in prevalence that increase with age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An essential and necessary component of any investigation into a sudden, suspicious death is the medico-legal autopsy. It's critical to understand the profile of medico-legal autopsy cases in order to ascertain the mortality rate from non-natural causes in a given area and addressing the demographic requirements in accordance with the region's unique mortality statistics. Material & Method: The present study was a retrospective study of autopsies performed at a tertiary care centre in southern Haryana, from January 2018 to December 2023. During this period a total of 886 medico legal autopsies were conducted. Relevant information and subjective data like age, gender, marital status & manner of death have been collected from medico legal autopsy register from January 2018 to December 2023. Results: It was observed that out of 886 cases male outnumbered females in ratio 2.06:1. Majority of the victims belonged to the age group 21-30 years. Majority of the deaths occurred due to poisoning (n=264, 29.79%), followed by road traffic accidents 26.74%. Conclusion: Majority of cases were in the 3rd decade of life, males outnumbered females. Poisoning and road traffic accidents were the leading cause of death. Public attention, awareness, preventive and remedial strategies should be undertaken to reduce similar incidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Numerous studies have previously estimated the dementia prevalence in India. However, as these estimates use different methodologies and sampling strategies, generating definitive prevalence estimates can be difficult. Methods: A Delphi process involving eight clinical and academic experts provided prevalence estimates of dementia within India, split by sex and age. The experts were also asked to estimate the number of people potentially living at different stages of the condition. A priori criteria were used to ascertain the point in which consensus was achieved. Results: Our consensus estimates generated a dementia prevalence of 2.8% (95% CI = 1.9 to 3.6) for those aged 60 years and above in India. Consensus was achieved across age and sex prevalence estimates, with the exception of one (females aged 60–64). Our experts estimated that 42.9% of people living with dementia in India had a mild severity. Conclusions: The findings indicate that there could be approximately 3.9 million people living with dementia in India, of which 1.7 million could be living with dementia of mild severity. Such estimates can better help researchers and policy makers to estimate the true cost and impact of dementia in India and can inform resource allocation decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Families with children diagnosed with ADHD often experience elevated levels of stress compared to families with typically developing children. This stress manifests in various forms including family conflicts, disciplinary challenges, financial strain, parental depression, and difficulties in marital relationships. Objectives: The objective was to assess parenting stress, coping, and resilience among parents of children with ADHD, as well as the psychosocial problems of children with ADHD as reported by parents. Method and Materials: his descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Child Guidance Clinic, Psychiatry Department, Government Medical College & Hospital, Chandigarh. It included 40 consecutive mothers of children diagnosed with ADHD according to DSM-5 criteria, aged 6 to 14 years, fluent in Hindi or English, and residing with their child. Exclusion criteria comprised major medical or psychiatric illnesses, specific learning disabilities (SLD), and comorbid disabilities in children, as well as significant psychiatric or medical illnesses, disabilities, or substance dependencies (excluding nicotine) in mothers, and multiple family members with major disabilities. Assessment tools used were the Socio-demographic and Clinical Data Sheet, Chandigarh Parent Related Stress Scale (CPRSS), Bref-COPE, The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Screening Tool for Assessment of Psychosocial Problems (STAPP), and Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Parent Rating Scale (VADPRS). Result: The study revealed high levels of stress among mothers of children with ADHD, who employed a range of coping strategies including instrumental support, active coping, and planning, as well as emotional support, acceptance, positive reframing, and religious coping. Some also used maladaptive strategies like behavioural disengagement, venting, and self-blame. Participants showed a moderate level of resilience, with mild overall problems noted. Issues related to financial resources and high expressed emotion were most prevalent, followed by challenges with medication/treatment compliance and social support. Conclusion: This study underscores the need for increased focus on supporting parents in ADHD management, informing the development of comprehensive psychosocial intervention programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Urban slum dwellers face significant challenges, including overcrowded living conditions, inadequate access to basic necessities, and limited socio-economic opportunities, which adversely affect their mental health. Despite the high prevalence of mental health issues in slum populations, there is a dearth of research addressing this aspect of well-being. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the social determinants and predictors of mental health among urban slum dwellers in Rohtak, Haryana, India. Material and Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional design to examine mental health status and predictors among urban slum dwellers in District Rohtak, Haryana. Using simple random sampling, 301 subjects from the slum area were selected, ensuring demographic representation. A socio-demographic data sheet, the Modified Kuppuswamy scale, and the Mithila Mental Health Status Inventory were administered. Results: The findings revealed a moderate level of mental health challenges among urban slum dwellers, with age, gender, education, occupation, family income, and socioeconomic status identified as the strongest predictors of mental health (F = 7.69, p < .001), accounting for 29.9% of the variance. The remaining variance is attributed to variables not included in the study. Conclusion: This study sheds light on the social determinants and predictors of mental health among urban slum dwellers in Rohtak, Haryana, India. The findings underscore the significant impact of socio-demographic factors such as age, gender, education, occupation, family income, and socioeconomic status on mental health status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The aim of this study was to develop age-specific nomograms for antral follicle count (AFC) in fertile and infertile Indian women and (2) to compare the influence of age on AFC in both groups. Setting and Design It is a prospective cross-sectional study in a tertiary-care hospital in north-central India. Methods and Material One-thousand four-hundred seventy-eight fertile and 1,447 infertile women (primary infertility) of reproductive age (18–49 years) were recruited. One-thousand one-hundred eighty-one fertile and 1,083 infertile women fulfilled the selection criteria for the study. Transvaginal ultrasonography was done on the second or third day of the menstrual cycle. Statistical Analysis Age-specific nomograms for AFC were built for the 3rd, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, and 97th percentiles in both groups. Correlation and regression analysis was done to estimate the relationship between the study variables. Statistical analysis was done by using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 20. Results At every age, each percentile value of AFC was lower in infertile than in fertile women. The decline of AFC with increasing age was linear in both fertile (r = − 0.431, p < 0.001) and infertile (r = − 0.520, p < 0.001) women; however, the rate was higher in the latter (0.50 follicle/year) than in former (0.44 follicle/year) group. The variation in AFC explained by age was 16.3% in fertile and 22.7% in infertile women. Conclusion AFC decreased linearly with advancing age in both fertile and infertile women, but more rapidly in the latter. The age only modestly explained the decline of AFC. The age-specific percentile thresholds for AFC should be used instead of age-independent constant thresholds in infertility counselling. [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]

Road traffic injuries are a major public health problem and a leading cause of death and injury around the world. Each year nearly 1.2 million people die as a result of road crashes, and millions more are injured or disabled. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcycle riders are 26 times more likely to die in a traffic collision than passenger vehicle occupants, and 5 times more likely to be injured. In a study conducted by NHTSA on 104,472 motorcyclists injured in traffic crashes, 15 percent of helmeted and 21 percent of unhelmet riders suffered TBI. A helmet aims to reduce the risk of serious head and brain injuries by reducing the impact of a force or collision to the head. A helmet works by, reducing the deceleration of the skull, spreads the forces of the impact over a greater surface area and by preventing direct contact between the skull and the impacting object. Present study was carried out in Mahadevappa Rampure Medical College, Kalaburagi with the aim to know cause of death in deaths due to bike accidents autopsied at Mahadevappa Rampure Medical College, Kalaburagi between 2011 to 2016(6-year retrospective study). Results of the study shows that out of 100 cases, in 65 cases cause of death was head injury and in 35 cases it was hemorrhagic shock, septicemia, multi organ failure and others. In 48% of cases injuries were seen in thoracic region and in 40% of cases abdominal injuries. Whereas in 34 cases except intracranial hemorrhage no other injuries were seen on the body. The present study shows that maximum deaths can be prevented by wearing a proper protective helmet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Evidence suggests that different indicators of socioeconomic position (SEP) contribute to oral cancer risk. Occupational status, as a measure of SEP, may be able to capture aspects of social hierarchy in societies in which employment is highly correlated with other social structures such as caste systems. Often in such societies, the life course of an individual is also influenced by this hierarchy. However, the influence of life course occupational status on the risk of oral cancer is not well understood. This study aims to identify the life course model that is best supported by the data using life course SEP—as represented by occupation—on oral cancer risk in a population in the South of India. Methods: Data from the HeNCe Life study, Indian site were used. Incident oral cancer cases (N = 350) were recruited from two major referral hospitals in Kozhikode, Kerala, South India, from 2008 to 2012. Controls (N = 371), frequency‐matched by age (5 years) and sex were recruited from the outpatient clinics at the same hospitals as the cases. Life grid‐based structured interviews collected information on an array of exposures throughout the life course of the participant. Occupation was coded with the 1988 International Standard Classification of Occupations, transformed to the simplified European Socioeconomic Classification, and further dichotomized into advantageous and disadvantageous SEP at three different life periods (childhood, early adulthood and late adulthood). The analysis was conducted using the Bayesian relevant life course exposure model with a Dirichlet noninformative prior and a weakly informative Cauchy prior to the overall lifetime effect and confounders. Results: Participants in disadvantaged SEP throughout their life had 3.6 times higher risk of oral cancer than those in advantaged SEP (OR = 3.6; 95% CrI = 1.6–7.2), after adjusting for potential confounders. While the crude and sex‐ and age‐adjusted models showed a clear childhood sensitive period for this risk, the model further adjusted for behavioural factors could not distinguish the specific life course period best explained by data. Conclusion: Occupation status alone could provide a similar overarching risk estimate for oral cancer to those obtained from more complex measures of SEP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: About 29-60% of tribal children are underweight due to limited healthcare access. The Kols, a tribe in central India, face similar issues and our study will examine their complementary feeding practices. Methodology: A sequential explanatory mixed-method research design was conducted on 218 Kol tribe women in the Manikpur block of Chitrakoot district Uttar Pradesh. In the first phase, the quantitative interview using a semi-structured questionnaire and in the second phase, an in-depth interview of 20 Kol mothers was conducted using an interview guide. Results: About 52.3% of the women were aged between 26- 35 years, and about 83.9% were illiterate. About half of the children (n=116, 53.5%) were introduced to complementary feed at 6-8 months of age. The independent predictors of the timely initiation of complementary feeding were education (AOR: 2.422, p 0.037), age of the mothers (AOR: 1.2106, p 0.047) and the number of children of the mothers (AOR: 2.715 p 0.004) diet diversity was rarely maintained. Conclusion: Complementary feed was introduced timely for half of the tribal women but diet diversity was not maintained. Health education and counselling to utilize locally available food items should be encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Context: Empathy and self-esteem are essential in delivering quality health care, particularly for women in labor and giving birth. Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the empathy quotient and self-esteem of the second-year and final-year medical and nursing students and labor room staff. Settings and Design: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a teaching hospital in southern India between September and December 2021. Materials and Methods: The inclusion criteria for the study were (i) nursing or medical students currently in their second or final year and (ii) obstetrician or nursing officer or intern currently posted in the labor room. Empathy quotient and self-esteem were measured using the Cambridge Behavioral Scale and Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale, respectively. Statistical Analysis Used: The scale scores were summarized as mean (standard deviation), percentages, and 95% confidence intervals. The association between empathy quotient, self-esteem, age, gender, designation, and experience duration was analyzed. We performed multivariable analysis using binary logistic regression. P <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Of the 400 participants included in the study, 36.8% (42.7% - medical, 26.2% - nursing personnel) had lower than average empathy quotient scores, and 13.3% (18.4% - medical, 4.1% - nursing personnel) had low self-esteem. Self-esteem had a statistically significant, independent effect on empathy quotient, as noted in the multivariable analysis among medical and nursing personnel. There was a significant difference between empathy quotient and self-esteem scores in medical and nursing personnel across various designations (P < 0.05). Conclusion: A third of the participants had empathy quotient ratings that were below average, and one-eighth of participants had low self-esteem. Self-esteem and empathy quotient are interdependent; hence has to addressed together. The empathy quotient and self-esteem vary across different designations emphasising the need to take measures to nurture it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgound: Globally 5,20,000 people die each year because of inter-personal violence. This study was an attempt to probe into sociodemographic patterns of victims of such heinous crimes against humanity. Aim: To evaluate the demographic profile and provocative factors in victims of homicidal deaths. Design: Prospective two years study. Materials and Methods: 133 cases which were brought to the mortuary in the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology for medico-legal post-mortem examination during this period of study with alleged history of homicide were included. Information obtained was organised in a pre-designed proforma and evaluated by SPSS4 Software. Observations and Results: 78.94% victims were males, maximum belonging to the age group of 21 to 30 years.72.38% male victims consumed alcohol. Hard and blunt weapon (39.09%) was the weapon of offence and previous enemity (38.35%) was the motive of offence in maximum cases. Head Injury(53.33%) in males and burns injury in females(32.14%) was the cause of death in most cases and in 44.36% cases injuries were on head, neck and face. Brain (51.12%) is the most common internal organ affected. Conclusion: Young males with alcohol consumption were vulnerable to such crimes. Use of Hard and blunt weapon was more than firearms. Head injury was the most common cause of death and brain was the most common internal organ involved. Among the females, the victims were young and familial disharmony was the provocative factor for homicides, while burns injury was the cause of death in most cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To assess the efficacy of submucosal diathermy (SMD) in Chronic rhinosinusitis and inferior turbinate hypertrophy undergoing Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery. Materials and Methods: We conducted a Randomized Prospective study in patients undergoing Functional Endoscopic Sinus surgery for Chronic Rhinosinusitis in a tertiary care centre in South India for a period of 2 years. Patients were divided into two groups, Group A underwent FESS and Group B underwent FESS with SMD. The outcome was evaluated using nasal endoscopy score (NES), modified SNOT score and Modified Lund Kennedy scores. Results: A total of 80 patients were included in this study.40 patients were allotted in each group. Male: Female ratio was 48:32. The age distribution ranged from 19 to 44 years with a mean of 29.55 ± 6.90 yrs. Mean NES scores, Modified SNOT and Modified Lund -kennedy scores were estimated pre-operatively and during 1st, 2nd and 3rd month of post-operative periods. The mean pre-operative sores were comparable in both the groups except NES score, which was higher in group B. Both the groups showed significant improvement in post-operative period. Inter group comparison showed significant difference in all scores with group B having better results when compared to group A. Conclusion: This study proves that FESS combined with SMD improves the postoperative clinical outcomes when compared with FESS without turbinate reduction. We conclude that SMD is a simple, mucosal preserving technique with almost no complications and can be safely done along with FESS to improve the outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: India is experiencing increasing road traffic accidents (RTA) amidst increasing motorization and infrastructure growth in recent years. Every day, nearly 400 road deaths occur on Indian roads and several thousands are hospitalized due to road crashes. WHO estimates the incidence of road deaths to be 16.6 per 100000 population in India1. With the aim of studying pattern and exploring various epidemiological characteristics of RTAs, this retrospective study of medico-legal autopsies was conducted. Aims & Objectives: 1 To study the pattern of thoraco-abdominal injuries (TAI) in fatal road traffic accidents in Kolar. 2. To describe demographic profile and create public awareness on road safety. Material & Methods: A retrospective autopsy based study of pattern of thoraco-abdominal injuries in victims of fatal road traffic accidents was conducted in Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College, Kolar (South India) from 1st January 2014 to 31st December 2014. A total of 192 RTA victims were referred for autopsy during the period of which 100 cases sustaining thoraco-abdominal injuries were studied. Results: A total of 192 medicolegal autopsies were conducted on victims of road traffic accidents (RTA) during the study period. Among them, 100 victims suffered thoraco-abdominal injuries, which accounted for 52.08% of the cases. The highest number of victims belonged to the age group of 20-40 years, accounting for 48% of the cases. In terms of gender distribution, males constituted 62.0% of the victims while females constituted 38.0%. The most common injuries were to the liver, accounting for 37.75% of the total injuries. Other frequently affected body parts included the spleen, lungs, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, and spine. Conclusion: The analyzed data provides clear evidence that road accidents are foreseeable and avoidable. To make substantial improvements in road safety throughout India, it is essential to establish a robust and effective national and state-level road safety authority, foster intersectoral coordination, and secure regular funding. Our aim in sharing this article is to increase public awareness of the significance of road traffic injuries from a public health perspective and to alleviate the weight of fatalities and injuries on our communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The key objective of this research was to describe the prescription rate of various antibiotics for dental problems in India and to study the relevance of the prescriptions by analysing antibiotic types associated with different dental diagnoses, using a large-scale nationally representative dataset. Methods: We used a 12-month period (May 2015 to April 2016) medical audit dataset from IQVIA (formerly IMS Health). We coded the dental diagnosis provided in the medical audit data to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-11) and the prescribed antibiotics for the diagnosis to the Anatomic Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) -2020 classification of the World Health Organization. The primary outcome measure was the medicine prescription rate per 1,000 persons per year (PRPY1000). Results: Our main findings were—403 prescriptions per 1,000 persons per year in the year 2015 -2016 for all dental ailments. Across all ATC level 1 classification, 'Diseases of hard tissues' made up the majority of the prescriptions. 'Beta-lactam', 'Penicillin,' and 'Cephalosporins' were the most commonly prescribed antibiotics for dental diagnoses followed by 'Macrolides' and 'Quinolones'. 'Dental caries', 'Discoloration of tooth', and 'Toothache' were the most common reasons for 'Beta-Lactams' and 'Penicillin' prescriptions. Conclusion: To conclude our study reports first ever country (India) level estimates of antibiotic prescription by antibiotic classes, age groups, and ICD-11 classification for dental ailments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study explored the factors associated with daily spiritual experiences of older adults and the association of daily spiritual experiences with major depressive disorder among older Indian adults. Methods: Data for this study were derived from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) wave‐1. The sample size was 31 464 older adults age 60 years and above. Daily spiritual experience was assessed from four items (Cronbach's alpha: 0.89) adapted from the daily spiritual experience scale (DSES). Major depressive disorder was calculated using the Short Form Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI‐SF). Descriptive, bivariate and multivariable forward stepwise logistic regression analyses were conducted to fulfil the objectives of the study. Results: A proportion of 87.46% of older adults reported daily spiritual experiences in the study. Women had higher odds of spiritual experiences than men (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.243; confidence interval (CI): 1.041–1.484). Older adults with higher education, those who were retired, those who reported community involvement or were physically active or belonged to the richest wealth quintile had higher odds of having daily spiritual experiences in comparison to older adults from the poorest wealth quintile. Further, older adults with daily spiritual experiences had significantly lower odds of major depressive disorder (aOR: 0.810; CI: 0.681–0.964) than older adults who did not report daily spiritual experiences. Conclusion: The study suggests that daily spiritual practices can be a strategy to reduce major depressive symptoms and improve mental health and wellbeing of older adults, and future studies are warranted on this direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social support has been considered an important social determinant of health because it assists individuals in reaching their physical and emotional needs. The current study was proposed to assess the social support status of the elderly in rural central India. Material and Methods: This observational cross-sectional study was conducted in selected four villages in central India on 460 elderly individuals for 5 months (Aug-Dec 2021) with the use of the MSPSS (Multi-dimensional Scale Perceived Social Support) questionnaire. Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis were carried out using R software. Result: Out of 460, 37 (8.04%) of the elderly were found to have low, 177 (38.47%) were moderate, and 246 (53.48%) were having high social support. The result showed age and education of the elderly were significantly associated with social support. Conclusion: Intergenerational activities, provision and strengthening of social platforms, and the addition social support components with comprehensive geriatric assessment can improve the current status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]