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Background: Globally, eclampsia is the leading cause of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Objective: The present community‐based study was conducted among rural tribal women of reproductive age in remote villages of central India to determine their awareness of eclampsia and its likely impact. Methods: This cross‐sectional analytic study included randomly selected 4500 tribal women, between 15 and 45 years of age, residing in 140 villages in the proximity of one village with a health facility (study center), and who were willing to undergo a personal interview. In‐depth face‐to‐face interviews (each lasting 15–30 min) of study subjects regarding awareness, knowledge, practices, and perceptions about eclampsia were conducted using a predesigned tool completed by research assistants (not the subjects). Results: Of the 4500 women interviewed, the majority (62.4%) were 20–29 years old, minimally educated (40.6%), laborers (41.3%), and of a low socioeconomic class (40.8%). Of all the participants, only 35.9% were aware of eclampsia, associated events during pregnancy, labor, and the immediate post‐delivery period; 81.7% of those who were aware understood about symptoms and signs like headache, blurring of vision, dizziness, swelling over the body, ad high blood pressure. Of all the women who knew about eclampsia, 73.9% were aware that the occurrence of convulsions during antenatal and postnatal periods was an emergency and required urgent management, whereas 88.4% were not aware that severe convulsions affected maternal and neonatal health seriously, only 38.2% knew that eclampsia was a preventable condition. Conclusion: There was lack of awareness about eclampsia in many women and, of those who knew, some were not aware that it was dangerous. There is a need for awareness among women and their families of the disorder, its impact, and what action is needed in case it occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Targeted deworming is the current strategy for control of morbidity associated with soil‐transmitted helminths (STH) among at‐risk populations: preschool‐aged children, school‐aged children and women of childbearing age. We report the prevalence and intensity of STH in a district after lymphatic filariasis (LF) mass drug administration (MDA) in southern India where albendazole was co‐administered from 2001. Methods: Children aged 2 to 15 years and adults (defined as ≥15 years) in a rural administrative block of Tamil Nadu were recruited using a probability proportional to size method. Stool samples were screened and eggs per gram (EPG) determined by Kato‐Katz method. Multilevel logistic regression (MLR) and multilevel negative binomial regression (MNBR) analyses were used to identify factors associated with infection and intensity, respectively. Results: Of 862 participants who provided samples, 60 (7.0%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 5.3–8.7) were positive for STH with a predominance of hookworm infections (n = 57, 6.6%; 95% CI: 5.0–8.3). Increasing age (odds ratio (OR): 1.09; 95% CI: 1.04–1.15) and regular usage of the toilet (OR: 0.32; 95% CI: 0.12–0.88) were independently associated with hookworm infection and age was significantly associated with increasing intensity of hookworm infection (infection intensity ratio (IIR): 1.28; 95% CI: 1.19–1.37). A brief review of STH prevalence in endemic settings before and after the stoppage of LF MDA indicated that, in most settings, a substantial reduction in STH prevalence is seen. Conclusion: Community‐wide MDA in all age groups in these post‐LF MDA districts with low prevalence and light intensity infections could result in transmission interruption of STH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Double fortified salt (DFS) has proven efficacy in addressing iron deficiency and anaemia, thus improving maternal and child nutrition outcomes. However, DFS delivery in large‐scale settings is less understood, with limited documentation of its fidelity of implementation (FOI). We assessed the FOI of the DFS intervention in Uttar Pradesh, India, to improve the design and implementation of such programmes that aim to reduce the anaemia burden, especially in women of reproductive age (WRA). We conducted in‐depth interviews with DFS programme staff (n = 25) and end‐user WRAs (23), guided by a programme impact pathway. We transcribed and thematically analysed the interviews and used an adapted analytic framework to document FOI across four domains—objects of intervention, implementation staff, implementation context and target of implementation. DFS utilisation remained low due to a combination of factors including poor product quality, distribution challenges, ineffective promotion and low awareness amongst end‐user WRAs. Motivation levels were higher amongst district‐level staff compared to frontline staff, who lacked supervisory support and effective incentives to promote DFS. Three typologies of DFS users emerged—'believers', 'thrifters' and 'naysayers'—who indicated differing reasons for DFS purchase and its use or nonuse. The implementation of the DFS programme varied significantly from its theorised programme impact pathway. The adapted analytic framework helped document FOI and assess the programme's readiness for impact assessments and subsequent scale‐up. The programme needs product quality improvements, incentivised distribution and stronger promotion to effectively deliver and improve the realisation of its potential as an anaemia prevention strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Women who experience premature menopause either due to biological or induced reasons have a longer duration of exposure to severe symptoms and adverse health consequences when compared to those who undergo menopause at later age. Despite the fact that premature menopause has a profound effect on the health of women, there has been limited study on this issue. Therefore, this study attempted to determine the prevalence and factors associated with premature menopause among 302 557 women aged 25–39 years in India. Methods: This study utilized secondary data from the fourth round of the National Family Health Survey‐IV (NFHS‐4), conducted during 2015–2016 in India. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression were used for statistical analyses of the data. Results: The results revealed that the prevalence of premature menopause in this sample of Indian women was 3.7%, out of which 2.1% of women had experienced natural premature menopause, whereas 1.7% had surgical premature menopause. The prevalence of premature menopause was highest in the southern region of India. Factors like age, education, wealth index, place of residence, smoking status, children ever born, age at first birth, use of hormonal contraception, sterilization, and body mass index were found to be associated with premature menopause in India. Conclusion: A sizeable proportion of women in India are attaining menopause prematurely. Furthermore, the percentage and likelihood of experiencing premature menopause are relatively high among rural women, women with higher parity, early age at childbearing, and women who smoke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Introduction: In absolute numbers, India has more undernourished people than all the countries in sub‐Saharan Africa combined. In parallel with the high rates of hunger and undernutrition, the country has been undergoing rapid demographic and dietary transition marked by an increased prevalence of overweight/obesity, particularly among women. Objective: To measure the changing prevalence of overnutrition during last two decades, as well as to identify the associated sociodemographic correlates among pregnant and non‐pregnant women in India. Methods: This was a cross‐sectional study based on data from the latest round of National Family Health Survey (2015–2016) conducted among urban and rural women. Participants were 687,876 women (655,850 non‐pregnant and 32,026 pregnant) aged between 15 and 49 years. Nutritional status was assessed in terms of body mass index (BMI) using the cut‐off for Asian population. Results: Since 1998–1999, the prevalence of underweight has decreased by 9.2%, while that of overweight (BMI = 23–27.4 kg/m2) and obesity (BMI ≥ 27.5 kg/m2) has increased by 6.7% and 3.4%, respectively. Results of multivariable regression analysis revealed significant association between nutritional status and age, parity residency, educational level, religious affiliation, household wealth quintile, and TV watching behaviour. Of those, age and wealth status appeared to be the strongest predictors among both pregnant and non‐pregnant women. Conclusion: Since 1998, there has been a considerable drop in the prevalence of underweight and rise in the prevalence of overweight and obesity. Significant sociodemographic variations exist in nutritional status, notably age and financial situation, which should be highlighted in national nutrition policymaking and intervention programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]