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Introduction: The Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has wreaked havoc around the world, causing serious mental health implications, especially among schoolgoing children who are most vulnerable. The pandemic has had a devastating effect on the mental health and well-being of children, with long-lasting consequences. The present study aims to understand the mental health problems, psychological well-being, and demands of school-going children. Additionally, it seeks to identify any factors associated with poor mental health status and psychological well-being during the COVID- 19 pandemic and the post pandemic situation. The findings will contribute to early identification and appropriate management or referrals for mental health issues. Aim: To assess the mental health status of school-going children aged 11 to 17 years during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify factors associated with poor mental health status in this group. Materials and Methods: A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Secondary and Higher Secondary schools of Bankura Town, West Bengal, India, from June 2021 to September 2021. Four schools were included in the study using simple random sampling technique, with a total of 54 school-going children per school of class VI to XI (nine students per class) included via simple random sampling. Data were collected using an interview guide in the form of a structured questionnaire on Google Forms. The data of 217 children (one additional student responded) was collected using the Paediatric Symptoms Checklist-17 (PSC Y-17) and the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC). Categorical variables were expressed as percentages, and continuous variables were expressed as mean (±SD). The association between dependent and independent variables was examined using the Chi-square (c2) test, with a significance level of p<0.05. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 13.67±1.76 years, with 169 (77.88%) male students and 48 (22.12%) female students. The prevalence of depressive symptoms according to CES-DC was 121 (55.76%), while the prevalence of psychological impairment according to PSC Y-17 was 39 (17.97%). Significant associations were found between death due to COVID-19 {5 (2.3%), p<0.0001}, hospital admission due to COVID-19 was {25 (11.52%), p<0.0001}, job loss due to COVID-19 was {31 (14.28%), p=0.025} and having a health worker in the family with poor mental health status {18 (8.29%), p<0.0001}. These factors were found to be associated with the participants' poor mental health status. Conclusion: The present study revealed a substantial proportion of participants experiencing psychological impairment and depressive symptoms. It emphasises the need for proactive efforts to support the mental health and well-being of schoolgoing children through educational campaigns and psychological support programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Headache is one of the most common presenting symptoms encountered in day to day clinical practice. A computed tomography is often the most common imaging modality to diagnose the underlying causes of headache, majority of which turns out to be normal. The objective of this research is to study the morbidity patterns in the CT scan reports of patients presenting with headache in the population attending a tertiary care hospital in Eastern India. Method: The study was a retrospective analysis of all the CT scan reports performed in a tertiary care government hospital performed for diagnostic evaluation of headache referred from different clinics and included all patients regardless of the age during the time period December 2018 to November 2019. Results: All the patients were classified into two groups traumatic and non- traumatic depending on the history. Out of a total 1142 patient evaluated, 649 patients (56.83%) did not yield any positive findings on CT scan, i.e. the reports were normal. In fact, a routine CT scan is not advised for all headache complaints even by the ACR (American College of Radiology) appropriateness criteria. The difference between the number of patients with normal CT scan and abnormal CT scan in both the groups was statistically significant (p< 0.05). Conclusion: In concordance with the previous similar studies, it may be concluded that in evaluation of headache, CT scan should be advised only in selected cases as recommended by ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Headache or any other guidelines that may be developed for this purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR) is the process of planning for normal birth and anticipating the actions needed in case of an emergency which is critical in averting maternal morbidity and mortality. Objectives: To find out awareness and practices regarding BPCR among pregnant and recently delivered women in Bankura, West Bengal. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, community-based study was carried out among 120 pregnant women and 235 recently delivered women. Information on sociodemographic variables as well as awareness and practices regarding BPCR were collected through semi-structured interview. For statistical analysis Z-test was used. Results: The majority of respondents (69.3%) had registered for antenatal care within the first 12 weeks of their pregnancy and 74.0% of the recently delivered women had four or more antenatal check-ups and 81.3% had institutional delivery. The BPCR index of pregnant women and recently delivered women was 45.2 and 59.0, respectively, whereas BPCR index of the total was 52.1. Conclusion: Although the BPCR indicators are satisfying, the health system should use the opportunity during visits to health institutions to increase awareness among the pregnant women and her family on how to plan for the pregnancy and identify danger signs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Nutrient adequacy is the level of intake of an essential nutrient in relation to the nutrient requirement for adequate health, which is expressed as the percentage of recommended dietary allowance. To develop an effective nationwide preventive program to combat malnutrition, it is necessary not only to assess the nature and magnitude of the problem of nutrient inadequacy but to identify factors affecting it especially at the household level. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of nutrient adequacy in a sample of households in a rural area of Darjeeling district and to find out the factors associated with nutrient adequacy. Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out from January 2014 to December 2014 in 821 households of Darjeeling district, India. The major dependent variable used in this study was the mean nutrient adequacy ratio of a household and the independent variables were number of family members, number of under-five children in the family, literacy of head of the family, literacy of the wife of the head of the family, income of the family, and percentage expenditure on food. Results: The prevalence of nutrient adequate households was found to be 35.3% among the study households. It was observed that the percentage expenditure on food had the highest contribution toward nutrient adequacy, followed by number of under-five children in the family and literacy of the wife of the head of the family. Undernutrition was found to be prevalent in 56.6% of the households. Conclusion: Majority of the study population had a diet less than the required amount and expectedly, undernutrition was also present in huge proportions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented about an investigation over the cause of death of a couple due to fever in Patrasayer Block, Bankura District, West Bengal, India.

Background: Use of social networking sites (SNS) and prevalence of anxiety and depression among the young population is on the rise., Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess the pattern of use of SNS and the prevalence of anxiety and depression among medical students as well as to examine the relation, if any, between the use of SNS and anxiety and depression., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 undergraduate students of a medical college in Kolkata, West Bengal during 2017. Information on individual characteristics and use of SNS of medical students were collected using a structured questionnaire. Anxiety and depression were measured using State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and becks depression inventory (BDI). Prevalence was expressed in percentage and association was examined with Mann-Whitney U-test., Results: More than 90% of students use more than one SNS or instant messaging system. One-third remained active in SNSs all through the day and around 80% for ≥4 h. Use of SNSs during odd hours was reported by 55% participants, and 23.5% expressed their inability to spend a day without SNSs. Nearly 24% reported depression and 68.5% had state anxiety. STAI and BDI scores were significantly ( P < 0.05) higher among students who used SNSs for 4 h or more, used it during odd hours or stated inability to spend a day without SNSs than their counterparts., Conclusion: The use of SNS by medical students was pervasive. More use of SNSs and dependence on it were associated with anxiety and depression., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Objectives: We conducted the present study to assess the prevalence of hypertension, prehypertension, normotension and the associated factors along with awareness, treatment and control of hypertension among police personnel in Bankura, West Bengal, India., Methods: We collected information on individual, lifestyle, service-related and anthropometric characteristics of 1817 police personnel. We also measured blood pressure (BP) and plasma glucose level of the participants. Individuals were classified as hypertensive (BP ≥ 140/ 90 mmHg), prehypertensive (BP 120-139/ 80-89 mmHg) and normotensive (BP < 120/ 80 mmHg) on the basis of BP and their prevalence were expressed in percentages. Relation of individual, lifestyle, service-related and anthropometric characteristics with hypertension and/or prehypertension was examined with binary logistic regression., Results: Prevalence of hypertension, prehypertension and normotension are 41.9%, 42.9% and 15.2% respectively. Even one-quarter of below 40 years subjects have hypertension. Mean BP remains in the prehypertensive range. Prevalence of hypertension and mean BP increases with age. Cardiovascular risk factors show clustering in higher age and with hypertension. Older age group, male gender, abdominal obesity, diabetes and service length are positively associated with hypertension and/or prehypertension. Around 40% of hypertensive knew their status, three-quarter of aware subjects received treatment and only one-third of treated subjects have controlled BP (< 140/ 90 mmHg)., Conclusion: High prevalence of hypertension and prehypertension, high mean BP, mean age above 40 years and clustering of other risk factors pose a greater risk of cardiovascular morbidity in the current study population.

Background: Strengthening food security enhancement intervention should be based on the assessment of household food security and its correlates., Objectives: The objective was to find out the prevalence and factors contributing to household food security in a tribal population in Bankura., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 267 tribal households in Bankura-I CD Block selected through cluster random sampling. Household food security was assessed using a validated Bengali version of Household Food Security Scale-Short Form along with the collection of information regarding the monthly per capita expenditure (MPCE), total to earning member ratio, BPL card holding, utilization of the public distribution system (PDS) and receipt of any social assistance through a house-to-house survey., Result and Conclusion: Overall, 47.2% of study households were food secure whereas 29.6% and 23.2% were low and very low food secure, respectively. MPCE ≥ Rs. 356, total to earning member ratio ≤ 4:1, regular utilization of PDS, and nonholding of the BPL card were significantly related with household food security.

A cross-sectional, community based study was undertaken in Patpur slum of Bankura to determine the prevalence of chest symptomatics, their health care seeking Behavior and its correlates. Prevalence of chest symptomatics (cough for 3 weeks or more) was found to be 5.5%, three fourths of whom sought relief from a health care provider. Among them, 70.8% did so within 2 weeks, median being 7 days. No preference for either government or private health care provider was seen in first visit, where the major reason for choosing facilities was advice by family & friends (43.8%). Most of the chest symptomatics (75%) were retained in the same facility. Shift from private to government facility for subsequent visits (33.3%) was higher than from government to private facility (16.7%). The main reason (50%) for changing health facility was expectation for better service.