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Item Prevalence of Malnutrition among Adolescent Tribal Girls in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis(Wolters Kluwer – Medknow, 2025-06) George, L; Kiran, A; Nalini, N; Kujur, M; Kumar, A.Review Article Prevalence of Malnutrition among Adolescent Tribal Girls in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis George, Litna1; Kiran, Asha2; Nalini, Neelam3; Kujur, Manisha4; Kumar, Amit5 Author Information 1Lecturer, Department of Nursing, College of Nursing, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India 2Additional Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India 3Additional Professor, Department of OBG, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India 4Assistant Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India 5Associate Professor, Department of Lab Medicine, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India Address for correspondence: Ms. Litna George, College of Nursing, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India. E-mail: litna.george@gmail.com This is an open access journal, and articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/), which allows others to remix, tweak, and build upon the work non-commercially, as long as appropriate credit is given and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms. Indian Journal of Public Health 69(2):p 197-202, Apr–Jun 2025. | DOI: 10.4103/ijph.ijph_34_24 Open Abstract Background: About 104 million tribal people make up India’s total population, and among them, 4.7 million tribal children suffer from malnutrition. Objectives: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the pooled prevalence of malnutrition among adolescent tribal girls in India. Materials and Methods: We conducted this study from March 22, 2023, to April 4, 2023, using various databases such as PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and various websites, adhering to PRISMA guidelines. This study included only the articles published from 2013 to 2023 in the English language. We used Rayyan software to compile eligible studies. Two independent reviewers assessed the risk of bias in the included studies by using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool (JBI). This review used a random effect model to obtain the pooled prevalence of malnutrition among adolescent tribal girls. Database searches yielded a total of 17,608 studies, and this review included six of those that met the inclusion criteria. This review represents a total of 1964 participants. Results: The result of this study found that the pooled prevalence of undernutrition in India was 18.04% (95% CI: 0.49–0.67), P = 0.001. Conclusion: The study’s findings indicate the need for more stringent interventions and policies to prevent malnutrition among adolescent tribal girls in India.Item Effectiveness of Oral Bupropion and Nortriptyline as an Adjunct Treatment for Reducing the Use of Smokeless Tobacco: A Retrospective Study from a Tobacco Cessation Clinic in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Eastern India(Wolters Kluwer – Medknow, 2025-06) Guin, A; Haokip, HR; Bandyopadhyay, S; Das, S; Saha, I; Basu, A; Bhargava, SBackground: There is supporting evidence on the use of nortriptyline in smoking; however, its effectiveness in smokeless tobacco cessation has not been studied. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of oral bupropion and nortriptyline in reducing smokeless tobacco use. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, 85 smokeless tobacco users who required pharmacotherapy (either bupropion or nortriptyline) in addition to behavioral counseling and standard nicotine replacement therapy were included in the study. The amount of tobacco use and Fagerström test for nicotine dependence (FTND)?smokeless tobacco score were compared at the end of 3 months of treatment. Results: Among 84 patients(92.9% males); 39 (46.4%) received bupropion and 45 (53.6%) received nortriptyline. Of them, 97.4% of patients who received bupropion and 84.4% who received nortriptyline reported reduced usage of smokeless tobacco after treatment (P = 0.06). There was a significant reduction in the average use of smokeless tobacco after treatment as compared to baseline usage among patients who received bupropion (median [Q1 –Q3 ], 360 [150–600] to 8 [0–60]) and nortriptyline (median [Q1 –Q3 ], 90 [0–465] to 0 [0–60]). Similarly, there were significant reductions in the median FTND?smokeless tobacco scores after treatment as compared to baseline scorings among patients who received bupropion (median, 6 [4–7] to 0 [0–0.5]) and nortriptyline (median, 6 [4–8] to 0 [0–0.25]). Both bupropion and nortriptyline were found to be safe. Conclusion: Adjunct bupropion and nortriptyline were similarly efficacious in reducing smokeless tobacco use. This has clinical significance because nortriptyline is much cheaper than bupropion.Item Recent Trends in Ménière’s Disease Management in India: Results from the DIRECTION Cross-sectional Online Survey(Wolters Kluwer – Medknow, 2025-06) Agrawal, P; Jain, M; Sharma, A; Rana, VJBackground: Ménière’s disease (MD) is an inner ear ailment that can be effectively controlled with appropriate treatment and disease management. Objectives: The DIRECTION (Differential dIagnosis for compREhension of Causes, Triggers, and Indications Of MéNière’s disease) study was designed to highlight the major causes, symptoms, treatments, and disease management of MD from the perspective of clinical physicians and healthcare practitioners (HCPs) across India. Materials and Methods: A national, cross-sectional survey was conducted to record the responses of HCPs regarding MD symptoms, patient complaints, diagnosis, and dosing regimen of preferred medication. The survey responses were recorded from consulting physicians with specialties in ear, nose, and throat, chest, and neurology across the northern, southern, eastern, and western regions of India. Results: According to 89% of the HCPs who participated in this nationwide survey, 10%–40% of the patients visited them with dizziness and vertigo as primary symptoms for MD. Nearly 64% of the physicians diagnosed patients based on their symptom history, generally when the disease has progressed to its middle stage. The majority of the clinicians prefer 16 mg betahistine at twice-a-day frequency. Most of the respondents agreed that there was no significant impact of COVID-19 infection on initiation and progression of MD. Conclusion: Vertigo and dizziness are the most common symptoms of MD, and the disease is generally detected during its middle stage. Patient counseling and education, being one of the most important aspects in disease management, must be promoted.Item A Scoping Review on Epidemiological Risk Factors and Treatment Modalities for Snakebites in India(Wolters Kluwer – Medknow, 2025-06) Saha, S; Behera, S; Kotekar, SU; Hameed, S; Vyas, N.Background: Snakebite is a major public health concern in India and is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Death and significant health repercussions caused by snakebites can be effectively mitigated with easy access to safe and effective antivenoms and enhanced awareness among healthcare professionals and the general public. Objectives: This review investigates the factors influencing snakebite outcomes and the current treatment options in India. Materials and Methods: The literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and grey literature from World Health Organization and Government of India databases, focusing on studies published between 2012 and 2022. Inclusion criteria encompassed cross-sectional, intervention, descriptive, qualitative studies, case reports, and case series published in English, concentrating on snakebite envenoming. Results: Key findings included a lack of community awareness regarding early identification and management of snakebites, insufficient information on updated treatment protocols among healthcare providers, poor health-seeking behavior of victims, high reliance on untrained folk healers for initial treatment, and inadequate availability of anti-snake venom. These factors significantly impact snakebite-related outcomes. Conclusion: This scoping review provides valuable insights on the formulation of evidence-based policies that focus on reducing the impact of snakebite and improving patient outcomes in India, with the ultimate goal of achieving a 50% reduction in the number of deaths and cases of disability due to snakebite by 2030.Item Perceived Factors Affecting Patient Disclosure on Matters Concerning Contraception and Sexual History in Young Adults in Bengaluru, Karnataka(Wolters Kluwer – Medknow, 2025-06) Laturkar, S; Dias, AN; Agarwal, V; Meundi, AD.Background: In India, cultural norms imply that premarital sex rarely occurs. These beliefs contrast sharply with an increase in permissiveness toward premarital sex and the possibility of unprotected, risky sexual behavior. Young adults may hesitate to discuss their sexual history and contraceptive concerns with doctors, resulting in adverse reproductive health outcomes. Understanding the factors affecting a patient’s decision to withhold, this history could help improve the state of sexual health among young adults in India. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to assess attitudes and perceptions regarding the disclosure of information about sex and contraception when seeking health care and to identify perceived factors affecting the disclosure of information about sex and contraception among young adults in Bengaluru when they seek health care. Materials and Methods: Following a pilot study, 60 participants were selected from four colleges in Bengaluru (multistage random sampling). A digital questionnaire was administered. Results: Of the 60 respondents (aged 18–25), 22 (36.7%) were sexually active. Fifteen (25%) respondents did not consider themselves adequately knowledgeable regarding contraceptives. The majority of respondents considered the Internet to be their main source of information regarding contraceptives but considered health-care providers to be the most reliable. Unprofessional physician behavior, the presence of parents/guardians in the room, and the existence of a personal relationship between the physician and the patient’s family would likely result in respondents withholding sexual history. Conclusion: Young adults consider health-care providers reliable sources of contraceptive knowledge, yet rarely utilize them. Physicians must take steps to maintain a favorable environment to encourage young adults to disclose their sexual history.Item The Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of a School-based Intervention on the Health Cognition of Adolescents(Wolters Kluwer – Medknow, 2025-06) John, S; Pandian, D; Elangovan, AR; Bhaskar, ABackground: The major modifiable risk factors for noncommunicable diseases are physical inactivity, food habits, alcohol, and smoking. The risk factors typically emerge during adolescence and extend to the later years of life. Even though several structural and proximal elements decide these health-related behaviors (HRBs), the thoughts and feelings attributed to the behavior mediate the interaction between the external environment and behaviors and are amenable to change. Objectives: The current study aimed to assess whether the school-based intervention improved health cognition such as knowledge, self?efficacy, intention, and locus of control of HRBs of adolescents. Materials and Methods:We used a quasi-experimental research design. One hundred and ninety-six students from four schools in an urban district were recruited into the intervention group (n = 112) and waitlist group (n = 84). The researchers developed questionnaires to assess knowledge, self?efficacy, and intention and used the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale to evaluate the participants’ locus of control. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months after the intervention. Results: Out of 196, 181 students completed the study. The intervention group had 106 students and waitlisted group had 76 students. Even though both groups showed improvement, Kendall’s W analysis showed that the intervention group had a higher quantum of changes in the health cognitions than the waitlisted group over time. Conclusion: School-based intervention effectively changed the adolescents’ health cognition.Item Comparison of Different Body Mass Index Classification Tools to Identify Underweight and Overweight among Young Girls in Rural Haryana(Wolters Kluwer – Medknow, 2025-06) Srinath, K; Kaur, R; Kalaivani, M; Kant, S; Misra, P; Gupta, SKMalnutrition is prevalent and impactful among young Indian girls aged under 18 years. Systematic errors have been observed in body mass index (BMI) classification among these girls. We assessed anthropometry of 185 young girls (15–17 years) from rural Haryana, and classified BMI using different tools by the World Health Organization (WHO), Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP), and extended International Obesity Task Force (IOTF). Agreement between various tools with extended IOTF cutoffs was expressed by Cohen’s weighted kappa. The WHO and IAP charts demonstrated moderate agreement with extended IOTF cutoffs. The CDC chart did not distinguish severe underweight and underweight. Extended IOTF Asian cutoffs are context-specific, able to classify all five weight categories, have smooth transition to adult BMI standards, and suitable for identifying underweight and overweight. This study emphasizes need for developing and using accurate BMI classification tools, to improve the efficiency of addressing malnutrition among young rural Indian girls.Item Changes in Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Over Two Decades in a Rural Population in Western India(Wolters Kluwer – Medknow, 2025-06) Nila, S; Apte, A; Kalkonde, Y; Agarwal, D; Juvekar, SBackground: Surveillance and control of cardiometabolic risk factors can be a cost-effective strategy for controlling noncommunicable diseases in resource-limited settings. However, long-term studies on them in rural India are limited. Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the changes in the burden of cardiometabolic risk factors between the years 2005 and 2022–2023. Materials and Methods: Two cross-sectional studies were conducted in 2005 and 2022–2023 in a well-defined population in the Vadu Health and Demographic Surveillance System in the rural Pune district. Trained surveyors used the WHO STEPS tool to measure tobacco use, alcohol consumption, fruit and vegetable consumption, anthropometry, and blood pressure in both studies. Fasting blood glucose was measured only in the recent study. Both studies used random stratified sampling with 10-year age-sex strata for the 25–64-year age group. Data were analyzed using a Chi-square test and age-adjusted, sex-stratified prevalence rates (n = 2073 [2005]; n = 1711 [2022–2023]). Results: Over 17 years, the age-adjusted prevalence of generalized overweight or obesity has more than doubled (31.6% to 70.1% in men and 22.8% to 60.1% in women). Central obesity prevalence has also more than doubled (20.2% to 54.3% in men and from 21.6% to 45.4% in women). While there has been a decrease in the prevalence of hypertension in both genders (25.9% to 22.1% in men and 22.7% to 17.5% in women), the prevalence of prehypertension has increased (41.6% to 60.1% in men and 32.8% to 43.9% in women). Conclusions: The study suggests the need for primary prevention strategies to control obesity and prehypertension in the study population and similar rural communities in India.Item “Embracing a Borrowed Life”: A Narrative Analysis of Post-Transplantation Experiences among Indian Kidney Recipients(Wolters Kluwer – Medknow, 2025-06) Kumar, N; Tandon, A; Rana, R; Sachdeva, MP; Gupta, A; Rana, DSThis study systematically examined the multifaceted dimensions of the posttransplantation experiences of Indian kidney recipients through a meticulous narrative analysis of clinical interview data sourced from 111 male and 28 female recipients. The mean age of recipients was 39.63 ± 11.61 years, while donors exhibited a mean age of 48.68 ± 11.81 years. A predominant 33.8% of all donors were identified as maternal contributors. A central thematic construct, “fear of graft rejection,” emerged from the data. Subsequently, five subordinate themes were discerned: (i) Maintenance immunosuppressants and disease vulnerability, (ii) Translating gaze as nazar (evil eye), (iii) Decisions within families, donations by women, and (iv) Graft as a gift of life. This comprehensive elucidation of the recipients’ perspectives augments the scholarly comprehension of the intricate challenges and decision-making processes inherent in the landscape of Indian kidney transplantation, characterized by a preponderance of living donations within familial networks.Item Understanding Drug Use in Meghalaya: A Drug Users’ Perspective(Wolters Kluwer – Medknow, 2025-06) Nongrum, MS; Nengnong, CB; Passah, M; Decruse, B; Dohling, W; Warjri, SGDespite being considered a low prevalence state for illicit drug use in 2005, presently Meghalaya faces heightened vulnerability to drug use. The absence of updated data in Meghalaya underscores the necessity for this study to profile drug users. A qualitative descriptive approach was adopted; 128 opioid substitution therapy clients and 17 service providers from three districts of Meghalaya were interviewed. Drug users were generally males with low educational attainment and 80% working in the unorganized sector. A quarter started drug use during their school years. The reasons for drug initiation are curiosity and experimentation, family problems, peer pressure, and de?stressing. Heroin, the most injected drug, accounted for a daily average expenditure of `500–`2000. The age of initiation of drugs is lower than in other states, thus warranting the need for enhanced sensitization about drug risks among school adolescents, youth, and the unorganized employment sector.Item Challenges Faced By Female Counselors in Providing HIV Testing and Counseling Services in Kashmir: A Qualitative Interpretive Inquiry(Wolters Kluwer – Medknow, 2025-06) Qurieshi, MA; Haq, I; Bashir, K; Khan, SM; Mattoo, S; Bhat, IF; Rather, IABackground: India’s adult HIV prevalence (15–49 years) has declined from 0.54% in 2000–2001 to 0.22%. Female HIV counselors encounter significant challenges, particularly given the cultural sensitivities around discussing sexual health. Objectives: To explore the lived experiences of female HIV counselors in Kashmir in providing HIV counseling. To examine the latent and manifest challenges embedded in providing counseling to HIV-positive patients. Materials and Methods: This qualitative study employed interpretative phenomenological analysis(IPA). In-depth interviews were conducted with 11 female HIV counselors working in Integrated Counseling and Testing Centers across Kashmir from December 2022 to January 2023. One interview with a counselor from Leh was conducted via Zoom. Data were transcribed and analyzed using IPA to identify the key themes. Results: The data analysis revealed a lack of institutional support, inadequate counseling spaces, and skepticism about counseling effectiveness. Most HIV counselors (81%) reported insufficient support from hospital authorities, and 72% experienced breaches in patient confidentiality, highlighting a lack of supervision and administrative backing. In addition, 90% indicated that counseling spaces lacked privacy, compromising the quality of sessions, (63%) expressed doubts about the effectiveness of their counseling due to heavy workloads and limited time. Conclusion: Female HIV counselors in Kashmir face various challenges, including a lack of privacy, workforce, supervision, and support from hospital administration. Additional issues include inadequate training, particularly in counseling substance users, insufficient HIV sensitization training for healthcare professionals, and dissatisfying salaries. Addressing these factors is essential for improving the efficacy of HIV counseling services in the region.Item Laws and Community Ownership in Preventing Child Sexual Abuse(Wolters Kluwer – Medknow, 2025-06) Ghosh, N; Raj, KK; Jamir, L; Mitra, SItem A Comprehensive Inquiry of Injection Safety among Varied Healthcare Institute: Prioritizing Patient Safety and Adherence(Wolters Kluwer – Medknow, 2025-06) Dabhi, S; Pandit, NB; Dabhi, TS.Patients and health?care providers are at significant risk of both infectious and noninfectious adverse effects due to the hazardous nature of injection techniques. According to the International Physical Activity and the Environment Network study findings, 3–6 billion injections are administered annually in India. Remarkably, studies imply that every year, at least 50% of injections performed globally are harmful. Aim of the study is to examine the overall effectiveness of the existing infrastructure and systems within health-care facilities in facilitating safe injection practices. A descriptive survey approach was used where total 26 healthcare facilities were observed and healthcare worker were interviewed. The tool consists of observational checklist. Several aspects of injection safety were found to be satisfactory in both government and private health?care facilities city. Nevertheless, opportunities for improvement exist, warranting specific measures. The implementation of regular in-service educational training sessions is crucial.Item Baseline Knowledge and Change in Confidence after Learning First Aid from Emergency Physicians: A Pre–Post Interventional Study of 2462 High School Junior Red Cross Cadets(Wolters Kluwer – Medknow, 2025-06) Abraham, SV; Krishnan, SV; George, T; Thomas, VK; Sunny, SP; Hassan, S; Thekekara, AJ; Jothi, V.HBackground: Public awareness of the importance of first aid (FA) significantly impacts patient care. Even though it is understood that FA awareness and training should be made universal, it is often debated whether FA education should be made compulsory among school students. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the baseline understanding of select FA measures among school students. Materials and Methods: A total of 2462 students were given a self-administered questionnaire to assess their baseline knowledge on managing common injuries, followed by a 3-h interactive lecture on FA. Postintervention evaluation was done with the same questionnaire analyzing their change in knowledge and confidence. Results: Nearly three-quarters (n = 1798, 73%) of the students had never attended a FA course. Eighty percent knew how to manage a cut injury properly, but only a minority answered correctly when asked about the first step to aid an individual in case of a seizure (n = 233, 9.5%), burns (n = 366, 14.9%), or snakebite (n = 852, 34.6%). The mean knowledge score for the students (n = 2355) improved from 3.91 ± 1.4 to 6.65 ± 1.9 after the course. A statistically significant improvement (P < 0.001) in confidence was also noted after the lecture. Conclusion: FA training for high school students would not only enhance their confidence and awareness about FA management but may also act as a bridge to improving basic care measures at the community level.Item Level of Self-esteem and Self-efficacy among Postoperative Breast Cancer Patients(Wolters Kluwer – Medknow, 2025-06) Deep, S; Swain, M; Das, S.Breast cancer has the greatest incidence rate among all types of cancer and is the most common malignancy worldwide. The low self- esteem among postoperative breast cancer patients when they are experiencing episodes of severe pain, increasing feeling of hopelessness, higher level of depression. A quantitative study was conducted to assess the level of self- esteem and self- efficacy among 200 postoperative breast cancer patients. The standardized Rosenberg self- esteem scale was used for data collection. The result was a maximum of 65.5% had low self- esteem and a maximum 53% had low self- efficacy with a phi value of 0.312 and ‘p’ value was .001 which was a positive correlation at the level of p<0.01. There was no significant association between the socio demographic status with the level of self- esteem and the level of self- efficacy. The study concluded that positive attitude is a major factor for positive self- esteem.Item Empowering Adolescent Boys – Peer Education and Road Safety in Rural Maharashtra(Wolters Kluwer – Medknow, 2025-06) Shinde, SR; Padhye, SA; Sudarson, NG; Lavangare, SR; Singh, VSRoad accidents are a leading cause of death, morbidity, and economic burden among young individuals. This study aims to evaluate how effective a peer education program is in improving road safety knowledge, attitudes and practices among adolescent boys aged 16–19 from two villages. In Village “A,” 110 boys completed a baseline survey, and 10 were chosen as peer educators to provide the intervention. Village “B” served as the control group, receiving traditional road safety education. After 6 months, all participants took a post-test survey. The intervention group showed a significant increase in road safety knowledge compared to the control group (P < 0.0001), but there was no significant difference in attitudes (P = 0.34) or practices (P = 0.72). The study indicates that peer education can effectively enhance road safety knowledge, but further research is needed to see if it leads to lasting behavioural changes.Item Contextual Risk Factors of Stunting and Severe Stunting among Indonesian Children Under 2 Years: Based on Cross-sectional Data from Basic Health Research(Wolters Kluwer – Medknow, 2025-03) Djaiman, SP; Rizkianti, A; Rachmalina, R; Achjar, KA; Lestari, AS; Ruspawan, IMBackground: Stunting is the most common form of chronic malnutrition in children that continues to be a public health concern in Indonesia. Local capacity at district, subdistrict, and village levels is still insufficient and remains a major constraint that needs to be addressed. Objectives: This study aimed to assess factors related to stunting and severe stunting among children aged under 2 years at the individual, household, and district levels. Materials and Methods: The integrated 2018 Indonesian Basic Health Research and National Socioeconomic Survey were analyzed utilizing multilevel multinomial logistic regression analysis to examine the role of the individual, household, and district levels with stunting and severe stunting among children aged under 2 years. The magnitude of the role of the individual/household level and district level in the prevalence of stunting and severe stunting can be seen from the Interclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) value. Results: At the district level, food insecurity status is the main predictor of increased odds of severe stunting. ICC individuals and households for stunting 83. 6% severe stunting 25.4%, ICC at the district stunting 16.4%, and severe stunting 74.7%. This indicates that the district level has a greater contribution to the prevalence of severe stunting and the individual/household level contributes more to the prevalence of stunting. Conclusions: This study’s findings have resulted in the influence of district contextual factors on severe stunting and an effect of the individual household factors on stunting indicating that multilevel interventions are the key to preventing and reducing stunting and severe stunting.Item A Correlational Study between Chest Computed Tomography Severity Score and Laboratory Biomarker among COVID-19 Patient Admitted to a Tertiary Care Institute in a Tribal Belt of Central India(Wolters Kluwer – Medknow, 2025-03) Alam, MN; Khatoon, S; Verma, A; Thakur, H; Manwani, VKBackground: COVID?19 an emerging viral disease is a new challenge before the world. While having limited resources, early identification and deciding the need for hospitalization is important in management. Objectives: Can Chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) score be used as a prognostic factor and along biomarkers as a composite indicator to determine outcomes in COVID?19 pneumonia? Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional record-based study was conducted at a Tertiary Care Institute in Central India on 400 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction confirmed COVID?19 patients during March 1st, 2021–May 31st, 2021. Results: The mean age was 42.82 years with male predominance (67%). Comorbidity was positively associated with computed tomography severity score (CT?SS) (P = 0.0). Most common comorbidities were hypertension (26%), diabetes (21%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (17%), and chronic kidney disease (17%). There was a statistically significant positive association between oxygen requirement (P = 0.002) and biomarkers including D-dimmer, serum ferritin, and C-reactive protein with HRCT severity score (HRCT-SS). Cycle threshold value had varying relation to the CT-SS. Conclusion: HRCT?SS can be used as a predictor for COVID?19 pneumonia severity and mortality outcome.Item Lagged Effects of Rainfall on Malaria: A Case Study of Meghalaya(Wolters Kluwer – Medknow, 2025-03) Chungkham, HS; Marbaniang, SP; Gogoi, HBackground: In the relationship between malaria and meteorological factors, existing studies mainly focus on the interaction between different climatic factors, while interaction within one specific climatic predictor at different lag times has been largely neglected. Objectives: This paper aims to explore the interaction of lagged rainfalls and their impact on malaria incidence. Materials and Methods: Monthly malaria cases and three climatic variables of 4 districts in Meghalaya from 2005 to 2017 were analyzed with the varying coefficient?distributed lag nonlinear model. The correlation patterns of the 2nd-, 3rd-, and 4th?month lags would vary over different rainfall levels at the 1st-month lag. During the period 2005–2017, a total of 309,133 malaria cases were reported in all the districts under study. Results: The monthly average rainfall ranges from a minimum of 181.79 mm in South Garo to a maximum of 367.87 in Jaintia. Furthermore, South Garo and East Khasi are the hottest and the coolest places under study with 26.96°C and 16.86°C, respectively. Rainfall levels in the 1st?month lag affect the nonlinear patterns between the incidence of malaria and rainfall at each lag time. The low rainfall level at the 1st-month lag may promote malaria incidence as rainfall increases. However, for the high rainfall level at the 1st-month lag, malaria incidence decreases as rainfall increases. Conclusion: The interaction effect between lagged rainfalls on malaria incidence was observed in this study, and highlights its importance for future studies to better understand and predict malaria transmission.Item Comparing ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Coronavirus Vaccine (Recombinant) (Covishield) and BBV152; Bharat Biotech COVID-19 Vaccine (Covaxin) for COVID-19: Reports of Adverse Events Following Vaccination among the Indian Population(Wolters Kluwer – Medknow, 2025-03) Kaur, S; Rohilla, L; Kayina, CA; Kaur, J; Kaur, G; Walia, A; Kumar, P; Singh, A; Saini, S; Soni, SL; Malhotra, PBackground: COVID?19 is declared a global pandemic by the WHO; vaccines were the need of the hour to reduce mortality and return to some form of normal life. The Indian government provides two vaccines as per the program; ChAdOx1 nCoV?19 and BBV152; Bharat Biotech COVID?19 vaccine. However, vaccine hesitancy is a major public health concern. Objective: To evaluate the adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) after COVID?19 vaccination. The safety profile of ChAdOx1 nCoV?19 and BBV152 vaccine was also studied. Materials and Methods: This was a large?scale, cross?sectional survey. Beneficiaries who had their vaccination in the past 2 weeks were sent an online survey performa regarding AEFIs after COVID?19 vaccine. Results: Out of 2311 participants, 58% received ChAdOx1?nCoV?19 and 42% received BBV152 COVID?19 vaccine, with the mean ± standard deviation age (years) of 36.3 ± 14.5 and 16.9 ± 4.07, respectively. The previous history of COVID?19 infection was reported in 7% of the participants. In the ChAdOx1?nCoV?19 group, 85.3% participants reported at least one adverse reaction, with pain at site being the most common, followed by fever, fatigue, and feeling of unwellness. In the BBV152 group, 17% reported adverse reaction, with pain site being the most common, followed by tenderness, fatigue, and feeling of unwellness. In the BBV152 group, a significant positive association was observed between AEFIs and age. In the ChAdOx1?nCoV?19 group, age was marginally associated with AEFIs. AEFIs were more after first dose (121 vs. 43, P < 0.001, adjusted odds ratio (OR) =3.39 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.24–5.11], P < 0.001) among elderly (adjusted OR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.36–0.99, P = 0.047) and women (721 vs. 423, P = 0.001, adjusted OR = 1.68 [95% CI: 1.24–2.29], P = 0.001). Conclusion: Our study observed that both ChAdOx1 nCoV?19 and BBV152 have a favorable safety profile without serious AEFIs in any of the beneficiaries.