Background: Pregnancy-induced hypertension is one of the major health problems leading to maternal mortality. Globally, one woman dies every 7 min due to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDOP). Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia contribute majority of maternal, perinatal morbidity and mortality. The objective of this meta-analysis was to estimate the pooled prevalence of pregnancy-induced hypertension in India. Methods: A systematic search was done through PubMed, Google Scholar, MEDLINE, EMBASE and Scopus for studies conducted on HDOP. All studies that met inclusion criteria published till January 2020 were included and analysed. The analysis was done using STATA 20.0 software (STATA Version 20.0 is sufficient). The pooled prevalence of hypertension in pregnancy was estimated using both mixed-effects and random-effects models. Results: A total of 18 studies with 92,220 study participants (pregnant women) were included in this review. The estimated overall pooled prevalence of HDOP in India was found to be 11% (95% confidence interval, 5%–17%). Most of the included studies were cross sectional and from the southern zone of India. Conclusions: The overall pooled estimate shows high prevalence, i.e., 1 out of 11 women suffers from pregnancy-induced hypertension. High prevalence of hypertension in the study population demands the attention of policymakers and healthcare professionals. Better implementation of early screening of hypertension during pregnancy should be undertaken.

Background: The abuse and neglect of older people in the family context are emerging as a significant social, as well as a public health concern that is affecting the overall quality of life (QOL) of the elderly. Aims: The main objective of this paper was to study the experience of abuse and its relation with QOL of older people in rural Nepal. Methods: This is a cross-sectional, community-based survey carried out in the Kailali district of Nepal. The total sample size for this study was 547 people aged 60 years and older selected randomly. QOL was measured using the World Health Organization QOL scale popularly known as WHOQOL-BREF. Elderly abuse was measured by asking questions related to elderly abuse in the last 1 month. The descriptive technique is used to analyse the data. Descriptive, chi-square tests and F-test was used to analyze the data. Results: The findings show that about one-sixth of males (15.6%) and one in every seven females (14.3%) have faced any type of abuse in the last 1 month. This study found that overall QOL score of the Nepalese elderly was moderate (12.92 ± 1.75). The mean scores of the overall QOL index of people experiencing abuse were observed significantly low (12.28 ± 1.74) compared to those who did not experience any abuse (13.04 ± 1.73). Conclusions: Elderly experiencing abuse have significantly low QOL compared to not abused elderly in Nepal. The experience of abuse was elicited in the last 1 month. This study was carried out in specific rural area and cannot be generalised to all Nepali older people. Local activities and awareness to discourage older person's abuse should be encouraged that may help to enhance the QOL of older people.

Background: COVID-19 is primarily transmitted by droplets, aerosols and fomites. While adequate hand hygiene (HH) practice has already been proven to reduce transmission of pathogens and prevent infection, its role in checking cross-contamination with SARS-CoV-2 appears paramount. Aim: To assess the impact COVID 19 has had on individual HH practices among health care workers (HCW) at a tertiary health care center. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among HCWs for a period of 15 days from May to June 2020. The survey was distributed online via Google Forms after acquiring permission from Institutional Ethics Committee. Results: Two hundred and three completed survey questionnaires were received, primarily from nursing officers (42.4%) and residents (38.9%). Comparison of pre- and post-COVID-19 habits revealed a significant change in awareness regarding hand washing steps (87%–100%), practicing all steps of hand washing (66%–99%), washing hand before and after touching patient (55%–92% and 77%–100%, respectively), washing hands before going home (30%–91%), washing hands despite wearing gloves (21%–80%) and after touching patient's surroundings (46%–92%). Another significant finding observed was that almost 72% of the respondents took time to educate someone close by in HH and washing steps. Conclusion: The pandemic has seen an improvement in practices of HH. This change will not only impact the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, but every infectious disease spread similarly. Moreover, educating the general public would help in curbing the spread of COVID-19.

Background: The success of any training program is influenced by factors such as the course facilitator, learner and learning environment. Faculty Development Programs are conducted in institutes from time to time to train the trainer. Aims: The article aims to evaluate two Faculty Development Programs conducted at a tertiary care institute and address the concerns and suggestions as educationists. Subjects and Methods: Data generated from the 4-day workshop on Faculty Development Course conducted in two subsequent programmes in the year 2019 were reviewed. The performance of participants was analyzed based on their performance in pre-test and post-test administered through a set of pre-validated questionnaires. Participant feedback as well as their response to facilitatory and hindering factors was evaluated. Results: A total of 57 participants attended the workshop (cumulative both FDP). Pre-test post-test scores were 7.55 ± 2.2 and 12.5 ± 1.87, and improvement in knowledge was statistically significant with P < 0.0001. Overall, FDP was rated very good to good by 97% of the participants. Interactive sessions, group activity and discussions facilitated learning, while prolonged and hurried up sessions as well as non-availability of prior reading material were major hindrances. Conclusion: A low baseline knowledge of participants emphasizes the need for an early introduction to FDP with interactive sessions, good time management and a non-threatening environment to maintain the interest of learner and facilitates learning. The article in addition also discusses about the inadequacies and lacunae of the existing programme.

The article provides a comprehensive review of the current situation of micronutrient deficiencies (MND) among children in India. It provides information of common MND with its prevalence and geographical distribution. The review includes a nationally representative survey, nutritional reports and studies conducted in the different regions of India. Iron deficiency anaemia, Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and iodine deficiency disorder are found to be the most prevalent MND among children. The prevalence of anaemia ranging from 21% to 59.2%, VAD reported as a maximum of 10.2% in one of the recent Indian studies while the total goitre rate of highest as 21.9%. With the implementation of various nutritional programs for children, these deficiencies are found to be significant mainly among pre-school children. The recommendation on strengthening existing nutritional health programmes with some new intervention strategies to improve the micronutrient status among children and to reduce the economic burden to MND in the coming years.

This article reviews the ongoing initiatives to prevent and control cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in India and analyses the role of primary health care (PHC) system. The authors note that in last 2 decades, there has been increasing policy recognition of the challenges posed by CVDs and NCDs in India. The review of ongoing government health program in India indicate that while the interventions to tackle CVDs and NCD have also been launched and scaled up, a majority of these initiatives continue to be delivered through district or sub-district levels. Though, there has been plans, the scale up through PHC system is at early stage only. There is sufficient scientific evidence that the effective prevention and control of CVDs need accessible health services and a series of public health interventions through strengthened PHC system. There are learnings from COVID-19 pandemic response in India (in areas such as private sector engagement, effective enforcement of health regulation, community engagement and the use of tele-consultations), which can be useful. The authors conclude that a strengthened and well-functioning PHC system can ensure increased access to CVD and NCD services. As India plans to scale up ongoing health programs and launch a few new initiatives, the learnings from the past, documented in this paper, could be useful. These steps would help India to accelerate progress towards universal health coverage.

Neurocutaneous syndromes are a diverse group of inherited disorders with variable penetrance affecting structures developing from neuroectoderm. They are not appropriately evaluated, and these disorders are lifelong conditions that can cause tumours to grow in the skin, viscera and central nervous system. More than 30 entities are included in this group. Our pictorial review describes imaging of systemic features of common neurocutaneous syndromes such as neurofibromatosis 1, neurofibromatosis 2, tuberous sclerosis, Sturge–Weber syndrome and Von Hippel–Lindau syndrome. The imaging modalities of choice are magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography (CT). Although advances in molecular imaging can determine genetic abnormality, a radiological examination is required for early identification of lesions, monitoring disease progression and further management. Our review aims to familiarise our readers with common neurocutaneous syndromes and imaging of their systemic manifestations.