School teachers' menstrual experiences and practices: reflections from rural Rajasthan, India.

Menstruation is considered an off-limits subject in India where menstruating woman continue to face silence, discrimination and isolation. A mesh of patriarchal cultural practices surrounding the subject of menstruation places restrictions on girls and women who are menstruating. This paper explores the menstrual experiences and challenges experienced by teachers from a village located in a Kishangarh block in rural Rajasthan. Informed by qualitative research, the study reveals the irony in thrust to distribute disposable menstrual pads to adolescent girls in school while ignoring the needs of teachers. The study calls for the inclusion of teachers as key stakeholders in the design of school based menstrual hygiene management and awareness initiatives and programmes.

Effect of social and behavioral change interventions on minimum dietary diversity among pregnant women and associated socio-economic inequality in Rajasthan, India.

BACKGROUND: Maternal dietary diversity is a key to improving the birth and child health outcomes. Besides socio-economic factors, the nutrition specific program- Social and Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC) interventions aimed to improve maternal dietary diversity has varied levels of impact on the socio-economic groups in poor resource setups. OBJECTIVE: To measure the factors associated with the minimum dietary diversity (MDD) among pregnant women in selected districts of Rajasthan with special emphasis on the SBCC components. Additionally, it measures the socio-economic gaps in the behaviour of consumption of diversified diet during pregnancy. METHODS: Data from a cross sectional survey of 6848 pregnant women, who have received a continuous SBCC counselling and registered under a state introduced conditional cash transfer program, during May to June, 2023, in five intervention districts -Banswara, Baran, Dunagrpur, Pratapgarh and Udaipur in Rajasthan was used. A 24 h recall based food consumption behaviour has been gathered to measure the MDD of pregnant women. Study has used descriptive statistics, multivariate regressions, and multivariate decomposition analysis to address the research objectives. RESULTS: Study finds that only 55.2% of pregnant women are consuming diverse diet in the study duration with mean dietary diversity score is 4.8 (+/- 1.5). Logistic regression finds that SBCC components such as frontline workers (aOR = 1.3, CI: 1.1-1.4), community motivators (aOR = 1.9, CI: 1.7-2.1), and participation in MCHND (aOR = 1.0, CI: 0.9-1.2) have significant and higher likelihood on consumption of MDD food on previous day. A higher education and belonging from richer wealth quintile also show higher association for consumption of MDD. Multivariate decomposition shows, among richest and poorest wealth categories there is 19% point difference (58% difference due to coefficient vs. 42% difference due to composition) in MDD consumption. This is positively contributed by the caste and educational categories of women. CONCLUSION: Despite a predominant vegetarian diet consuming population, better maternal dietary diversity was observed among those exposed to higher dose of SBCC intervention package. Educational status and caste of the respondent were significantly associated with minimum dietary diversity and contributed to the socio-economic inequality highlighting the importance of tailored and sustained SBCC interventions.

Dominance of Cotton leaf curl Multan virus-Rajasthan strain associated with third epidemic of cotton leaf curl disease in Pakistan.

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is an economically potent crop in many countries including Pakistan, India, and China. For the last three decades, cotton production is under the constant stress of cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD) caused by begomoviruses/satellites complex that is transmitted through the insect pest, whitefly (Bemisia tabaci). In 2018, we identified a highly recombinant strain; Cotton leaf curl Multan virus-Rajasthan (CLCuMuV-Raj), associated with the Cotton leaf curl Multan betasatellite-Vehari (CLCuMuBVeh). This strain is dominant in cotton-growing hub areas of central Punjab, Pakistan, causing the third epidemic of CLCuD. In the present study, we have explored the CLCuD diversity from central to southern districts of Punjab (Faisalabad, Lodhran, Bahawalpur, Rahimyar Khan) and the major cotton-growing region of Sindh (Tandojam), Pakistan for 2 years (2020-2021). Interestingly, we found same virus (CLCuMuV-Raj) and associated betasatellite (CLCuMuBVeh) strain that was previously reported with the third epidemic in the central Punjab region. Furthermore, we found minor mutations in two genes of CLCuMuV-Raj C4 and C1 in 2020 and 2021 respectively as compared to its isolates in 2018, which exhibited virus evolution. Surprisingly, we did not find these mutations in CLCuMuV-Raj isolates identified from Sindh province. The findings of the current study represent the stability of CLCuMuV-Raj and its spread toward the Sindh province where previously Cotton leaf curl Kokhran virus (CLCuKoV) and Cotton leaf curl Shahdadpur virus (CLCuShV) have been reported. The findings of the current study demand future research on CLCuD complex to explore the possible reasons for prevalence in the field and how the virus-host-vector compatible interaction can be broken to develop resistant cultivars.

Analyzing post-2000 groundwater level and rainfall changes in Rajasthan, India, using well observations and GRACE data.

Research on groundwater and water resources is essential for preserving viable environments. Although the arid area has been identified as a significant hotspot for groundwater depletion, the Indian desert region was not included in the initial analysis. This study intends to evaluate Rajasthan's groundwater level (GWL) and rainfall trends from 2000 to 2021 and how variations in GWLs are related to long-term rainfall. Annual GWL and rainfall data time series were collected from 921 monitoring stations for 33 districts of Rajasthan. The GWL trends and rainfall were identified using non-parametric modified Mann-Kendall test and Spearman rho techniques. Pearson's, Kendall's (tau b), and Spearman's analyses were used to determine the correlation between GWL and rainfall. The results from the modified Mann-Kendall and Spearman rho methods reveal that GWL has a significant declining trend in 38 % of districts, where 13 % have no trend, and the rest of 49 % have a rising trend. The yearly rainfall trend at 70 % and 30 % of the districts are rising and stable, respectively. A negative correlation between GWL depth and rainfall was discovered in each district, where 15 % are firm, 58 % are moderate, and 27 % are weak negative correlations. Also, the regression analysis estimates the effect of rainfall on GWL, which was observed: rainfall negatively influenced the depth of GWL at 58 % of the districts, had a positive impact at 33 %, and others had no effect. GRACE TWS anomaly shows a decreasing trend of -1.22 cm/yr, and GRACE and GWL anomalies have a positive relationship (r = 0.471). Results conclude that rainfall is the primary influencer on GWL in this semi-arid region vulnerable to drought.

Prevalence of Pulp Stones in the Population of Rajasthan: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Introduction This study aimed to use radiography to determine the prevalence of pulp stones in the population of Rajasthan and to evaluate the relationship between pulp stones and tooth status, type, age, and gender. Methods The radiograph data record files collected from the Department of Dentistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, from September 2018 to October 2019, had a total of 9918 diagnostic quality intraoral periapical radiographs. One examiner examined all the radiographs to identify pulp stones and associated factors. Pearson chi-square test of significance was used for statistical analysis. Results On screening, a total of 889 intraoral periapical radiographs were found to have pulp stones. The presence of pulp stones was significantly higher in mandibular molars (68%) and was more common in the age group of 31-45 years (37%), followed by 13-29 years (35%). Maximum of pulp stones were of attached type (64%) than free pulp stones. Conclusion The prevalence of pulp stones in the population of Rajasthan studied is 8.9%, which is much lower than the reported prevalence in the literature. Pulp stones are predominantly attached and found significantly more often in mandibular molars in the age group of 31-44 years.

Knowledge, attitude, and practices of family planning methods among married women from a rural area of Jaipur, Rajasthan: An observational study.

Aim: This study was planned with the objective to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of family planning methods among married women and to find out the factors associated with not using the family planning method. Materials and Methods: This community-based cross-sectional observational study was conducted in 300 married women residing in a rural area of Jaipur, Rajasthan. Written informed consent was obtained, and data were collected using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. Knowledge, attitude, and practices were summarised in proportion, and their association was measured using Chi-square test. Results: The mean age of the participants was 26.7 years. Most of them (88.8% women) had knowledge of at least one contraception method. Almost two-thirds had positive attitude towards contraceptive use. The most used method was oral contraceptive pills, among 17.7% of participants. Knowledge was significantly associated with educational level and caste of the participants (P value <0.05), and practice was not significantly associated with any socio-demographic factors (P value >0.05). Conclusion: Knowledge, attitude, and practices related to modern family planning methods are still not high in rural areas. The media can play a major role in increasing awareness about family planning methods. The involvement of community and family, especially spouse, should be facilitated to maximize the understanding of family planning methods.

Land degradation neutrality (LDN) in Rajasthan, Western India: a combined approach of pressure-state-response model and MODIS data products.

Land degradation has become a key concern worldwide due to changes in meteorological variables and human-caused activities. This study primarily focuses on the rate, impact, and pattern of land degradation in western India. In this instance, we evaluated the effectiveness of land degradation neutrality (LDN) between 2000 and 2020 using an integrative approach based on a PSR (pressure-state-response) model developed by the OECD-UNEP under the UNCCD framework. Here, we mainly used MODIS products (e.g., NDVI, PET, LULC, and NPP). Also, soil organic carbon (SOC) and climatic variables (e.g. precipitation, aridity index and soil moisture) were taken into account. These indicators were analysed using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) code editor platform, and post-processing was done through Q-GIS software. The analysed parameters indicate that the NDVI and NPP values are + 0.20 to + 0.3 and 4.27 × 109 to 7.74 × 109 kg Cm-2, respectively. However, overall precipitation and soil moisture depicted a positive trend, and the aridity index adeptly followed a negative trend. Hence, the land degradation rate has increased in the north-western region besides the Aravalli range and neutrality work in the southwest part of the study area. The overall land degradation trend is negative over the last two decades. Therefore, this study anticipates the policymakers and government bodies to understand about land degradation of western India.

Prevalence, Patterns, and Predictors of Tobacco Consumption among Adolescents: An Observational Study from a Rural area of Rajasthan.

Background: The prevalence of smoking cigarettes among adolescents in India is nearly one in 10, and almost half of them initiate tobacco use before turning 10 years old. Our study objective was to assess the prevalence of tobacco consumption and the sociodemographic factors associated with tobacco consumption among adolescents in a rural area of Rajasthan. Materials and Methods: This community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted for a period of 1 year from April 2021 to March 2022 in village Naila, Jaipur. All 1083 adolescents of village Naila were contacted; however, 1049 were included in the study. Multivariate logistic regression (forward likelihood model) was used to assess the strength of the association of risk factors for the consumption of tobacco. Results: A considerable proportion, that is, 22.4% (235/1049), of adolescents were tobacco consumers. Out of 235 consumers, 104 were smokers, 65 were consuming smokeless tobacco, and 66 were consuming both forms of tobacco. In multivariate analysis, age, sex, grade of participants, pocket money, family history of tobacco and alcohol consumption, maternal education, and per capita income were found to be significant predictors of tobacco consumption (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Tobacco consumption is highly common in Rajasthan's rural adolescent population, and it begins at a very young age. Hence, corrective measures need to be initiated in an early stage of life. To reduce the impact of social norms, peer pressure, and family members who consume tobacco, the behavioral change communication activities must be strengthened.

Once Forgotten Now Re-emerging: Scrub Typhus Infection in Pediatric Patients From North West India.

Background Scrub typhus is an important cause of acute febrile illness in children. It is one of the re-emerging infections in the Asia Pacific region. It is caused by the gram-negative bacteria Orientia tsutsugamushi and is spread by the bite of trombiculid mites. The initial symptomatology is nonspecific with fever, headache, vomiting, etc. The presence of eschar is said to be pathognomic. It is a systemic illness, and vasculitis is the basic pathogenic mechanism. Materials and methods A retrospective observational study was conducted in two medical colleges and associated hospitals of western Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Rajasthan, India. Case files of 21 confirmed cases of scrub typhus admitted from April 2021 to October 2022 were reviewed. Scrub typhus was suspected in children with acute undifferentiated fever, and suggestive signs and symptoms were confirmed serologically with IgM enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). Demographic and clinical details were noted. Results During the study period, a total of 335 cases of acute undifferentiated fever were seen, and 6.2% of them were diagnosed as having scrub typhus infection on detailed investigation. The most common symptom was fever in 100% of them, vomiting in 57.1%, abdomen pain in 42.8%, and diarrhea in 19%. Maculopapular, erythematous rash was present in 19% of cases. None of the patients had eschar. Microvascular leakage was the main complication in 28.5%. Unusual complications seen were empyema and valvulitis in 4.7% of patients. Conclusion Scrub typhus is also seen in urban setups and in dry arid areas like Rajasthan and North West UP. So, relevant investigations should be a part of the evaluation in pediatric patients with acute undifferentiated fever. Eschar can be absent, and empyema and valvulitis are some uncommon complications. A high degree of suspicion and early diagnosis are essential as an undiagnosed infection is rapidly fatal.

Hydrochemical characteristics and potential health risks of nitrate, fluoride, and uranium in Kota district, Rajasthan, India.

This study examines the uranium, fluoride, and nitrate dispositions in groundwater as well as potential health risks in Kota district, Rajasthan, India. Total 198 groundwater samples were collected in both dry and wet periods and analyzed for physicochemical parameters along with U, F-, and NO3- using standard methods. Results indicate that the electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, total hardness, alkalinity, Ca2+, Mg2+, HCO3-, Cl-, NO3-, and F- exceed the WHO standard limits of drinking water in both periods. Uranium concentration is at the broader of drinking water permissible limit (30 µg/L) and found about 1.05 times more. Nitrate and fluoride concentrations ranged from 9.8 to 412.0 mg/L and 0.1 to 4.0 mg/L for the dry season, while in the wet period, they varied from 10.0 to 954.0 mg/L and 0.1 to 3.5 mg/L, respectively. Correlation studies show a significantly strong positive correlation between uranium and total alkalinity and carbonate. Natural background levels (NBLs) were explored to assess the source of groundwater pollution. It shows that the second inflection points of NBLs estimated for NO3-, F-, and U are about 168 mg/L, 1.2 mg/L, and 7.3 µg/L, respectively, during the experimental period. The USEPA technique was used to evaluate the non-carcinogenic health risks associated with consuming the NO3- and F--contaminated groundwater. The health risks in Kota district show that children are more at risk than adults. The risk assessment of uranium reveals that the excess cancer risk (ECR) and hazard quotient (HQ) are found to be below the standard limits, but a high concentration of uranium (31.6 µg/L) is observed at Amarpura village of Digod block. This study will provide a baseline of uranium, fluoride, and nitrate dispositions in groundwater for simulating mass transport model and safe use of drinking water.

Genetic Diversity of Autosomal STR Markers in the Brahmin Population of Rajasthan and Haryana: Significance in Population and Forensic Genetics.

The aim of the study is to evaluate the suitability of STRs for molecular characterization and forensic applications in unrelated Brahmins of Rajasthan and Haryana states, India. Materials and Methods: A total of 203 male DNA samples from various districts of Haryana (n=104) and Rajasthan (n=99) were genotyped using the GlobalFiler® PCR Amplification Kit. Allelic frequencies and different forensic parameters like PD, PE, PIC, PM, Ho, He, UHe, and TPI were calculated with different software. Results: More than 200 alleles were present in both populations, ranging from 6.0 to 35.2 and SE33 was the most polymorphic marker. The combined power of discrimination was 1. To know the relatedness with other Indian Brahmin populations, the UPGMA dendrogram and principal component analysis plot were visualized to show that both populations are close to each other and in nearby Saraswat Brahmins of Himachal Pradesh. This study showed a genetic relationship and forensic examination in the Haryana and Rajasthan Brahmin populations and various ethno-linguistically diverse populations of India. Conclusion: The results imply that the highly polymorphic 21 autosomal STR loci might be applied for individuals' forensic identification and parentage testing. This study also suggests that the kit having both autosomal and Y-STR markers is appropriate for a better understanding of the genetic and forensic examination in the Brahmin population of Haryana and Rajasthan.

Pattern of Road Traffic Injuries and Their Pre-hospitalization Factors Reported at a Public Tertiary Healthcare Facility and Rural Private Healthcare Facility in Rajasthan, India.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to report the pattern of road traffic injuries (RTIs) and pre-hospitalization factors of road traffic injuries among the accident victims reported at an urban and a rural healthcare facility in the Jaipur district, Rajasthan. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary-level, urban public healthcare facility in Jaipur city and a secondary-level, rural private facility in nearby Chomu town. The study participants were all those who encountered road traffic injury and visited any of these healthcare facilities to seek care. The study tool included information on demographics, type of road user, vehicles, accidents, roads, environment, and other pre-hospitalization factors. Data collectors were nurses trained to collect data using the tablet-based application. Data were analyzed using proportions/percentages. Bivariate analysis was done to assess the significance of differences between categories of factors and between rural and urban facilities. RESULTS: Among 4,642 cases, 93.8% were enrolled in the urban facility, and the remaining were enrolled in the rural facility. Predominantly, males (83.9%) and young adults 18-34 years (58.9%) were reported in both study facilities. Among the accident victims reported at the urban facility, major groups were educated up to the primary level (25.1%) or graduate level (21.9%). About 60% of them were drivers. Most of these injuries occurred on urban roads (50.2%) or two-lane roads (42%). About three-fourths of the injured were using two-wheeler geared vehicles, and 46.7% were overtaking or turning the vehicle when the accident happened. The majority of cases (61.6%) did not require hospitalization. Among the rural facility participants, 27.2% were graduates, and 24.7% were below primary education. Most of these injuries happened on the national highway (35.8%) or rural roads (33.3%). Most of them used two-wheeler geared (80.1%) at the time of the accident. Most were injured while doing normal straight driving (80.5%). Most participants (80.1%) in the rural facility did not follow the traffic rules, and 43.9% required hospitalization. CONCLUSION: Young males were the most affected age group by road traffic injuries. Differential patterns of road traffic injuries and pre-hospital factors were observed in urban and rural areas.

Assessment of Oral Lesions With Tobacco Usage: A Cross-Sectional Clinicopathological Study in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, India.

Background Tobacco usage in the form of smoking or chewing has increased the risk of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) and oral cancer. These deleterious habits are also related to changes in dentition and the oral mucosa. Aim The aim of our study was to evaluate the oral changes associated with tobacco usage among residents of Sri Ganganagar. Materials and methods This study was conducted among the residents of Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, India, using stratified cluster random sampling, prestructured questionnaires, and detailed oral examination. A total of 100 patients with a previous history of tobacco usage were enrolled in this study after obtaining informed consent. Age- and gender-matched controls were also evaluated to correlate the findings. Clinical details were documented, including the Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S), Decayed-Missing-Filled Teeth (DMFT) index, Community Periodontal Index (CPI), loss of attachment, dental findings, and oral mucosal changes. Suspicious lesions were stained with toluidine blue, and a biopsy was performed for histopathological evaluation. The tabulated results were statistically analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0 (IBM SPSS Statistics, Armonk, NY, USA) for significance. Results Attrition, abrasion, and erosion of teeth were more frequent in tobacco users than in controls. Smoker's palate, tobacco pouch keratosis, and leukoplakia were commonly noted mucosal lesions. The mean values of the parameters of the DMFT score (3.560), CPI score (2.190), and loss of attachment score (0.542) were higher among tobacco users, and it was statistically significant (P value < 0.05). Out of 100 patients, 17 had suspicious lesions. It included seven cases of oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), two cases of tobacco pouch keratosis, and eight cases of leukoplakia. Toluidine blue staining and biopsy were performed. Histopathological examination of suspicious lesions revealed hyperkeratosis, various grades of epithelial dysplasia, and differing inflammatory responses. Out of 17 biopsied cases, there were two cases of hyperkeratosis with severe epithelial dysplasia, four cases of hyperkeratosis with moderate epithelial dysplasia, two cases of hyperkeratosis with mild dysplasia, two cases of superficially invasive squamous cell carcinoma, five cases of advanced OSMF, and two cases of moderately advanced OSMF. Conclusion Tobacco usage produces visible changes in dentition and latent alterations in the oral mucosa. Suspicious lesions should always be referred for histopathological examination to identify oral potentially malignant disorders and oral cancer so that prompt treatment could be initiated. Patient education is mandatory to avoid the usage of tobacco in any form.

Fluoride contamination of groundwater and its threat to health of villagers and their domestic animals and agriculture crops in rural Rajasthan, India.

In India, Rajasthan is the largest state and has seven divisions, namely Ajmer, Bharatpur, Bikaner, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota and Udaipur. Villagers of these regions, generally, used groundwater for drinking and irrigation purposes. The basic sources of groundwater in rural areas are hand pumps, step wells and borewells. Water of most of these sources is contaminated with fluoride (F) with varying amounts. Water of > 60% these sources has F beyond the recommended country standard (1.0 or 1.5 ppm) especially in tribal rural areas of Rajasthan. The highest F range, 0.1-34.0 ppm, has been found in groundwater of these sources in the villages of Ajmer division and the lowest 0.1-6.8 ppm in the Kota. Drinking of fluoridated groundwater for a long time is not safe for health and causes serious fluorosis disease in humans and domestic animals. In Rajasthan, around 40 lakh people are affected with fluorosis which is the highest in the country. At the F range of 1.3-6.7 ppm, the maximum prevalence of dental and skeletal fluorosis in villagers and bovine animals was found 84.0% and 32.7% and 88.9% and 37.8%, respectively. Using fluoridated groundwater in irrigation is also harmful and reduces crops productivity. In this communication, division-wise F distribution in groundwater of rural Rajasthan, F-induced diverse adverse health consequences in villagers and their domesticated animals and agriculture crops and preventive measures for control of F intoxication are critically reviewed. Findings of this review are useful in implementation of health policy for the mitigation of F poisoning in rural Rajasthan.

Seasonal prevalence of dengue vector mosquito Aedes aegypti Linn in Jaipur city, Rajasthan, India.

Background & objectives: Vector-borne diseases are a significant issue for public health worldwide, especially in India. In recent years, high number of dengue and chikungunya cases have been reported from Rajasthan state of India, those are principally transmitted by Aedes aegypti. These vectors are extremely intrusive and can thrive in practically any climate. However, vector mosquitos' prevalence in Jaipur district is not properly documented. Therefore, current research was carried out to ascertain the seasonal fluctuations of Aedes aegypti in Jaipur city, Rajasthan, India. Methods: In order to ascertain the seasonal variation, monitoring of Aedes mosquitoes was conducted from August 2021 to July 2022 at nine selected regions in the Jaipur city. The breeding capacity of vectors was evaluated using three vector indices: the House Index, Breteau Index, and Container Index. Results: A total of 2172 out of 6336 breeding sites and 3735 out of 7477 containers were found positive for Aedes species. Three important species of Aedes vectors were collected in which Aedes aegypti was reported as the most prevalent. The highest values for House Index (57.60%) and Container Index (54.95%) were observed in October and the least rate was observed in March. Interpretation & conclusion: This survey was carried out to investigate the seasonal prevalence of dengue vectors and the findings revealed seasonal fluctuations in the indices of Aedes reproducing potential. This calls for precautionary actions to avoid infection rates and epidemic emergence. Therefore, to stop epidemics and eradicate vector-borne infections, the current study recommends close monitoring and further vector management efforts.

Dietary Determinants of Renal Calculi: A Case-Control Study From a Tertiary Care Hospital of Western Rajasthan.

Introduction Nephrolithiasis affects all countries of the world with an approximate global lifetime prevalence of 15-20%. In India, 12% of the total population is anticipated to have renal stone disease. This study was aimed at providing a relationship between various dietary factors in the formation of renal stones. Methods A case-control study was conducted among 207 patients (106 cases and 101 controls) attending the outpatient and inpatient departments of a tertiary care hospital in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. All the participants with confirmed renal stones by means of ultrasound and radiographic evaluation, aged 15-65 years were included as cases and were matched on age and gender with controls. Pearson chi-square test followed by binary logistic regression was used to assess significant associations. Results Out of all participants, 71.0% were males and 65.7% were from the age group 41-65 years. The study showed a statistically significant association between renal stones and high salt intake, reduced water intake, less consumption of milk and milk products, daily intake of tea, consumption of oxalate-rich foods and consumption of junk foods. Conclusion Dietary factors play an important role in the risk of the development of renal stones. Simple dietary modifications may significantly reduce the chances of the development of nephrolithiasis, especially in the vulnerable population.

Competence-Based Assessment of Biomedical Equipment Management and Maintenance System (e-Upkaran) Using Benefit Evaluation Framework.

Introduction To establish a centralized inventory management system for the efficient functioning of all healthcare facilities, e-Upkaran (equipment management and maintenance system) was launched in 2015 in the state of Rajasthan. This study is conducted to assess the functioning of e-Upkaran in Rajasthan. Methods The assessment of the e-Upkaran system for primary and secondary healthcare centers was carried out using a systematic review of the literature and a multi-indicator stakeholder questionnaire. The benefits evaluation framework focused on the system quality, information and service quality, use and user satisfaction, and net benefits utilized for the assessment. A review of the literature was done to highlight the importance of computerized medical equipment management and maintenance systems and appraise the challenges and benefits associated with such systems as compared to the traditional pen-paper register. Information was gathered based on available documents, field observation, and data obtained from specific hospital staff, including the bioengineers and other users of e-Upkaran. Results The finding of this study suggests that e-Upkaran efficiently improves documentation, reporting, maintenance, and management of medical equipment. It is more efficient than the traditional paper-pen system. It is designed to minimize downtime and maintain equipment in good operating condition and has potential benefits in terms of improving information quality, use, and net benefit. The cost of service ratio is within the benchmark value. This system has also considerably reduced out-of-pocket expenditure. Computer proficiency and the workload of other e-health programs pose a challenge in the implementation of this program. Conclusion The e-Upkaran system is competent in terms of improving information quality, use, and net benefit. Other Indian states could also adopt this system to improve their biomedical equipment management and maintenance system.

Assessment of Fluoride Content in Water and Its Impact on the Intelligence Quotient of School Children Aged 12-13 Years.

BACKGROUND: The preliminary study was undertaken with the aim to assess the effect of fluoride content in water on the Intelligence Quotient (IQ) of school children aged 12-13 years residing in areas that differ with respect to fluoride levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The IQ was measured using Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices in 90 children, who were life-long residents in three villages (30 children each) of similar population size but differing in the level of fluoride in drinking water. Urinary fluoride concentration was measured using the selective ion electrode technique. One-way ANOVA was used for the statistical analysis of the data. Results: Children who lived in locations with fluoride levels of 1.60, 6.70, or 2.80 parts per million in their drinking water had urinary fluoride concentrations of 1.60, 6.82, or 2.69 parts per million, and IQ scores of 16.77 + 8.24, 19.36 + 9.98, or 21.87 + 7.47, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that there was a positive correlation between excess fluoride in drinking water and IQ.

Prevalence, knowledge, and related factor of anemia among school-going adolescent girls in a remote area of western Rajasthan.

Introduction: Anemia is a significant health problem among adolescent girls. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, related factors, and knowledge about anemia among adolescent girls in a remote area of western Rajasthan. Methods: In a rural area of western Rajasthan, a cross-sectional study of 625 adolescent girls aged 11 to 19 years was carried out. Participants completed a questionnaire that included sociodemographic, clinical, and knowledge questions about anemia and its related factors. An HemoCue was used for hemoglobin analysis and anemia diagnosis. Results: Anemia was found in 56.32% (n = 352) of the recruited population, with a mean of 9.92 (SD = 1.40). Mild, moderate, and severe anemia were found in 29.12%, 22.24%, and 4.96% of the participants, respectively. Girls aged 11 to 14 (AOR = 3.63, 95% CI: 1.76-6.38, P value = 0.042) and those with lower socioeconomic status (AOR = 4.37, 95% CI: 1.39-8.25, P value = 0.022) were more likely to have anemia than those of older age and higher socioeconomic status. Anemia was less prevalent in only one child/no siblings (AOR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.16-0.73, P value = 0.041), and more prevalent in girls having less than 21 days of menstruation cycle (AOR = 5.37, 95% CI: 2.38-9.63, P value = 0.013), and 21 to 25 days of menstruation cycle (AOR = 3.81, 95% CI: 1.27-5.94, P value = 0.027). A total of 39.84% stated that anemia was caused by iron deficiency, followed by improper diet (32.64%). Furthermore, 56.32% agreed that the most common symptoms of anemia were weakness, and 51.36% of girls were told that anemia was treated with iron supplementation and a balanced diet (39.68%). Green leafy vegetables were considered a good source of iron by 56.48%, and 53.28% were educated about anemia by a teacher, followed by books (45.44%) and media (43.36%). Conclusion: The study shows high prevalence of anemia among adolescent females in the remote area of western Rajasthan. To improve girls health, it is necessary to increase their knowledge, attitudes, and practices in this area. Educational intervention and routine health check-up would be excellent ways to accomplish this.

Y-23 mediated genetic data analysis of endogamous Brahmin population of Rajasthan, India.

India's largest state Rajasthan is known for its variable population groups including castes, communities and tribes. In the present article, Y-STR polymorphisms of hundred unrelated healthy male volunteers from the Brahmin population of Rajasthan, India were investigated using the Powerplex® Y-23 PCR amplification kit. Total 94 distinct haplotypes were obtained out of them 93 were singletons. Haplotype Diversity (HD) and Discrimination Capacity (DC) for the population were 0.644 and 0.9894 respectively. The Intra-population relationship between the present population data and other reported Indian populations was examined through Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) Plot, which shows the Brahmin population of Rajasthan lies in a cluster with the Brahmin populations of Haryana and Maharashtra. Data generated with 23 Y-STR markers is submitted on Y chromosome haplotype reference database (YHRD) (yhrd.org) and it will robust the forensic database of the Rajasthan population of India.