Functioning of a Nutritional Rehabilitation Center against acceptable levels of care.

Background: Establishment of Nutritional Rehabilitation Centers (NRCs) is an initiative under National Rural Health Mission to provide institutional care for children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM). The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of nutritional interventional measures in improving the nutritional status of children admitted to an NRC. Methods: A retrospective health facility-based descriptive study was conducted in the NRC, Rural Health Training Center, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raipur. Results: A total of 765 children were enrolled in the NRC between March 2015 and November 2019, and majority (87.97%) were admitted as per weight for height/length (<-3SD) criteria. The total number of SAM children with complications were 428 (55.94%). Of the 724 total discharges, 498 (68.78%) were cured, 197 (27.2%) were nonresponders and 28 (3.87%) were defaulters. Conclusion: The findings suggest factors affecting nutritional rehabilitation that are complex and require a more integrated management in the health system and community. Regular review, supportive supervision and identification of nutrient-dense food from locally available low-cost ingredients is the need of the hour.

Spousal Violence among Reproductive Age Group Women - A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Spousal or intimate partner violence is the most common form of domestic violence and is a preventable cause of morbidity and mortality in women. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of spousal violence, various types of spousal violence, and the factors associated with it among reproductive age group women. Materials and Methods: This was an analytical cross-sectional study conducted in the Urban Health Training Center area of a tertiary care teaching hospital in Nagpur, India, among married women between 15 and 49 years of age who were selected using systematic random sampling. The data was collected from a sample of 373 women by face-to-face interview and analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) v21. Results: The prevalence of spousal violence among reproductive age group (15-49 years) women was found to be 59.7%, with emotional violence (54.1%) being the most common, followed by physical (51.2%) and sexual (43.4%) violence in that order. Regular alcohol consumption of husband had the highest odds of spousal violence among women (odds ratio [OR] 12.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.51-24.03). Other factors associated with spousal violence among reproductive age group women were early age at marriage, literacy and employment of women and husband, lack of emotional support from the family members, and dowry-related problems in the family. Conclusion: A multifaceted approach including legal measures, empowerment of women, and sociocultural factors involving families, institutions, governmental, nongovernmental, and civil society organizations is the need of the hour.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on global economy.

COVID-19 is an emerging global health concern. It is rapidly spreading all over the world. The transmission of COVID-19 is faster as compared to the SARS-CoV infection, and this has created a global emergency-like situation. To overcome the situation, many countries had locked down the states and sealed the country's borders. This resulted in reduced transmission of COVID-19 infection but deteriorated the world's economy. The lockdown effect can be very well seen in various sectors like education, industries, food, tourism, health, and jobs. Poor production levels, lack of connectivity, lack of import and export facilities, break in school education, and overstretched healthcare facilities placed an economic burden on the countries. This economic burden pulled back many countries in the crisis that will require several years to normalise. To overcome the situation, governments must take precautionary majors by focusing on healthcare facilities and providing financial support to reopen small businesses and industries.

Performance Appraisal of Nutritional Rehabilitation Centers in Central India: A Retrospective Facility-Based Descriptive Study.

Background: Nutritional rehabilitation centers (NRCs) were established with the objective of providing institutional care to malnourished children and building the capacity of the primary caregivers of these children. Objectives and Methodology: The objective of this study was to assess the effect of nutritional interventional measures undertaken at NRCs in improving the nutritional status of admitted children; a retrospective facility-based descriptive study was conducted using the monthly performance reports (March 2015 to November 2019) of all NRCs in Dhamtari district, Chhattisgarh. Results: Of the 3171 children registered in the NRCs, the majority were 1-3 years of age (59.22%), female children (55.50%), and from Other Backward Class caste category (56.79%). The district records a cure rate of 56.12%, death rate of 0.03%, and defaulter rate of 4.71%, with an average length of stay being 16.5 days. NRCs of Dhamtari district had less than acceptable level of recovery/cure rate though death rate and defaulter rate were within acceptable standards. Conclusion: Lower cure rate along with lower defaulter rate and death rate with more than recommended length of stay reflects the below-average performance of the NRCs in the district.

Prevalence of Primary Infertility and its Associated Risk Factors in Urban Population of Central India: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Primary infertility is a serious health issue that has profound socioeconomic and health implications on both the individual and society. Despite the important consequences of infertility, estimation of its prevalence is limited. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study is (1) to estimate the prevalence of primary infertility among women of reproductive age group in urban population of Central India and (2) to study its associated risk factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a community-based cross-sectional study, all married women between 15 and 49 years of age in urban field practice area were included. The data were collected by face-to-face interview with the help of predesigned and pretested questionnaire. RESULTS: The majority of the women (39.3%) belonged to 25-29 years of age group. The overall prevalence of primary infertility among reproductive age group women was 8.9% (51/570). Sociodemographic factors that had statistically significant association with infertility were age at marriage more than 25 years (P < 0.05), nuclear family (P < 0.05), higher education level (P = 0.04), employed women (P < 0.05), high socioeconomic status (P = 0.01), and family history of infertility (P < 0.05). Physiological factors that had statistically significant association with infertility were obesity (P = 0.03), age at menarche more than 14 years (P < 0.05) and irregular menstruation pattern (P < 0.05). Depression (P = 0.01) and stress (P < 0.05) were the psychological factors significantly associated with infertility. CONCLUSION: The prevalence rate of primary infertility in urban population of Central India was lower than reported trends of infertility from developing countries. Sound knowledge about various factors related to infertility can help health-care providers and policymakers to design and implement various policies.