Immigrant Asian Indian Mothers' Experiences With Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Infant Care in the United States.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of the study was to explore experiences of immigrant Asian Indian women with pregnancy, childbirth, and infant care in the United States. METHODOLOGY: This study employed a qualitative descriptive approach using semi-structured interviews and followed COREQ (COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative research) guidelines for reporting qualitative research. Nine immigrant Asian Indian mothers residing in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States participated in the study. RESULTS: Four themes emerged: experiencing cultural differences during the perinatal period in the United States, choosing the best perinatal practices for maternal and infant care, recognizing family as the main support system, and having positive experiences with health care providers. DISCUSSION: Findings of this study shed light on the need for culturally appropriate care, including proper assessment of Asian Indian mothers' sociocultural aspects and cultural preferences and provision of support and information needed during the perinatal period.

Changing epidemiology of human enteroviruses (HEV) in a hand, foot and mouth disease outbreak in Vellore, south India.

PURPOSE: Hand Foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a major childhood exanthematous disease causing outbreaks that have become a major public health threat in recent years. In Vellore district of Tamil Nadu, south India, occasional outbreaks are common among the paediatric age group, most commonly in those under 5years of age (U5s). CoxsackieA6, A4, A5, A9, A10, B2 and B5 are the common serotypes causing outbreaks. This study aimed to identify the molecular serotype of the causative agent, co-circulating in this region. METHODS: Adapting the WHO case definition, cases during an HFMD outbreak between October and December 2017, were identified by a clinical criterion of fever, mouth ulcers and rash in the extremities. Vesicle fluid from these lesions were collected in viral transport medium and transported cold to the Clinical Virology laboratory of a tertiary care hospital in Vellore. Identification of the causative agent was undertaken by two real time PCRs (EV1 and EV2) followed by sequencing the VP1-2C region and constructing a phylogenetic tree. RESULTS: Among the 31 HFMD patients included in this study, 23 (74.2%) were U5s, 3 (9.7%) were between 6 and 15 years and the remaining 5 (16.1%) were adolescents (>15 â€‹yrs). The outbreak ran a mild clinical course, with 22(71%) patients having fever as a prodromal symptom. Papulovesicular lesions characteristic of HFMD were present on all 31 (100%) patients' palms and soles, buttocks of 19 (61.3%), oral mucosa of 12 (38.7%), and all over the body in 4 (12.9%) patients. Coxsackie A6(75%) and Coxsackie A16(25%) were the pathogens associated with this outbreak. CONCLUSIONS: Changing epidemiology of HFMD was seen in this outbreak since; other serotypes apart from the classical Coxsackievirus serotypes causing HFMD outbreak were also found co-circulating. EV1 PCR was a better screening assay than EV2 PCR in this region. Continued surveillance and molecular serotyping are necessary for HFMD outbreaks in any region.

A study of cardiovascular risk factors and its knowledge among school children of Delhi.

BACKGROUND: Data on the knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors among Indian school children are limited. Aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and its knowledge among school children of Delhi. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional survey among 485 school children studying in classes 6, 7 and 8 in two government and one private school in New Delhi using convenience sampling. Cardiovascular risk factors (physical activity, diet and smoking), knowledge about risk factors and family profile were assessed using a structured self report questionnaire. Weight, height and blood pressure measurements were taken. RESULTS: The mean age of the studied school children was 12.8 ± 1.6 years. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 9.5% and 11.5% respectively. The prevalence of prehypertension, stage 1 hypertension and stage 2 hypertension was 12.4%, 6.8% and 1.4% respectively. Of the total, 43.8% were physically active for at least 1 hour per day on all 7 days of the previous week. Daily consumption of fruits and vegetables was reported by 42% and 76% of the school children respectively. Nearly 5% of the school children reported to have used any form of tobacco. One fifth of the school children had a family history of cardiovascular disease. Of the total, 25.4% had adequate knowledge regarding cardiovascular risk factors. CONCLUSION: Cardiovascular risk factors are highly prevalent among school children. Importantly, school children lack adequate knowledge regarding cardiovascular risk factors. School based interventions are required for cardiovascular risk reduction in childhood.