Partnering with women collectives for delivering essential women\u2019s nutrition interventions in tribal areas of eastern India: a scoping study

Background: We examined the feasibility of engaging women collectives in delivering a package of women\u2019s nutrition messages/services as a funded stakeholder in three tribal-dominated districts of Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh States, in eastern India. These districts have high prevalence of child stunting and poor government service outreach. Methods: Conducted between July 2014 and March 2015, an exploratory mix-methods design was adopted (review of coverage data and government reports, field interviews and focus group discussion with multiple stakeholders and intended communities) to assess coverage of women\u2019s nutrition services. A capacity assessment tool was developed to map all types of community collectives and assess their awareness, institutional and programme capacity as a funded stakeholder for delivering women\u2019s nutrition services/behaviour promotion. Results: Limited targeting of pre-pregnancy period, delays in first trimester registration of pregnant women, and low micronutrient supplementation supply and awareness issues emerged as key bottlenecks in improving women\u2019s nutrition in these districts. Amongst the 18 different types of community collectives mapped, Self Help Groups (SHGs) and their federations (tier 2 and tier 3), with total membership of over 650,000, emerged as the most promising community collective due to their vast network, governance structure, bank linkage, and regular interface. Nearly 400,000 (or 20% of women) in these districts can be reached through the mapped 31,919 SHGs. SHGs with organisational readiness for receiving and managing grants for income generation and community development activities varied from 41 to 94% across study districts. Stakeholders perceived that SHGs federations managing grants from government and be engaged for nutrition promotion and service delivery and SHG weekly meetings can serve as community interface for discussing/resolving local issues impeding access to services. Conclusions: Women SHGs (with tier 2 and tier 3) can become direct grantees for strengthening coverage of women\u2019s nutrition interventions in these tribal districts/pockets, provided they are capacitated, supervised and given safe guards against exploitation and violence

Randomized Clinical Trial of High-Dose Rifampicin With or Without Levofloxacin Versus Standard of Care for Pediatric Tuberculous Meningitis: The TBM-KIDS Trial

Background. Pediatric tuberculous meningitis (TBM) commonly causes death or disability. In adults, high-dose rifampicin may reduce mortality. The role of fluoroquinolones remains unclear. There have been no antimicrobial treatment trials for pediatric TBM. Methods. TBM-KIDS was a phase 2 open-label randomized trial among children with TBM in India and Malawi. Participants received isoniazid and pyrazinamide plus: (i) high-dose rifampicin (30 mg/kg) and ethambutol (R30HZE, arm 1); (ii) high-dose rifampicin and levofloxacin (R30HZL, arm 2); or (iii) standard-dose rifampicin and ethambutol (R15HZE, arm 3) for 8 weeks, followed by 10 months of standard treatment. Functional and neurocognitive outcomes were measured longitudinally using Modified Rankin Scale (MRS) and Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL). Results. Of 2487 children prescreened, 79 were screened and 37 enrolled. Median age was 72 months; 49%, 43%, and 8% had stage I, II, and III disease, respectively. Grade 3 or higher adverse events occurred in 58%, 55%, and 36% of children in arms 1, 2, and 3, with 1 death (arm 1) and 6 early treatment discontinuations (4 in arm 1, 1 each in arms 2 and 3). By week 8, all children recovered to MRS score of 0 or 1. Average MSEL scores were significantly better in arm 1 than arm 3 in fine motor, receptive language, and expressive language domains (P < .01). Conclusions. In a pediatric TBM trial, functional outcomes were excellent overall. The trend toward higher frequency of adverse events but better neurocognitive outcomes in children receiving high-dose rifampicin requires confirmation in a larger trial. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT02958709

Arbuscular mycorrhiza: isolation, characterization and evaluation of plant growth promoting properties

In the present study, potent Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal (AMF) spores were isolated by wet sieving and decanting method from the soil samples. The International Culture Collection of (Vesicular) Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (INVAM) worksheet was used for the characterization of the isolated spores. Finally, for evaluation of PGP activities, Petri plate assay followed by pot assay was used. Three AMF spores were characterized as Glomus fasciculatum, Scutellospora spp. and Acaulospora appendicular, out of which Glomus fasciculatum was used for evaluation of its effect on growth and development of wheat plant. In pot assay under normal condition, plants inoculated with AMF in non-sterile and sterile soil showed significant increase in root (14.07cm, 15.85cm) and shoot (18.72cm, 24.2cm) length respectively compared with control plant. In normal condition, highest contents of chlorophyll a (57.12mg/gm), b (20.14mg/gm) and total chlorophyll (78.45mg/gm) were observed in sterile soil inoculated with seed. Study also showed that AMF has notable effect on micro and macro nutrient content of the pot soil. In normal condition AMF inoculated non-sterile and sterile soil showed increase in N (148.72kg/ha and 150.54kg/ha) and K (145.95kg/ha and 149.78kg/ha) while decrease in P (34.01kg/ha and31.17kg/ha) was observed as compared with control and under saline soil condition, non-sterile and sterile soil also show increase in N (147.54kg/ha and 149.54kg/ha) and K (141.78kg/ha and 150.38kg/ha) while decrease in P (34.07kg/ha and 33.02kg/ha) was observed as compared with control.</jats:p

Partnering with women collectives for delivering essential women’s nutrition interventions in tribal areas of eastern India: a scoping study

Abstract Background We examined the feasibility of engaging women collectives in delivering a package of women’s nutrition messages/services as a funded stakeholder in three tribal-dominated districts of Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh States, in eastern India. These districts have high prevalence of child stunting and poor government service outreach. Methods Conducted between July 2014 and March 2015, an exploratory mix-methods design was adopted (review of coverage data and government reports, field interviews and focus group discussion with multiple stakeholders and intended communities) to assess coverage of women’s nutrition services. A capacity assessment tool was developed to map all types of community collectives and assess their awareness, institutional and programme capacity as a funded stakeholder for delivering women’s nutrition services/behaviour promotion. Results Limited targeting of pre-pregnancy period, delays in first trimester registration of pregnant women, and low micronutrient supplementation supply and awareness issues emerged as key bottlenecks in improving women’s nutrition in these districts. Amongst the 18 different types of community collectives mapped, Self Help Groups (SHGs) and their federations (tier 2 and tier 3), with total membership of over 650,000, emerged as the most promising community collective due to their vast network, governance structure, bank linkage, and regular interface. Nearly 400,000 (or 20% of women) in these districts can be reached through the mapped 31,919 SHGs. SHGs with organisational readiness for receiving and managing grants for income generation and community development activities varied from 41 to 94% across study districts. Stakeholders perceived that SHGs federations managing grants from government and be engaged for nutrition promotion and service delivery and SHG weekly meetings can serve as community interface for discussing/resolving local issues impeding access to services. Conclusions Women SHGs (with tier 2 and tier 3) can become direct grantees for strengthening coverage of women’s nutrition interventions in these tribal districts/pockets, provided they are capacitated, supervised and given safe guards against exploitation and violence