Prevalence and determinants of exclusive breastfeeding among lactating mothers in an urban slum, West Tripura: a cross sectional study

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding is the optimal way to feed children during their first months of life, having important benefits for them and their mothers. Despite of all benefits, the practice of exclusive breastfeeding is quite low and information on influencing factors is limited especially from slum settlements. Objectives was to estimate the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding and to find out the factors affecting exclusive breastfeeding among lactating mothers in an urban slum, West Tripura.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 200 lactating mothers for a period of six months in an urban slum using structured interview schedule. Eligible mothers were selected by sample random sampling technique. Data has been analyzed by SPSS statistical software version 17.Results: Majority (43%) of the mothers was aged between 21-25 years and 89% were non working mothers. Among the participants, 55.5% were Hindu by religion, 60% belonged to nuclear family and 43.5% had studied up to primary level. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding rate among the study mothers were 60.5%. Only parity, place of delivery and number of antenatal check up were significantly associated with exclusive breastfeeding.Conclusions: Exclusive breast feeding (EBF) rate still needs to improve. Community level interventions like awareness programmes on exclusive breastfeeding, health education and behavior change communication among the target group is essential to improve the exclusive breastfeeding rate especially in slum settlements

Prevalence of pre-hypertension and its relationship with body mass index among the medical students of Agartala government medical college

Background: Body Mass Index (BMI) is found to be positively co-related with the increased prevalence of elevated blood pressure among younger individuals. The present study was designed to find out the prevalence of pre-hypertension and its relationship with BMI among the medical students.  Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during June - July 2013 among 306 medical students of Agartala government medical college, chosen by stratified random sampling.  Results: Prevalence of pre-hypertension, hypertension and optimum BP were found to be 45%, 4% and 51% respectively. Mean BMI was found to be 21.68 ± 3.55, 80% of the students had ideal waist hip ratio, 19% were underweight, 61 % had normal weight, 18 % were overweight, and 2% were found to be obese. Pre-hypertension was significantly more prevalent among the senior medical students (χ2 = 4.933, P = 0.026), males (χ2 = 10.826, P = 0.001) and those who had family history of hypertension (χ2 = 4.228, P= 0.039). Pre-hypertension was significantly higher among the obese medical students (χ2 = 6.941, P = 0.008). Logistic regression analysis revealed that medical students had 12.8% more chance of having pre-hypertension with one unit increase in their BMI.  Conclusion: Prevalence of pre-hypertension among medical students is high and BMI is found to be significantly associated with pre-hypertension. Hence it can be used as an effective tool for predicting pre-hypertension and development of hypertension among medicos later on.

Reply to Deora et al. Multiplexing for Plasmodium spp.? Think Again! Comment on “Bhowmick et al. Dry Post Wintertime Mass Surveillance Unearths a Huge Burden of P. vivax, and Mixed Infection with P. vivax P. falciparum, a Threat to Malaria Elimination, in Dhalai, Tripura, India. Pathogens 2021, 10, 1259”

We thank Deora et al. [...

Estimation of tuberculosis incidence at subnational level using three methods to monitor progress towards ending TB in India, 2015–2020

Objectives We verified subnational (state/union territory (UT)/district) claims of achievements in reducing tuberculosis (TB) incidence in 2020 compared with 2015, in India.Design A community-based survey, analysis of programme data and anti-TB drug sales and utilisation data.Setting National TB Elimination Program and private TB treatment settings in 73 districts that had filed a claim to the Central TB Division of India for progress towards TB-free status.Participants Each district was divided into survey units (SU) and one village/ward was randomly selected from each SU. All household members in the selected village were interviewed. Sputum from participants with a history of anti-TB therapy (ATT), those currently experiencing chest symptoms or on ATT were tested using Xpert/Rif/TrueNat. The survey continued until 30 Mycobacterium tuberculosis cases were identified in a district.Outcome measures We calculated a direct estimate of TB incidence based on incident cases identified in the survey. We calculated an under-reporting factor by matching these cases within the TB notification system. The TB notification adjusted for this factor was the estimate by the indirect method. We also calculated TB incidence from drug sale data in the private sector and drug utilisation data in the public sector. We compared the three estimates of TB incidence in 2020 with TB incidence in 2015.Results The estimated direct incidence ranged from 19 (Purba Medinipur, West Bengal) to 1457 (Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya) per 100 000 population. Indirect estimates of incidence ranged between 19 (Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli) and 788 (Dumka, Jharkhand) per 100 000 population. The incidence using drug sale data ranged from 19 per 100 000 population in Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli to 651 per 100 000 population in Centenary, Maharashtra.Conclusion TB incidence in 1 state, 2 UTs and 35 districts had declined by at least 20% since 2015. Two districts in India were declared TB free in 2020