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Sasidharan BK, James RI, Sathyendra S, Harsh R, Jeba Sundararaj J, Ravindran V, T HMT, Ashok N, Thirunavukkarasu MM, Punitha JV, George TK, Isaac BTJ, Zechariah AJ, David SNJ, Yesupatham DP, Irodi A, Aruldas V, Keshava SN, Zachariah A, Kang G, Mammen JJ. UDHAVI Community Support During India's Second COVID-19 Wave: A Descriptive Study on a Tertiary Care Center's Pandemic Response Helpline. Glob Health Sci Pract 2023; 11:e2200315. [PMID: 37903577 PMCID: PMC10615235 DOI: 10.9745/ghsp-d-22-00315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In April 2021, during the peak of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in India, hospitals overflowed with COVID-19 patients, and people hesitated to seek necessary care due to fear of contracting the disease. The UDHAVI helpline was set up by a tertiary care hospital in Vellore with the help of district administration, nongovernmental organizations, and various supporting agencies to provide general information, medical advice, counseling, and logistics support to the community. METHODS This is a retrospective study of all the phone calls made to the UDHAVI helpline between mid-May and mid-June 2021 during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The calls were electronically captured as part of the process, and the information was subsequently retrieved and analyzed. RESULTS In all, 677 calls were received. The lines for general information, medical advice, counseling, and logistics support received 168 (25%), 377 (56%), 15 (2%), and 117 (17%) calls, respectively. Home care kits, oxygen concentrators, and food were delivered by volunteers from local nongovernmental organizations and hospitals. CONCLUSION We believe the details of our experience would be useful in the preparedness and mobilization of resources in the event of any public health emergency. As a result of this initiative, we propose an integrated partnership model for emergency response to any pandemic situation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ranjit Immanuel James
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Christian Medical College Vellore, Vellore, India
| | - Sowmya Sathyendra
- Department of General Medicine, Christian Medical College Vellore, Vellore, India.
| | - R Harsh
- Department of Rural Unit for Health and Social Affairs, Christian Medical College Vellore, Vellore, India
| | | | - Vinitha Ravindran
- Department of Paediatric Nursing, College of Nursing, Christian Medical College Vellore, Vellore, India
| | - Hannah Mary Thomas T
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Christian Medical College Vellore, Vellore, India
| | | | | | - John Victor Punitha
- Department of General Medicine, Christian Medical College Vellore, Vellore, India
| | - Tarun K George
- Department of General Medicine, Christian Medical College Vellore, Vellore, India
| | | | | | - Samuel N J David
- Department of Hospital Management Studies and Staff Training and Development, Christian Medical College Vellore, Vellore, India
| | | | - Aparna Irodi
- Department of Radiodiagnosis, Christian Medical College Vellore, Vellore, India
| | - Vijay Aruldas
- OPD Services and Department of Medical Records, Christian Medical College Vellore, Vellore, India
| | | | - Anand Zachariah
- Department of General Medicine, Christian Medical College Vellore, Vellore, India
| | - Gagandeep Kang
- The Wellcome Trust Research Laboratory, Division of Gastrointestinal Sciences, Christian Medical College Vellore, Vellore, India
| | - Joy John Mammen
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, Christian Medical College Vellore, Vellore, India
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Varghese J, Aruldas V, Jeemon P. Beyond the Numbers. Indian Journal of Gender Studies 2008. [DOI: 10.1177/097152150701500106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The last few census reports in India increasingly indicate a high male sex ratio among children in different parts of the country. A study was conducted to examine the trends in the sex ratio at birth of hospital deliveries in the state of Delhi, and their relation with various demographic and socio-economic factors. The study was based on the data available with the birth records of eight large hospitals in Delhi. Birth data of one of the hospitals was analysed in detail. Births were the unit of analysis and SRB based on hospital birth was the indicator for sex-selection practices. A 10-year study of SRB of hospitalised deliveries showed sharp increasing trends in masculinity from the beginning of the study period. Results also indicated intense son preference, resulting in sex selection, particularly if earlier children were girls. Any rigorous measures for control of population growth in India would be disastrous for the sex ratio at birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe Varghese
- Joe Varghese is at the Achutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, 695 011
| | - Vijay Aruldas
- Vijay Aruldas is General Secretary, Christian Medical Association of India, A-3 Block, LSC Janakpuri, New Delhi 110 058
| | - Panniyammakal Jeemon
- Panniyammakal Jeemon is Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Chronic Disease Control, C1/52, 2nd Floor, Safdarjung Development Area, New Delhi 110 016
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Raman T, Mukhopadhyaya A, Eapen CE, Aruldas V, Bose A, Sen S, Estes MK, Kang G. Intussusception in southern Indian children: lack of association with diarrheal disease and oral polio vaccine immunization. Indian J Gastroenterol 2003; 22:82-4. [PMID: 12839377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intussusception is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction in young children and has been reported as a complication of a recently withdrawn tetravalent reassortant rotavirus vaccine. METHODS We studied the history, clinical presentation, management and outcome of intussusception presenting to a tertiary care hospital in southern India over a 10-year period, in order to assess potential association with diarrheal disease and immunization. RESULTS Data from 137 index cases and 280 control subjects indicated that the risk of diarrheal disease or oral polio vaccine administration in the month prior to presentation was similar in the index cases and controls. Mean time to presentation to hospital after developing symptoms was 1.8 days, and 77.3% of patients required surgery, with 47.4% undergoing intestinal resection. Mortality was 0.006%. CONCLUSIONS No association could be demonstrated between gastroenteritis or oral poliovirus vaccine immunization and intussusception in southern Indian children. These children presented later and required operative intervention more frequently than has been reported in other studies, but had a good outcome with low mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Raman
- Department of Gastrointestinal Sciences, Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore 632 004
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Aruldas K, Muliyil JP, Mathai E, Abraham S, Joseph A, Inbamalar U, Aruldas V. Antibody response to a single tetanus toxoid booster in young women in rural south India. Natl Med J India 2001; 14:22-3. [PMID: 11242693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tetanus toxoid immunization is an integral part of the maternal and child health programme in developing countries. It is likely that many women may have had childhood immunization and so already have antitetanus antibodies at the time of their first antenatal visit. A single dose of tetanus toxoid injection can boost the levels of antitetanus antibodies in these women. This study was undertaken to assess the previous immunization status by verbal history and assess the effect of a single tetanus toxoid injection in young women. METHODS Ninety-nine unmarried women between 18 and 22 years of age were enrolled for the study. The history of childhood immunization was obtained from their mothers. Blood samples were collected to measure IgG antibody levels to tetanus using ELISA. Antibody levels were also measured on day 14 after a dose of tetanus toxoid injection. RESULTS Of the 99 women studied, 81 had a history of childhood immunization while 18 did not. Overall, 92% of the women had protective levels of antibodies at the time of first testing and 99% of the women were protected with a single dose of tetanus toxoid. CONCLUSION In areas with good maternal and child health services, a single booster dose of tetanus toxoid can be considered adequate for primigravidae with a history of childhood immunization.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Aruldas
- Department of Community Health and Development, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore 632004, Tamil Nadu, India
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