Child marriage in India: Analysis of the census and NFHS data Content Editor: Dr. Sakshi Aggarwal July 29, 2024 at 2:30:00 PM Child marriage, National Family Health Survey, Laws and policies, Reproductive health Child marriage is defined by the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), 2006, as involving people under the age of 18 for girls and 21 for boys. Underage marriages continue in India despite this rule, frequently masquerading as custom. The India Child Protection, an organisation working towards child rights protection, has analysed the Census and National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data to quantify the extent of the problem of child marriage in India. According to the 2011 census, on average, 1,621,257 girls who are under the age of 18 get married each year. This means that 4,442 girls get married every day, 185 girls get married every hour, and three girls get married every minute. In India, 23.3% of women (20-24) were married before turning 18 , as per NFHS- 5. Another effect of child marriage is infant mortality, which is 45 per 1,000 live births for mothers under the age of 20 and 33 for mothers between the ages of 20 and 29 (2019–2021, NFHS-5). The goal of the national initiative Child Marriage Free India (CMFI) is to reach the tipping point for the abolition of child marriage by 2030. CMFI is presently working in areas where child marriage is most prevalent through grassroots partner organizations. The organization's goal is to raise awareness about the issue by sensitizing the public and taking legal action to end child marriage in 31,150 villages. Click here to read more. Previous Next

Report on progress to end female genital mutilation Report on progress to end female genital mutilation Content Editor: Dr. Niharika March 26, 2024 UNICEF Press Release Human Rights, Women Health, International Health News FGM assaults girls’ and women’s human rights , having lasting physical, psychosocial, and social consequences. On this International Women’s Day , a report released by WHO revealed that progress toward ending FGM remains slow to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal to eliminate the practice. According to the report, more than 230 million girls and women have undergone FGM. It is most prevalent in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The most challenging aspect of eliminating this practice is that more and more girls undergoing FGM are under the age of 5 years , leaving little time for intervention. 4 in 10 of all the survivors of FGM are from conflict-affected areas- where population growth is fast, and education and health services are disrupted, making it more challenging to tackle FGM due to diversion of resources towards crises. However, Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Egypt provide a ray of hope, with declining rates of FGM, and changing attitudes towards FGM. The report concluded that greater investment in services for girls and also a provision of laws and policies to safeguard their rights should be put in place to eliminate such practices . Way ahead : the eradication of FGM requires leaders and communities to make focused efforts to end gender-based discrimination, greater investment in services for girls and laws and policies to safeguard their rights and better track the prevalence of FGM through better quality data.

WHO launches Policy on Preventing and Addressing Sexual Misconduct Content Editor : Dr. Manjeet Mohanty March 6, 2023 at 9:07:47 AM Gender Equality, Women Rights The policy on Preventing and Addressing Sexual Misconduct launched by WHO, places the victims and survivors at its core and sets strict standards of zero tolerance, and stresses that there can be “no excuse” for sexual misconduct . This policy comes into effect from 8th March 2023 . The Independent Commission, which the WHO Director-General established in 2020 to investigate claims of sexual exploitation and abuse during the response to the 10th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo , produced important findings that led to the development of the new policy, which is a crucial part of the comprehensive program WHO is implementing in response. The umbrella term “sexual misconduct” refers to all types of forbidden sexual behavior by employees and partners of the organization . For reading the complete policy document - Click here Previous Next

Silent killer: Dirty stoves put India's infants at risk Silent killer: Dirty stoves put India's infants at risk Content Editor: Dr. Sakshi Aggarwal July 15, 2024 Journal of Economic Behaviour and Organization Indoor air pollution, Child mortality, Cooking fuel A study recently published in the Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, had the main research focus of estimating the impact of indoor air pollution from cooking fuel choice on under-five mortality in India. Indoor air pollution is the leading environmental factor behind mortality in India, accounting for about 40% of the 1.2 million deaths in 2017 (Global Burden of Disease 2017). For this, the researchers used Nationally representative data with identification through forest cover and agricultural land ownership. The Key Findings included: 1. Solid fuel use for cooking significantly increases child mortality rates . 2. The impact is mainly on neonatal mortality (first 28 days after birth). 3. The effect of mortality is higher on girls compared to boys . 4. The effect is magnified in smaller households with limited division of labor between childcare and cooking. 5. Biomass fuels (firewood, animal dung, agricultural waste) are the main contributors to increased child mortality. This study highlights the critical public health issue of indoor air pollution from biomass cooking fuels, emphasizing the urgent need for cleaner cooking alternatives to reduce child mortality, particularly neonatal deaths and gender disparities in health outcomes in India. Click here to read more.

Expansion of the CGHS wellness centers Content Editor: Dr Sathya Prashaath January 27, 2024 at 12:30:00 PM Universal health coverage, Health scheme The Union Health Minister, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, dedicated three CGHS Wellness Centers in Alaknanda, Rohini Sector -16, Vasant Vihar to the nation, serving 44 lakh beneficiaries across 80 cities. Central Government Health Scheme is a health scheme for serving retired central government employees and their families. The inauguration of a robotic unit at the National Institute of TB and Respiratory Diseases was also done to provide better surgical care to patients suffering from tuberculosis. The Health Ministry also revised the package rates of CGHS packages in the empaneled private hospitals. This will, therefore, enable the beneficiaries to access quality healthcare services at affordable rates. The National Health Authority platform is deployed for this purpose, similar to the one applied for Ayushman Bharat. Jan Aushadhi medicines will also be provided in these Wellness Centres, not just for the CGHS beneficiaries, but for all the public. Previous Next

Climate change threatens our amphibious friends Climate change threatens our amphibious friends Content Editor: Dr. Immanuel Joshua E October 19, 2023 The Hindu One Health, Environment Health, Climate Change The study titled ‘Ongoing declines for the world’s amphibians in the face of emerging threats ’ was published in the journal Nature. It has been found that climate change is emerging as one of the biggest threats to amphibians. The study is based on the second global amphibian assessment. The study evaluated the risk of extinction of more than 8,000 amphibian species. The study also evaluated 2,286 species for the first time. Two out of five amphibians are facing extinction threats due to climate change. The analysis finds that between 2004 and 2022, a few serious risks have increased the number of amphibians that are in danger of going extinct. Of these, climate change was the primary threat for 39% of these species.

Alarmingly high prevalence of TB among healthcare workers in India Alarmingly high prevalence of TB among healthcare workers in India Content Editor: Dr. Urmimala September 12, 2024 Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease Tuberculosis, Systematic review and Meta-analysis, Research findings Owing to limited data on Tuberculosis(TB) in Healthcare workers, researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the data from cross-sectional studies on Healthcare workers with tuberculosis. 10 studies met the inclusion criteria of which four were conducted in the northern part, four in southern India, while two in Maharashtra. The results of the study are: - The pooled prevalence of TB was found to be 2391.62 (1415.58, 3601.34) cases per 100,000 healthcare workers. - There was significant heterogeneity among the studies. - Doctors, nurses and laboratory technicians had a prevalence of 2006.18, 2726.83 and 6468.31 per 100,000 individuals, respectively. There was wide variation in the total sample size of each profession. - Frequent contact with patients with tuberculosis increases the occupational risk of acquiring infection. - Inadequate infection control measures, improper use of personal protective equipment, poor nutrition and work stress has been attributed as causes of increased susceptibility to infection. The study recommends mandatory training and programs of healthcare workers on TB prevention practices. Click here to read more

Mediterranean diet and risk of mortality among women: Findings from a cohort study Mediterranean diet and risk of mortality among women: Findings from a cohort study Content Editor: Dr. Shubham June 14, 2024 The Journal of the American Medical Association Diet, Mortality, Cohort Study, Nutrition The Mediterranean diet consists of: 1. Nutritional Elements: fruits, nuts, whole grains, legumes, salmon, nuts, and vegetables (but not potatoes). 2. Fats :healthy fats, such as olive oil, are preferred as the proportion of monounsaturated is higher than saturated fatty acids. 3. Meat Intake : contains less red and processed meat than the median (80g/day). The Mediterranean diet is frequently cited as a beneficial eating style that can enhance the results of cardiovascular disease and cardiometabolic health. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet affects mortality rates among women, according to a 25-year-long cohort study, conducted in the US among 25315 women as part of the Women’s Health Study. The key findings include: A 23% lower risk of death from all causes is linked to a higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet. The decreased risk is largely explained by biomarkers associated with inflammation, triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, body mass index, and small molecule metabolites. The study examines various mediators that could account for this correlation, taking into account elements such as oxidative stress, inflammation, and metabolic well-being. These findings demonstrate the Mediterranean diet's potential health advantages in lowering women's mortality risk . The study highlights how crucial it is to take dietary trends into account when evaluating long-term health effects. Click here to read more.

Economic Survey 2024-25: Mental Well-Being Key to Productivity and Growth Economic Survey 2024-25: Mental Well-Being Key to Productivity and Growth Content Editor: Dr Anamika March 1, 2025 Press Information Bureau of India Mental Well-Being, Productivity, Economic Growth The Economic Survey 2024-25 defines mental well-being as critical for navigating challenges and maintaining productivity. It highlights the impact of lifestyle choices, workplace culture, and family dynamics on mental health and economic productivity. The rising mental health issues among youth are linked to excessive internet and social media use. Regular consumption of junk food (HFSS), lack of exercise, and weak family connections worsen mental well-being. Hostile work cultures and long desk hours are identified as detrimental to mental health and economic growth. The Survey calls for school, family, and societal interventions to improve mental health outcomes and ensure sustainable economic growth.

TB Mukt Panchayat: Helping India eliminate tuberculosis TB Mukt Panchayat: Helping India eliminate tuberculosis Content Editor: Dr. Anamika June 11, 2024 The Lancet Regional Health: Southeast Asia Tuberculosis, Government Initiative Realizing the importance of community engagement in disease control, the government launched ‘TB Mukt Panchayat’ (TB-free village council) on March 24, 2023. The first two indicators are mandatory for a village to obtain a ‘TB-free’ certification valid for one year, and in the rest, three out of four should be achieved in more than 80% of geographical units. Recently, a published review gave a detailed idea of how this initiative could help the country eliminate TB. Some of this initiative's strengths include its facilitation of multisectoral collaboration, incorporation of local self-government schemes , and focus on health promotion , not just treatment. However, some of its weaknesses include a lack of regular monitoring, overemphasizing certification, neglecting sustainability, and lacking TB surveillance data at the panchayat level. A few of the recommendations to strengthen this initiative include: Regular training and capacity building. Use of weighted process indicators. Incorporation of this data into the Nikshay portal. Local adaptation of the strategies to cater to specific populations. This initiative is key to shaping our country’s future, and implementing it correctly can help achieve the End TB goals . Click here to read more.