Assessing the Burden of COVID-19 among Children Aged 6-14 Years in Karnataka, India: A Cross-sectional Survey.

Background: India experienced three coronavirus disease (COVID-19) waves, with the third attributed to the highly contagious Omicron variant. Before the national vaccination rollout for children above 6, understanding severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) immunoglobulin G (IgG) positivity in the pediatric population was essential. This study aims to assess the burden of Covid-19 infection and to estimate the seroprevalence in children aged 6 to 14 years in the state of Karnataka. Material and Methods: We surveyed 5,358 children aged 6-14 across Karnataka using 232 health facilities, from June 6 to 14, 2022. We determined the sample size using the PPS (Population Proportional to Size) technique and employed cluster sampling. We tested all participants for SARS-CoV-2 IgG with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit and SARS-CoV-2 RNA with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). We sequenced samples with a cycle threshold (CT) value below 25 using whole genomic sequencing (WGS). Result: We found an adjusted seroprevalence of IgG at 75.38% statewide, and we found 0.04% of children RT-PCR positive for COVID-19. We determined a case-to-infection ratio of 1:37 and identified the SARS-CoV-2 strains as Omicron, BA.5, and BA.2.10. Conclusion: The study showed a high seroprevalence of IgG among children with low active infection. Omicron, BA. 5, and BA. 2.10 variants were detected through WGS.

Age, gender, peers, life skills and quality of life influence risk of cell phone addiction among college teachers in Karnataka, India : a state level epidemiological analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cell phones are an integral part of modern day life and have become companions for individuals irrespective of age, gender and socio-economic status. In this study, we assessed the factors affecting risk of cell phone addiction among teachers attending Life Skills Training and Counselling Services (LSTCS) program in Karnataka. METHODS: This cross sectional secondary data analysis utilised data from baseline assessment of trainees attending a Life Skills Training and Counselling Services program (LSTCP). Various factors hypothesised to be affecting risk of cell phone addiction (outcome) was analysed using univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis. All the analysis was done using STATA 12.0 software. RESULTS: Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted with risk of cell phone addiction as outcome. A conceptual framework of hypothesized exposure variables was developed based on expert consultation and literature review. Overall, data of 1981 participants was utilized. Gender (AOR=1.91; 95% CI=1.27-2.77), number of peers (AOR=1.01; 95 CI=1-1.008) and social quality of life (AOR=1.01; 95% CI=1.00-1.03) were associated with increased risk of cell phone addiction. Age (AOR=0.98; 95%CI=0.96-1.00), empathy (AOR=0.96;95%;CI=0.93-0.99), communication skills(AOR=0.92, 95%;CI=0.88-0.96) and physical quality of life (AOR=0.96; 95% CI=0.95-0.98) were associated with reduced risk of cell phone addiction. CONCLUSIONS: This study on precursors of risk of cell phone addiction, conducted mostly among apparently healthy individuals, provide important insights into interventions to reduce risk of cell phone addiction. The complexity of associations between peers, gender, quality of life and risk of cell phone addiction needs further exploration.

A multicentric community survey on animal exposures among humans in India.

BACKGROUND: Rabies is a 100% fatal disease. There are inadequate data on animal exposures and rabies postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) from community-based field surveys in India. OBJECTIVES: : The main objective of the study is to estimate the incidence of animal exposures (bite, scratch, or lick) in the study population and to describe the rabies PEP among the cases. METHODS: A descriptive survey was conducted in seven states of India between July and November, 2017. In each state, multistage sampling methodology was followed for selection of district, taluka/tehsil, block, and clusters within the block. The primary sampling unit was a household (HH). A case was a patient with animal exposure (bite, scratch, or lick) in the last 1 year from the date of survey. The animal exposure was categorized based on the WHO guidelines (Category-I, Category-II, and Category-III). The patients with the history of multiple animal exposures any time during the survey period was considered as a single case. RESULTS: A total of 1012 HHs were surveyed covering a population of 4294. 3016 (70.2%) participants were from rural settings and 1278 (29.8%) were living in urban settings. 2181 (50.8%) participants were male and 2113 (49.2%) were female. The annual incidence of animal exposure was 1.26% (confidence interval [CI]: 0.93%-1.59%). The annual incidence in urban setting was 1.33% (0.70 - 1.96) and rural settings were 1.23% (CI: 0.84 - 1.62). Majority (68.5%) of the cases were from rural settings, 61.2% of the cases were in the age group of 15-60 years. Among the 43 cases who had received PEP, 21 had Category-II exposures, of whom 66.7% had completed vaccination with either five doses intramuscular or four doses intradermal route. Similarly, 22 had Category-III exposures and only 4 (18.2%) cases had received rabies immunoglobulin and completed rabies vaccination. Six ( 11.1%) cases did not receive PEP. There was no report of human rabies case. CONCLUSION: The incidence of animal exposure was 1.26%. Rabies PEP in the cases was not satisfactory.

Lack of effectiveness of cellulose sulfate gel for the prevention of vaginal HIV transmission.

BACKGROUND: Women make up more than 50% of adults living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in sub-Saharan Africa. Thus, female-initiated HIV prevention methods are urgently needed. METHODS: We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of cellulose sulfate, an HIV-entry inhibitor formulated as a vaginal gel, involving women at high risk for HIV infection at three African and two Indian sites. The primary end point was newly acquired infection with HIV type 1 or 2. The secondary end point was newly acquired gonococcal or chlamydial infection. The primary analysis was based on a log-rank test of no difference in the distribution of time to HIV infection, stratified according to site. RESULTS: A total of 1398 women were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive cellulose sulfate gel (706 participants) or placebo (692 participants) and had follow-up HIV test data. There were 41 newly acquired HIV infections, 25 in the cellulose sulfate group and 16 in the placebo group, with an estimated hazard ratio of infection for the cellulose sulfate group of 1.61 (P=0.13). This result, which is not significant, is in contrast to the interim finding that led to the trial being stopped prematurely (hazard ratio, 2.02 [corrected]; P=0.05 [corrected]) and the suggestive result of a preplanned secondary (adherence-based) analysis (hazard ratio, 2.02; P=0.05). No significant effect of cellulose sulfate as compared with placebo was found on the risk of gonorrheal infection (hazard ratio, 1.10; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.74 to 1.62) or chlamydial infection (hazard ratio, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.47 to 1.08). CONCLUSIONS: Cellulose sulfate did not prevent HIV infection and may have increased the risk of HIV acquisition. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00153777; and Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN95638385.)