Toward Malaria Elimination: Understanding Awareness, Prevention, and Health-Seeking Patterns in Odisha, India.

Given India's goal of eliminating malaria by 2030, this study aimed to investigate community perspectives on malaria in highly endemic areas of Odisha, a region historically prone to malaria. The research explores self-reported malaria events, community knowledge, attitudes, practices, health-seeking behaviors, and access to healthcare services. A community-based cross-sectional survey conducted among 387 households between November 2022 and May 2023 served as an extension of our recent project, monitoring malaria elimination efforts in remote and challenging-to-reach communities in Odisha. The participants, who had a mean (SD) age of 41.7 (13.17) years, were predominantly male (88.4%). Self-reported malaria in the last 12 months prior to the survey was 6.2%, with half of the patients opting for primary health centers for treatment, averaging a 5-day recovery per episode. The median cost per malaria treatment episode was U.S. dollars 20.17. A significant majority (79.8%) demonstrated a strong awareness of malaria symptoms and transmission, with 83.3% expressing a favorable attitude toward disease prevention. Notably, 65.1% reported consistent use of long-lasting insecticidal nets. However, nearly half of the participants reported inadequate larval source management and indoor residual spraying services. Although there were slight variations in knowledge, attitude, and practice scores among demographic groups, the overall understanding of and approach to malaria were consistent in the study population, with no statistically significant differences (P >0.05). The study findings offer hope, suggesting that with sustained dedication and focused surveillance, malaria could become a thing of the past.

COVID 19 fatalities burden in Asian countries: An analysis of pattern and determinants.

Covid 19 pandemic has severe implications on health and life of people. Asia being the most populous region has higher fatalities burden. Health infrastructure, stringent preventive measures by the government and public participation through adhering to social distancing have influence to check on fatalities' burden. The level of Social capital as well as voters' participation in a particular country can have influence on containment of COVID cases and fatalities. In this context, the main objectives of this study are to analyse pattern and trend of death burden for 45 Asian countries and impact of stringency measures by government, and voters' turnout ratio on death burden. However, for regression analysis only 32 countries are taken into account considering the availability of data for all variables. Multiple linear regression analysis is employed in a cross-sectional framework and Ordinary least square estimation technique with heteroscedastic adjusted standard errors have been used for estimation of coefficients. The results show that southern Asia contributes the highest share of fatality cases in total fatality cases of Asia with 71.43% share. It also has the highest share of confirmed cases in total confirmed cases of Asia with 71.72%. However, when we take the population into account, Western Asia leads in the share of confirmed COVID-19 cases and its associated fatality cases per million populations in Asia as compared to other Asian regions. The factors like health infrastructure and voters' turnover ratio are found to be significant and potential in reducing the new deaths per million populations. Though the coefficient of Stringency index has been negative and it did not emerge to be significant in Asian countries. The COVID related fatalities in Asian region are urban centric and urbanization proxy is found to be positive and significant. Diabetes prevalence rate has some heterogeneous result and in the present study its coefficient is not in the hypothesized direction. . The Countries should ramp up health infrastructure and necessary preparedness to deal with the subsequent waves and COVID related fatalities. Importance need to be given people's participation and their shared responsibilities in dealing with COVID cases and checking on fatalities. The realisation of social responsibility among the masses can lead to community participation and adhering to the protocols imposed by the government and helps in checking on spread of virus and associated death.

The Great Lockdown in the Wake of COVID-19 and Its Implications: Lessons for Low and Middle-Income Countries.

Concern for public health has been growing with the increasing volume of cases of COVID-19 in India. To combat this pandemic, India has implemented nationwide lockdowns, and unlocking phases continue with certain restrictions in different parts of the country. The lockdown has required people to adopt social-distance measures to minimize contacts in order to reduce the risks of additional infection. Nevertheless, the lockdown has already impacted economic activities and other dimensions of the health of individuals and society. Although many countries have helped their people through advanced welfare protection networks and numerous support aids, several emerging economies face specific difficulties to adapt to the pandemic due to vulnerable communities and scarce resources. However, certain lower-income countries need more rigorous analysis to implement more effective strategies to combat COVID-19. Accordingly, the current systematic review addresses the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns in India in relation to health and the economy. This work also provides further information on health inequalities, eco-nomic and social disparities in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns and also contributes pragmatic suggestions for overcoming these challenges. These observations will be useful to the relevant local and national officials for improving and adopting novel strategies to face lockdown challenges.