Knowledge, attitude, and practice of menstrual blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells among female healthcare workers in India.

Introduction: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are pluripotent progenitor cells that can be differentiated into a variety of specialized cell types. Menstrual blood, such as umbilical cord blood and bone marrow stem cells, is a rich source of MSCs with proliferative properties. This research was conducted to understand the knowledge, attitude, and practice of menstrual blood donation regarding menstrual blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MenSCs) among female healthcare workers in India. Methodology: A cross-sectional online and offline survey was conducted at the national level between 20 November 2021 and 10 March 2022. A self-constructed semi-structured questionnaire was distributed through Google Forms on various social media platforms. The questionnaire was self-administered, and data were collected using the purposive sampling technique. Results: A total of 499 respondents completed the questionnaire. Nearly 49% of the respondents had adequate knowledge, 54% showed a positive attitude, and 45% reported adequate practices regarding menstrual blood donation and the usage of related products. The educational background, occupational status, and monthly income of the participants were found to be significantly associated with their attitude toward MenSCs. Conclusion: There is a need to promote interactive sessions on MenSCs among healthcare professionals in order to bridge the gap between general populations and the healthcare setting. Enhancing knowledge and awareness regarding the potential benefits of MenSCs would help in dissipating the age-old myths associated with menstruation and will benefit society as a whole.

Gender-based violence programming in times of COVID-19: Challenges, strategies and recommendations.

Gender-Based Violence (GBV) remains the most challenging and threatening manifestation of gender inequality in Indian society. The outbreak of COVID-19 in India increased the risk of exposure to GBV, often compared to the "shadow pandemic". Girls suffered disproportionally compared to boys during the pandemic -from being pulled out of schools, facing movement restrictions, and being more susceptible to forced marriage and household violence. Pre-existing gender inequalities and regressive gender norms, along with economic instability, also contributed to creating a milieu for violence to thrive. Additionally, the pandemic also challenged GBV service provision and program implementation at the community level. To meet the increasing needs of women and girls during the crisis, national and local civil society organizations attempted to adapt GBV programming and promote innovative approaches to tackle GBV. The secondary review provides insight on the GBV impact due to the COVID-19 pandemic and provides an overview of various challenges at the level of individual, community, institution, and policy. The literature review also highlights strategies adopted to combat GBV in private, public and cyberspace.

Cultural and Social Bias Leading to Prenatal Sex Selection: India Perspective.

Globally, 23.1 million missing female births have been documented, resulting in an imbalanced sex ratio at birth (SRB) between the late 1990s and 2017, with India accounting for almost half of this missing women population. While the country is progressively taking measures to enhance women's position in society and implementing policies toward augmenting the value of a girl child, some deeply rooted cultural and social beliefs propel a strong son preference, resulting in active daughter discrimination. The continuance of patriarchal norms and inequitable gender roles, resulting in son preference, fertility decrease, and reduction in preferred family sizes, and technical breakthroughs that allow for the identification of the sex of the fetus, is all connected to distortions in the sex ratio at birth. Son preference is a well-documented phenomenon in India, and its implications for skewed gender ratios, female feticide, and higher child mortality rates for girls have piqued researchers' and policymakers' interest. The fundamental factors of son preference as an ideology are less widely investigated. With this objective, an extensive secondary review was conducted of the socio-cultural norms and biases leading to increased prenatal sex selection in India despite the laws against it. The study findings suggest that it is imperative to emphasize the necessity for consistent and collective efforts from all stakeholders: changing the social perception of the value of girls requires collective effort and the equal participation of all stakeholders, including civil society organizations and the local community.

Water and sanitation hygiene knowledge attitude practice in urban slum settings.

BACKGROUND: Access to improved drinking water, sanitation and hygiene is one of the prime concerns around the globe. This study aimed at assessing water and sanitation hygiene-related attitude and practices, and quality of water in urban slums of south Delhi, India. METHODOLOGY: This pilot cross sectional study was performed during July 2013 across four urban slums of South Delhi. A convenient sample of 40 participants was enrolled. A modified version of previously validated questionnaire was used to gather information on socio-demographics, existing water and sanitation facilities and water treatment practices. Water quality testing was additionally performed using hydrogen sulphide (H2S) vials. RESULTS: Average age of participants was 36 years (SD=10). 83% of the participants perceived gastrointestinal tract infection as the most important health problem. 75% of the participants did not use any method for drinking water treatment. 45% of the participants consumed water from privately-owned tube well/ bore well. Water shortage lasted two days or more (50%) at a stretch with severe scarcity occurring twice a year (40%). Females aged 15 years and above were largely responsible (93%) for fetching water from water source. 45% of the participants had toilets within their households. 53% of drinking water samples collected from storage containers showed positive bacteriological contamination. DISCUSSION: There is an urgent need to develop family centered educational programs that would enhance awareness about water treatment methods that are cost effective and easily accessible.