ObjectivesTo study the percentage seropositivity for SARS-CoV-2 to understand the pandemic status and predict the future situations in Ahmedabad.Study designCross-sectional study.SettingsField area of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.ParticipantsMore than 30 000 individuals irrespective of their age, sex, acute/past COVID-19 infection participated in the serosurvey which covered all the 75 Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs) across 48 wards and 7 zones of the city. Study also involved healthcare workers (HCWs) from COVID-19/non-COVID-19 hospitals.InterventionsSeropositivity of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 was measured as a mark of COVID-19 infection.Primary and secondary outcomesSeropositivity was used to calculate cumulative incidence. Correlation of seropositivity with available demographic detail was used for valid and precise assessment of the pandemic situation.ResultsFrom 30 054 samples, the results were available for 29 891 samples and the crude seropositivity is 17.61%. For all the various age groups, the seropositivity calculated between 15% and 20%. The difference in seropositivity for both the sex group is statistically not significant. The seropositivity is significantly lower (13.64%) for HCWs as compared with non-HCWs (18.71%). Seropositivity shows increasing trend with time. Zone with maximum initial cases has high positivity as compared with other zones. UPHCs with recent rise in cases are leading in seropositivity as compared with earlier and widely affected UPHCs.ConclusionsThe results of serosurveillance suggest that the population of Ahmedabad is still largely susceptible. People still need to follow preventive measures to protect themselves till an effective vaccine is available to the people at large. The data indicate the possibility of vanishing immunity over time and need further research to cross verify with scientific evidences.
Background: Poor health, poor nutrition and disability can be barriers to attending school and to learning.1 Schools are sacred because they provide an environment, for learning skills, and for development of intelligence that can be utilized by students to achieve their goals in life. It is also observed that "to learn effectively, children need good health." Health is key factor in school entry, as well as continued participation and attainment in school. Aims & Objective: To study health profile of children of boarding schools of Gandhinagar district. Materials and Methods: The study was a cross sectional study. After taking the permission of principal of resident schools and consent of the parents of children, 867 children from 8 boarding schools were examined for nutritional deficiencies during February-March 2011. Results: Age of the study children (total 867) ranged from 5-19 years. (Mean age = 13.80 ± 1.96 years). Out of 867, 434 (49.9%) were boys and 433 (50.1%) were girls. Vitamin A deficiency was present in 54 (6.2%) children. Vitamin B complex deficiency signs were seen in 179 (20.6%) children. Vitamin C deficiency signs were seen in 86 (9.9%) children. PEM was observed in 77 (8.9%) children. The study revealed that 46.7% girls were suffering from anaemia compare to 37.3% of boys. 122 (12.9%) children had visual impairment. Almost 22% of study population was suffering from dental caries. Wax in ears was present in 816 (94.1%) children. Conclusion: Poor personal hygiene and nutritional deficiency among these children needs great attention and health education.
Background Health Care Workers (HCWs) are at higher risk for Covid19. Sero-surveillance among HCWs using IgG antibodies can add further value to the scientific findings. Objectives To estimate seropositivity among HCWs and to correlate it with various factors affecting seropositivity. Methods Population based large scale sero-surveillance among HCWs was carried out during second half of August’20 in Ahmedabad using “Covid-Kavach” IgG Antibody Detection ELISA kits. Seropositivity among HCWs was estimated and compared with various demographic & other factors to understand their infection & immunity status. Proportions and Z-test were used as appropriate. Results As on August’20, Seropositivity among HCWs from Ahmedabad is 23.65% (95% Confidence Interval 21.70–25.73%). Seropositivity of 25.98% (95%CI 23.47–28.66) among female HCWs is significantly higher than 19.48% (95%CI 16.53–22.80) among male HCWs. The zone wise positivity among HCWs closely correlate with cases reported from the respective zone. The sero-positivity among HCWs from the earliest and worst affected zones have lower level of seropositivity as compared to the zones affected recently. This might be pointing towards the fact that the IgG Antibodies may not be long lasting. Conclusion As on August 2020, the seropositivity of 23.65% in HCWs indicate high level of disease transmission and higher risk of infection among HCWs in Ahmedabad. The seropositivity is significantly higher among female HCWs. Zone wise seropositivity, closely correlate with the reported cases from the respective zone. Their comparison also indicates the possibility of reducing IgG seropositivity, which necessitates further in-depth scientific research to generate greater scientific evidences.
This study compared the validity of the haemoglobin colour scale (HCS) and clinical signs in diagnosing anaemia against Sahli's haemoglobinometer method as the gold standard, and assessed the reliability of HCS. The sample comprised 129 pregnant women recruited from 6 urban health centres in Ahmedabad. The prevalence of anaemia was 69.8% by Sahli's method, 78.3% by HCS and 89.9% by clinical signs; there was no statistically significant difference between Sahli's method and HCS whereas there was between Sahli's method and clinical signs. The mean haemoglobin level by Sahli's method and HCS differed significantly. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of HCS was 83.3%, 33.3%, 74.3% and 46.4% respectively and that of clinical signs was 91.1%, 12.8%, 70.7% and 38.5% respectively. Interobserver agreement for HCS was moderate (κ = 0.43). Clinical signs are better than HCS for diagnosing anaemia. HCS can be used in the field provided assessors are adequately trained. MET Medical College, LG Hospital Compound, Maninagar, Ahmedabad, India (Correspondence to G. Bhatt: gneyaa@yahoo.co.in
Background: Assessing population based seroprevalence can help in monitor the pandemic, and suggest appropriate corrective public health measures. Aims and Objectives: To study seroprevalence of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV2 to understand the pandemic status and deriving valid conclusions for guiding the public health measures for managing the covid19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: A serosurveillance study was carried out using population based stratified sampling for the general population of Ahmedabad city. Seroprevalence for Cases, Contacts and Health Care Workers (HCWs) was also estimated as separate additional categories. The seroprevalence was compared with various demographic factors for valid and precise predictions regarding the immunity status of the population. Results: As on October 2020, the seroprevalence for IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV2 in the general population of Ahmedabad is 24.20% (95% Confidence Interval 23.57%–24.85%) The sero-positivity has increasing trend with age and is higher among females (24.83%) than males (23.72%) but is statistically not significant. The zone wise positivity ranged from 18.70% to 33.52%. The seropositivity among HCWs, contacts and cases are 20.84%, 26.05% and 54.51% respectively and it closely correlate with the risk. Conclusion: As on October 2020, general population demonstrate a seropositivity of 24.20%. The seropositivity among various groups is according to the risk of contracting the disease. Results also indicate the possibility of undetectable level or disappearing IgG during the post-covid period. Results also indicate that the preventive measures must be strongly followed for continued control of the pandemic situation till an effective vaccine is provided to the people at large.
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