The low-and-middle-income country (LMIC) context is volatile, uncertain and resource-constrained. India, an LMIC, has put up a complex response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Using an analytic approach, we have described India’s response to combat the pandemic during the initial months (from 17 January to 20 April 2020). India issued travel advisories and implemented graded international border controls between January and March 2020. By early March, cases started to surge. States scaled up movement restrictions. On 25 March, India went into a nationwide lockdown to ramp up preparedness. The lockdown uncovered contextual vulnerabilities and stimulated countermeasures. India leveraged existing legal frameworks, institutional mechanisms and administrative provisions to respond to the pandemic. Nevertheless, the cross-sectoral impact of the initial combat was intense and is potentially long-lasting. The country could have further benefited from evidence-based policy and planning attuned to local needs and vulnerabilities. Experience from India offers insights to nations, especially LMICs, on the need to have contextualised pandemic response plans.

This was a population based cross-sectional study carried out to estimate and compare the seroprevalence, hidden prevalence and determine the demographic risk factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection among adults in the three largest cities of Odisha, India, and ascertain the association with the progression of the epidemic. The survey carried out in August 2020 in the three largest cities of the state of Odisha, India. Blood samples were collected from the residents using random sampling methods and tested for anti- SARS CoV-2 antibodies using an automated CLIA platform. A total of 4146 participants from the 3 cities of Bhubaneswar (BBS), Berhampur (BAM) and Rourkela (RKL) participated. The female to male participation ratio was 5.9:10 across the three cities. The gender weighted seroprevalence across the three cities was 20.78% (95% CI 19.56–22.05%). While females reported a higher seroprevalence (22.8%) as compared to males (18.8%), there was no significant difference in seroprevalence across age groups. A majority of the seropositive participants were asymptomatic (90.49%). The case to infection ratio on the date of serosurvey was 1:6.6 in BBS, 1:61 in BAM and 1:29.8 in RKL. The study found a high seroprevalence against COVID-19 in urban Odisha as well as high numbers of asymptomatic infections. The epidemic curves had a correlation with the seroprevalence.

INTRODUCTION:Road traffic accident is a major health problem worldwide. Driving is a visually intensive task which requires several sets of abilities which include sensory ability (mainly visual). In view of the importance of good vision in safe driving this study was conducted to assess the ocular status of inter-state commercial drivers in Berhampur Odisha. MATERIALS AND METHODS:This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted over three months among inter-state truck drivers. All the respondents had their eyes examined. Their visual acuities and colour vision were assessed with the aid of Snellen's chart and Ishihara pseudochromatic plates respectively. The data obtained was collated and analysed with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 20.0.1 statistical software. RESULTS: 195 truck drivers were included in this study. The duration of driving experience of the respondents revealed that majority of the respondents (38%) had more than 20 years driving experience. Few respondents (7.7%) used recommended glasses while majority (92.3%) did not use recommended glasses. Most respondents (94.35% and 91.28%) had visual acuity of 6/5-6/18 in the better eye and second eye respectively. Most respondents with eye problem (65.1%) did not seek eye treatment. All the respondents had normal colour vision. Most of the respondents (70.2%) did not have ocular morbidity. Few respondents 37 (19%) had history of involvement in RTA while driving and the remaining 158 (81%) had not been involved in RTA. The visual acuity in the better and second eye did not significantly affect involvement in road traffic accident with a p-value of 0.94 and 0.61 respectively.

Background: Unmet need for family planning refers to the percentage of fecund women of reproductive age either married or in union, women who either wish to postpone the next birth (spacers) or who wish to stop child bearing (limiters) but are not using a contraceptive method. This clearly indicates a gap between a woman's reproductive intention and current contraceptive behaviour. The objectives of the present study was to determine the prevalence of unmet need for family planning, to assess the association between socio-demographic characteristics and unmet need of family planning, to identify the reasons for unmet need. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study conducted from June to August 2018 in Ankuli (UHTC). A total of 188 ever married women in the reproductive age group were selected by simple random sampling. Results: Out of 188 women, 41 (21.8%) had no need for contraception and needs for family planning of 78 (41.5%) women had been met. The prevalence of unmet need for family planning was 36.7% consists of 24 (12.8%) spacing need and 45 (23.9%) limiting need. It was found that age, education of women, age at marriage, number of living children, contraceptive knowledge and inter-spousal communication were significantly associated with unmet need for family planning. The most common reason for not using any contraceptive method was fear of side effects (40.6%). Conclusions: The unmet need for family planning was high and in order to reduce the gap, the program should address the above reasons.

Background: The out-patient department of a hospital is for patients who do not require hospitalization but have come for their health needs, either for treatment or for diagnosis. The main objective of the study was to measure the satisfaction levels of the patients attending the OPDs of MKCG medical college.Methods: Data were collected from OPD patients through pre-structured questionnaires in the local languages at the OPD of MKCG Medical College. The data were analysed using SPSS.Results: Out of total 100 patients interviewed, 58 were males and 42 were females. 13% respondents were "highly unsatisfied" with the OPD services where as 65% were "unsatisfied", 15% were "satisfied" and only 7% "highly satisfied". 27% of the participants were from lower socio-economic status (SES), 70% were from middle class and the rest from upper class. 100% of those belonging to upper SES, 80% of middle SES and 70% of lower SES were highly unsatisfied or unsatisfied with OPD services. Most of the patients had come to attend the departments of Medicine (25%), Paediatrics (18%), Surgery (16%) and Obstetrics and Gynaecology (15%). 45% patients were visiting this facility for the first time. 11% of these new patients were Highly satisfied with the services while 31% of repeat patients were either satisfied or highly satisfied. The median waiting time between arrival and consultation was 1 hour. 84% participants had to incur out of pocket expenses. The mean amount spent was Rs. 350. 80% of those who had spent were of the opinion that they had to spend more than what was reasonable.Conclusions: Patient satisfaction was significantly associated with SES, repeat visits, and waiting time between arrival and consultation. Measures to reduce out of pocket expenditure and waiting time may increase satisfaction levels in patients.