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Determinants of health-seeking behavior among people living with HIV (PLHIV) are important. This study aims to develop and assess the content validity of an instrument that measures health-seeking behavior for tuberculosis among PLHIV in India. An instrument was developed using deductive methods and the Modified Andersen’s Behavioral Model of Health Services (BMHS). We identified three domains using the BMHS. Ten subject experts validated the tool between June 2022 and August 2022. Lawshe’s Content Validity Ratios (CVRs) and Scale Content Validity Indices (CVIs) were computed. The items with CVR and CVI values ≥0.62 were considered for the final tool. The health-seeking behavior among PLHIV, based on the BMHS, identified knowledge regarding TB (domain 1), healthcare accessibility and factors leading to delay in treatment-seeking behavior (domain 2), and client satisfaction regarding diagnostic and treatment-seeking behavior (domain 3). Content Validity Ratios (CVRs) of all the items related to domains 1 and 2 were ≥0.62. The Scale Content Validity Indices (for relevance), i.e., S-CVI (average) and S-CVI (proportional relevance), were ≥0.62 for all domains. The items with CVR and CVI values ≥0.62 in the domains were accepted in the final tool, which contained 69 items.

Background: Children with disabilities are expected to have poor nutritional status in comparison to children without disabilities. However, limited data on nutritional status of children with and without disabilities in rural settings in India. Objective: To assess and compare the nutritional status of children with and without disability. Methods: A cross-sectional study among children aged 5–15 years was conducted in the rural practise area of a medical college in Karnataka. 290 children (145 with and 145 children without disability) of similar age and sex were studied. Age and sex-specific World Health Organization (WHO) BMI centiles, 24 h dietary calorie and protein intakes were assessed and compared. Median and interquartile ranges were calculated for quantitative variables. Mann–Whitney U test was used to assess the differences in quantitative variables among the two groups. Results: As per WHO BMI centiles, 33.1% with and 37.20% without disabilities were undernourished. The median calorie consumed by children with disabilities was 1169.0 (946.5–1586.0) significantly lower compared to that of children without disability, that is, 1362.0 (1167.0–1641.0). The median protein consumed by children with disabilities was 28.0 (22.5–38.0) significantly lower compared to that of children without disability, that is, 32.0 (28.0–40.0). Conclusions: Children with disabilities had similar rates of undernutrition as that of their non-disabled peers and their lesser dietary intake in terms of calories and proteins.

Introduction: Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) or Peripheral Vascular Occlusive Disease (PVOD) is one of the significant macrovascular complications of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and chronic smokers. The Ankle Brachial Pressure Index (ABPI) is an easy, non-invasive, and often underutilised tool for diagnosis of PVOD, which is often underdiagnosed in rural health care settings. Aim: To estimate the ABPI and determine the proportion of asymptomatic PAD, sensitivity, and specificity of ABPI in patients with type II diabetes mellitus is a rural secondary care hospital. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was done on 112 patients presenting to a rural secondary care hospital affiliated to a medical college in Mangalore, Karnataka, India, with type II diabetes mellitus between October 2018 to February 2019. A pre-structured proforma was used to collect data on variables. ABPI measurements were expressed in terms of median and Interquartile range. Age, sex, co-morbidity pattern was shown in terms of percentages and proportions. Data was entered in MS Excel and analysed using SPSS software version 20.0. Receptor Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the sensitivity and specificity of ABPI as a screening tool for PVOD. Results: Of the 112 patients examined, median Ankle Systolic Blood Pressure was 140.0 mmHg (130.0-150.0), and median Brachial Blood Pressure was 139.0 mmHg (130.0-153.5), and the mean ABPI was 1.00±0.15. The number of patients with type II diabetes mellitus with asymptomatic PAD (ABPI

Male participation in reproductive and child health improves breastfeeding rates. The role of fathers in breastfeeding may be crucial in improving exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rates. This study explored the fathers' attitudes and support and its association with EBF in mothers with infants attending a rural primary health center in Karnataka. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on mothers with infants visiting a rural primary health center between December 2020 and February 2021. A pretested semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data to ascertain the exclusivity of breastfeeding and other sociodemographic factors. The fathers' attitudes and support toward mothers during and after pregnancy were measured on a 5-point Likert scale. Quantitative variables were expressed in median and interquartile ranges, and qualitative variables were expressed using percentages and proportions. The association was determined using the Chi-square test and Spearman's correlation test. The data were collected using Epi Data and analyzed using Epi info v 3. A total of 169 mothers participated in the study. The self-reported EBF was 148 (87.1%). The fathers' attitudes and support to the mothers were found to be more favorable during the antenatal period in 97% of the women. The fathers' attitudes and support in the antenatal period and after delivery were not associated with the mothers' exclusivity in breastfeeding. The present study concluded that there is no association between the fathers' attitudes and support before and after the delivery of the infant and mothers' exclusivity in breastfeeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]