Snehasish Tripathy

Prison rehabilitation and community re-entry programmes implemented during incarceration or in the transitional period serve as significant mechanisms for facilitating justice-involved individuals in their post-release adaptation. This systematic review summarises various types of rehabilitation and re-entry programmes in prisons and in the community, and assesses their effectiveness in reducing recidivism and improving social reintegration among incarcerated and recently released justice-involved individuals. The database searches yielded a total of 2,333 papers, of which 34 studies were included in the review. A majority of the studies addressed the domains of psychosocial health, access to healthcare services, vocational training, parenting, and relationship skills. Overall, the review indicated that psychosocial and health interventions reduced recidivism while vocational interventions demonstrated positive effect on behaviour but mixed results in reducing recidivism rates and improving the scope for social reintegration. The study recommends adequate consideration of the needs and characteristics of the cohort of justice-involved individuals, as well as specific societal factors, to develop and implement interventions that ensure the continuity and positive long-term impact of these rehabilitation programmes.

Aims: Dengue fever, transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, presents a wide clinical spectrum ranging from mild febrile illness to severe manifestations such as dengue hemorrhagic fever. It poses a substantial global health concern, with India significantly contributing to its burden. Factors such as rapid urbanization, population density, and favorable climatic conditions facilitate its spread, particularly in states like Odisha. This study aimed to estimate the financial burden imposed by dengue on households in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, and to explore the coping strategies adopted by these households to address the financial burden of dengue. Methods: A case-based cross-sectional study was conducted between May and July 2022 in Bhubaneswar, part of Khordha District. A total of 200 laboratory-confirmed dengue patients were enrolled. Quantitative data on sociodemographic details, health facility choices, and expenditure specifics were collected using structured questionnaires. In-depth interviews were conducted with a subset of patients and caregivers to understand the broader socioeconomic impact. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis, and linear regression. Results: Majority of patients were urban residents, predominantly males aged 21–40 years. Private healthcare incurred significantly higher costs than government facilities (INR 21,859 versus INR 1225). The average out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) was INR 5567, disproportionately affecting females, older age groups, higher-income individuals, and married participants. Most households (93%) utilized savings, while only 3% relied on health insurance as a coping strategy. Conclusion: Dengue fever inflicts a considerable financial and emotional toll on households in Odisha. The findings underscore the urgent need to strengthen public health infrastructure, increase awareness of financial protection schemes, regulate private healthcare costs, and integrate psychosocial support into dengue management strategies.

Purpose This umbrella review aims to summarize the overall pooled effect sizes to statistically provide a clear and measurable conclusion about the association between passive smoking and oral health outcomes among children. Methods MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Science Direct, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched to retrieve studies. An assessment of primary study overlap was also performed. Furthermore, upon summarizing the effect sizes from included studies, a meta-analysis was also performed. Results Out of 537 retrieved records, a total of 12 studies were included in this review. Among the primary studies reported by the systematic review (SR) and/or systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SRMAs) (n = 12), over 50% were distinct. The most common exposure to second-hand smoke was from parental or household smoke. Meta-analysis was only performed for dental caries and found that the pooled effect size was 1.53 [1.39, 1.68] at 95% CI, indicating overall statistical significance (p < 0.01). Conclusion The review concludes that there exists a significant association between passive smoking and oral health outcomes in children and emphasizes the urgent need to mitigate exposure to passive smoking and its detrimental impact on pediatric oral health.

Introduction: Santhal tribe is one of the largest tribal groups in India. Nevertheless, there is a dearth of sufficient data regarding their use of prenatal care services. Therefore, this study aims to assess the knowledge, and utilization rate of ANC services and determine the factors associated with the ANC utilization among the Santhal women. Methods: This community-based cross-sectional study using a mixed method approach was conducted in Gomia block, Bokaro district, Jharkhand, India. Women aged 18-49 years, who had experienced childbirth, and were residents of selected villages were considered eligible. The Categorical data were presented in frequency and percentage. The association of categorical data was summarized in the Chi-square test. A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the direction of the relationship between the variables. FGDs were analyzed using a content analysis approach. Results: A total of 269 tribal women were surveyed. Iron and folic acid tablets were the most utilized and known service, received by 86.2% of women. In total, 61.2% registered their pregnancy during the first trimester and 78.4% received the required tetanus toxoid (TT) injection. Only 6.7% knew the ideal timing for ANC registration and 5.2% knew about the need for two doses of TT injection. ANC knowledge among women and the husband’s education was found as significant determinant of ANC utilization. Lack of accessibility, affordability, trust, and availability of services appeared as significant barriers to ANC utilization. Conclusion: The uptake of antenatal services among women of the Santhal tribe is comparable to both state and national averages. However, there is a noticeable gap in knowledge concerning key components of antenatal care. Addressing these gaps through targeted interventions is crucial.

Amidst the rapid proliferation of mHealth applications, questions persist regarding their efficacy, usability, and integration into oral health practice. This review aims to inform practitioners and stakeholders in the field of oral health about the potential of digital technologies to transform healthcare delivery and promote healthy behaviors. Key terms included “dental”, “dentistry”, “oral health”, “dental treatment”, and “tooth care”. The Google Play Store search identified 130 applications, out of which 18 met our study objectives. Most apps (n = 13) focused on providing dental appointments, oral health education, and promotion. The Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) quality rating revealed that only 50% of these apps were of high quality. Engagement and information were the lowest scored subscales. This review highlights the many benefits that these digital tools provide, including online appointments, teleconsultations, and access to oral health educational resources. Nevertheless, despite their potential, the current state of dental health applications left substantial room for development, especially in the areas of user involvement and information quality. The lack of reliable and accurate information in many apps may be harmful to users’ health. To fully realize the potential of these digital technologies and to enhance oral health outcomes on a larger scale, coordinated actions involving stakeholders from the technology and dentistry sectors are imperative.

This systematic review aims to review awareness and willingness for PrEP use in the prison complex and the factors influencing PrEP uptake among people incarcerated in state or federal prisons. We searched MEDLINE (OVID), EMBASE, and Scopus for relevant articles. Qualitative or quantitative studies focusing on incarcerated population, and outcome measures such as knowledge, willingness, or influencing factors for PrEP uptake were included. A narrative method was used to summarise the findings. Inmates’ knowledge of PrEP was very low. Inmates who were briefly introduced to PrEP showed a favourable attitude and willingness toward it. However, low-risk perception of HIV, fear of stigma, jail policies, low priority to health overall, appointment issues, transportation problems, depression, substance misuse, and budgetary limitations after release were perceived as barriers to its uptake and continuation. PrEP is a much-needed HIV prevention strategy for the incarcerated population. However, removing the structural and social obstacles to sustained adherence is imperative.

Anemia is a significant global health issue, impacting 1.92 billion people and ranking as a leading cause of disability. It is marked by low hemoglobin levels, which hinder oxygen delivery to vital organs and result from causes such as nutritional deficiencies and chronic diseases. Despite some progress, anemia remains a major concern in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam. Although the country has reduced its anemia rates, the progress is insufficient to achieve the WHO’s 2030 targets for anemia reduction among women of reproductive age. This study explores anemia trends and socio-economic determinants in Vietnam, with a focus on age and gender differences, to inform targeted interventions and policy development. This study used the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors (GBD) dataset to explore the burden of anemia and its causes in Vietnam from 1990 to 2021. The GBD study provides data on anemia prevalence and years lived with disability (YLD) by age, sex, and 37 causes across 204 countries and territories. Further, this study employed a regression model to examine how the anemia burden (i.e., prevalence rate and YLD rate) relates to socio-economic factors such as the Human Development Index (HDI), gender disparities in human development achievement, and gender-based inequalities in reproductive health, empowerment, and economic status in Vietnam over this period. In 1990, there were 16.30 million anemia cases in Vietnam, decreasing slightly to 16.05 million by 2021. Male prevalence dropped from 34.90 to 26.58%, while female prevalence increased from 65.10 to 73.42%. Iron deficiency was the main cause, affecting 68.35% of cases in 1990 and 68.84% in 2021, with 24.96% in males and 75.04% in females in 2021. While anemia has decreased among infants, young children, and adolescents due to improved healthcare, it has increased among middle-aged and older adults, especially females. Regression analysis shows that higher human development and gender equality reduce anemia prevalence and disability, whereas gender inequality worsens the issue. The study underscores that anemia remains a major health concern in Vietnam, marked by significant gender and age disparities. Despite a decrease in overall anemia rates and the effectiveness of specific interventions like iron-folic acid supplementation, females, particularly those of reproductive age and older adults, continue to face higher rates. Socio-economic improvements, including higher income and better human development, are linked to lower anemia rates, though the impact differs by gender. The persistent gender disparity and the shift in burden to older adults highlight the need for more comprehensive, gender-sensitive interventions. Future efforts should integrate nutritional support with broader socio-economic enhancements to effectively address anemia and improve public health in Vietnam.