Background: Awareness of dog bite-related rabies in rural population of developing countries, including India, can lead to reduction in mortality from dog bite. The present study was conducted to know the general awareness pertaining to dog bite and rabies, antirabies vaccines, and health services utilization in a rural community. Also, to ascertain the first-aid measures adopted after dog bite and to know the opinion regarding control of dog population. Methods: The study was conducted as a community-based cross-sectional study in the rural field practice area of a Medical College in Western Maharashtra among the age group of 30–40 years using pretested questionnaire. Results: A total of 108 respondents participated in the study. Of the study participants, 37 (34.3%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 25.3%–44%) participant were aware of rabies. Only 19 (17.59%, 95% CI: 11%–26.1%) participants were aware of the symptoms of rabies. Only 20 (18.5%, 95% CI: 11.7%–27.1%) participants would like to apply first-aid measure and 85 (78.7%, 95% CI: 69.8%–86%) participants will visit to doctor, and rest responded as doing nothing. Of the participants, 66 (61.11%, 95% CI: 51.3%–70.3%) were aware of antirabies vaccine and 77 (71.1%, 95% CI: 61.8%–79.6%) responded that dogs should be caught and taken away from locality, whereas the rest responded that dogs should be sterilized as a control measure. Conclusions: The gaps in knowledge, attitude, and practice with respect to prevention and control of rabies need to be addressed by educating the rural population. The present study reflects the need for making the rural population aware about the disease, vaccination, and first aid.

Background: Flipped classroom uses a face-to-face approach and delivery of content to the students on an online platform. It combines principles of self-directed learning and active participation. There are not many studies that analyzed the benefits of this approach in India. Methods: A flipped classroom session was planned for postgraduate students of community medicine. The faculty conducted discussion on topic and content. The content was selected and sent to students. Students were divided into three groups. A small group teaching session was held after 1 week. Improvement was objectively measured using a pre-posttest. Feedback from the students was taken on Likert's scale and open-ended questionnaire. Results: All students (n = 10) agreed with topic selection and quality of content. All were satisfied with the approach and admitted to being interested in attending another session. Eighty percent agreed that teacher-student interaction was better as compared to a regular classroom. Average pre-test multiple-choice question score was 60% and posttest score 87.7% (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Flipped classroom is a useful tool to improve the learning experience of students. However, sessions should be well planned with discussion and consensus among stakeholders. Further research is required for evaluating the benefits of this method on larger scales.

Background: Despite the low level of clinical evidence in hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) favor, it was prescribed for pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis in India and worldwide. In absence of a large randomized control trial, the evidence needs to be generated through observation study, hence the study was conducted to find the evidence for prophylaxis of HCQ. Materials and Methods: A multi-centric cross-sectional study involving government hospitals was chosen for serosurvey conducted from August 21, 2020, to November 20, 2020. Questionnaire was adopted from WHO. Data about chloroquine (CQ) use among health-care workers (HCWs) were added and the duration of CQ intake was also noted. Results: A total of 2,224 HCWs were recruited. The mean duration of time of taking HCQ was 7.1 weeks (standard deviation ± 6.1 weeks, median = 4 weeks with IQR, 3–10 weeks). Training on personal protective equipment (PPE), knowledge of handwashing, direct care to the patient, availability of alcohol hand rub, close contact with the patient, duration of contact, and usage of PPE were associated with HCQ intake. The antibody formation in group taking HCQ was 16.9% compared to 19.8% not taking it ( P = 0.08). The Chi-square for linear trend for weeks of HCQ intake and antibody formation. However, the same was not statistically significant (Chi-square = 3.61, P = 0.06). Conclusion: Our study did not find a statistically significant association in the large multicentric study. The absolute difference of 2.9% in the two groups may not be sufficient to warrant its widespread use for prophylaxis.

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Aim: The aim of the study was to correlate environmental changes with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in four metropolitan cities. Methodology: Data on monthly cumulative new cases, monthly average temperatures, humidity, precipitation, and average monthly air quality index (AQI) levels for the four Indian cities – Chennai, New Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata, and biomedical waste (BMW) quantity at national level were abstracted for the period from March 2020 to December 2020. Results: An inverse correlation was observed between temperature and transmission of the disease in New Delhi and Kolkata which was of fair degree for New Delhi (r = 0.299, P = 0.402) and poor for Kolkata (r = 0.200, P value = 0.579). Positive correlation of fair and poor degrees was observed between temperature and transmission of the disease in Mumbai (r = 0.272, P = 0.448) and Chennai (r = 0.196, P = 0.588), respectively. A positive correlation was observed between the transmission of the disease and humidity in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata, which was of moderate-to-good degree for Mumbai (r = 0.729, P = 0.017) and poor for New Delhi (r = 0.242, P = 0.501) and Kolkata (r = 0.123, P = 0.735). A significant positive correlation was observed between the rise in COVID-19 cases and the quantity of BMW generated (r = 0.88, P = 0.009). Furthermore, significant improvement in air quality AQI in four metros and water quality biological oxygen demand/chemical oxygen demand of Yamuna river was observed. Conclusions: Understanding of the interplay of environmental meteorological factors on COVID-19 disease transmission and vice versa is necessary for better informed policy framing and future research.