Background: The identification of persistent symptoms of chronic/long COVID-19 is crucial in understanding the management of long haulers of post COVID-19. Methods: Pub Med (Medline) database was scoped for original articles based on a search strategy related to the objectives. The selected articles post-screening were analyzed for variables relating to chronic/long COVID-19. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 33 studies were reviewed. A total of 60% of the studies were observational studies and most of them were from high income countries. Almost half of the studies were in phase 3 of post-COVID-19, i.e., symptoms lasting >24 weeks. Among the physiological and psychological symptoms studied, fatigue, dyspnea, cough, headache, memory loss, depression, brain fog and lack of concentration were found to be the most frequently reported symptoms. Excessive sleep, constipation and neuropathic pain were among the least reported symptoms. Prior hospitalization, the female gender was found to be a risk factor. Limitations were reported by all studies. Conclusions: The major physiological and psychological symptoms of long COVID-19 have been explained with risk factors and its impact on patients’ lifestyles. The findings of this review hope to facilitate clinicians to draw conclusions to manage the long-term effects of post/chronic COVID-19.

With the creation of public health management cadre in the state, district, and block levels of India, there is a need for a comprehensive, synergistic education system to ensure efficient public health across the country. This scoping review, therefore, aims to examine the characteristics of public health education programs available in India's varied geographical and regional contexts. It examines 16 program-related descriptors across public health Doctoral, Masters, Bachelors, Post-graduate Diploma, and Diploma education programs offered. Data was retrieved through institutional websites. Results of our analysis showed 84 unique institutions in 20 states and 3 UTs currently offering 116 public health programs across India's 28 states and 8 UTs. Private and public institutes were 65% (n = 75) and 35% (n = 41) respectfully. The majority of universities mainly provided Masters of Public Health (n = 73, 63%) programs followed by Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) and Diploma (n = 17, 15%), BPHSc (n = 14, 12%), and Ph.D. (n = 12, 10%). The majority of Ph.D. programs in public health are offered in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Haryana, while Masters in Public Health programs are offered highest in Karnataka, Bachelors in Public Health programs in Rajasthan, Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health program in Delhi, and Tamil Nadu had the most number of Diploma in Public Health programs. Thirty-one percent (n = 36) of the public health programs are offered across the south, 28% (n = 32) across the north, and 22% (n = 26) across the west Analyzed descriptors provide comprehensive information on program characteristics, mainly admission, format, and tuition fee. The review offers five suggestions to improve collaborative public health education and prepare a workforce with the skills, knowledge, and expertise to respond to the twentyfirst century's public health threats and challenges in India.

The micronutrient Iodine is essential throughout life especially during fetal brain development. The deficiency of which is deemed the single most important cause of preventable mental retardation. Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) is manifested in infancy and childhood, which are primarily influenced by low iodine levels in pregnancy. Using iodised salt is a key to ensure elimination of IDD, for which the knowledge and awareness of iodised salt are of prime importance. The study was aimed to determine the knowledge of iodine nutrition and its association with awareness and usage of iodised salt among pregnant women living in eastern UP. Hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted through random sampling on 200 pregnant women at the regional women’s hospital, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India. A pre-tested interview schedule was used to assess knowledge. Scores and descriptive statistics were analyzed, bivariate analyses were employed to describe and determine the association among variables. Mean age of respondents was 25.23 ±3.75. The majority of the population belonged to the lower middle (38%) and upper lower class (36%). Nearly half had heard of the nutrient ‘Iodine’ and 37% self-reported usage of iodised salt whereas usage as per brand was 81%. The mean knowledge score was 1.53. Three-fourths of the respondents (74.5%) had a low level of knowledge and a quarter of the respondents (25.5%) had a high level of knowledge. These scores were significantly associated with socioeconomic status, usage of iodised salt (both self-reported and brand used) and with an awareness of iodine as an essential nutrient and its deficiencies (p<0.05). The study shows a significant disparity between knowledge of iodised salt, its use and actual consumption, which can be attributed to successful Universal Salt Iodisation; however, the disparity highlights the need for strategic awareness schemes in women of reproductive age.

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