Background Despite the implementation of essential newborn care (ENC) by the World Health Organization, knowledge gaps among postpartum women persist. Inappropriate breastfeeding practices and lack of knowledge regarding ENC among mothers has resulted in higher neonatal mortality. Purpose Our study focused on evaluating the effectiveness of flip-chart assisted postpartum maternal education in improving ENC knowledge and skills. Material and Methods A single blind parallel randomized controlled trial was carried out with 120 primigravidae. Participants were allocated to the intervention group (IG) or the control group (CG) by block randomization. A pretested validated questionnaire was administered to participants in both groups within 24 h post-delivery. Women in the IG were provided flip-chart assisted education regarding ENC approximately 24 h post-delivery. Women in both groups received verbal advice on ENC from the postnatal ward nurses, as per the existing hospital policy. ENC skills were observed in all participants in postnatal wards by independent observers. 6 months later, knowledge retention was assessed and analyzed in both groups. Results Antenatal education remained at 32% among all postnatal women. Postnatal flip-chart-assisted maternal education had a significant impact on ENC skills in the IG (p < 0.01) and precipitated higher knowledge scores at the end of 6 months (p < 0.01) in the IG. Conclusion for Practice Flip-chart assisted education soon after delivery had a sustained effect on ENC knowledge and practices that persisted for 6 months post-delivery.

No abstract

BackgroundTraditional medicine systems such as Ayurveda contain a vast repository of naturally occurring herbs with strong antimicrobial potency. A multitude of complementary therapies have been explored for their therapeutic role to treat COVID-19 during the pandemic. There have been promising results reported from in silico, in vitro and in vivo studies that need to be further explored in humans.ObjectiveThe present randomized placebo control trial evaluates the clinical efficacy of an integrated approach including Ayurvedic polyherbal formulation, NOQ19 in the improvement of mild to moderate category of COVID-19 infected patients.Patients and methodsA multicentric, randomized, placebo control design was adopted for the study. A total of 76 patients with positive COVID-19 RT-PCR test were enrolled in the study; 39 in the NOQ19 arm and 37 in the placebo arm. Patients were randomized and blinded to their respective intervention, which was provided along with the standard of care treatment. Rate of recovery assessment was done on Day 3, 5 and 7 via RT-PCR test to measure the rate of recovery. Blood markers were analysed on Day 0 and Day 7.OutcomesThe patients were assessed for rate of recovery via RT-PCR and improvement in blood biomarkers. They were also monitored for any adverse events or side effects of the drug.ResultsThe present study demonstrated a significant early recovery in the patients who took the NOQ19 formulation. Patients who received NOQ19 with the standard care of treatment showed clinical improvement in terms of oxygen requirement, breathlessness and SpO2, though the difference was not statistically significant. Moreover, no side effects were observed with the use of NOQ19.ConclusionAn overall integrated approach of standard of care treatment with Ayurvedic formulation (NOQ19) results in early clinical outcome in the management of mild to moderate cases of COVID-19.

No abstract

Aims: Hyposmia and hypogeusia are one of the symptoms of COVID-19. Occurrence and course of these symptoms and their relationship with severity of COVID-19 disease are studied. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective cohort study, including consenting adult SARS CoV-2 positive patients of both genders, admitted to a Covid Hospital in Puducherry, India. This questionnaire- based study was conducted for a period 4 months from 1st October 2020 to 31st January 2021, and collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 24.0 software. Results: Out of 639 participants, 412 (64.5%) were males, 227 (35.5%) were females. Total cases of new onset hyposmia were 167 (26.1%), and total patients with new onset hypogeusia were 172 (26.91%). 216 (33.80%) had either hyposmia/hypogeusia. First symptom as hyposmia was noted in 49 (7.67%) patients, and as hypogeusia in 20 (3.13%) patients before development of any other symptoms. 216 (33.80%) patients had either smell or taste disturbance as one of their symptoms. By the end of 5 weeks of illness, 96.41% of hyposmic patients, and 97.67% of hypogeusic patients recovered fully. There was no statistically significant difference between presence or absence of hyposmia/hypogeusia and severity of COVID-19 disease ( p value = 0.95). Conclusion: The occurrence of hyposmia and hypogeusia among Indian COVID-19 patients is more than 26%. Presence or absence of hyposmia/hypogeusia is not a predictor of severity of COVID-19 disease. More than 96% of the patients fully recovered their sense of smell and taste sensation by the end of 5 weeks.