This research paper focuses on the mental health needs, the need for mental health interventions and barriers in mental healthcare of women living in rural Maharashtra, India. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study has collected data from a sample of women living in the rural areas of Maharashtra through in-depth interviews. The data collected has been analyzed to identify the barriers and obstacles in mental healthcare, how the existing community support serves as a resource as well as the desire for potential mental healthcare interventions among participants. The findings of the study are expected to contribute to the development of effective mental health interventions tailored to the specific needs of women living in the rural areas of Maharashtra. Overall, this research paper aims to improve the understanding of the mental health needs of women in rural Maharashtra and provide insights for policymakers and mental health practitioners to develop effective interventions to promote their mental well-being.

We report a neonate with dilated cardiomyopathy and have echocardiographic findings consistent with “functional” tricuspid atresia. There was an echo-bright, plate-like tissue at the tricuspid valve position with no forward flow across it. This report underscores the role of right ventricle intracavitary haemodynamic influence on the tricuspid valve leaflet excursion and demonstrates a phenomenon of “pseudo or functional tricuspid atresia” mimicking tricuspid atresia in a patient with acute presentation of cardiomyopathy.

We aimed to compare the efficacy of daily v. low dose depot oral vitamin D3 for treating nutritional rickets. We conducted a randomised controlled trial in the department of paediatrics of a tertiary care hospital catering to semi-urban and rural population in Delhi, India. We randomised sixty-six children aged 3 months to 5 years with nutritional rickets to receive either daily oral vitamin D3 drops (3–12 months: 2000 IU; > 12 months to 5 years: 4000 IU; n 33) for 12 weeks duration or a single oral depot dose of vitamin D3 granules (3–12 months: 60 000 IU; > 12 months to 5 years: 150 000 IU; n 33). Participants in both groups had comparable demographic characteristics, laboratory features and radiological severity of rickets. Thirty-three participants in each group received the assigned intervention and all were followed up till 12 weeks. At 12 weeks follow-up, children in both groups showed a significant improvement in all biochemical parameters (serum Ca, P, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), parathormone and 25(OH) vitamin D levels) as well as radiological healing. At 12 weeks, the mean serum 25(OH) vitamin D levels (nmol/l) were statistically comparable in both groups (daily: 120·2 (sd 83·2), depot: 108 (sd 74), P = 0·43) and 31 (93·9 %) children in each group had radiological healing (Thacher score < 1·5). Two children in each group persisted to have raised ALP, and one child each in the daily group continued to have hypocalcaemia and hypophosphataemia at 12 weeks. Low dose oral depot vitamin D3 is an effective alternative to daily oral vitamin D3 for nutritional rickets.

Coronary artery embolism is extremely rare in children with Fontan palliation. We report a 10-year-old boy with hypoplastic left heart syndrome post-Fontan procedure who presented with acute onset chest pain and ST-segment changes on electrocardiogram. Cardiac catheterisation revealed coronary artery emboli requiring stent placement. Our case highlights the importance of evaluating chest pain in a systematic manner in Fontan patients as acute coronary artery embolism can be a part of the spectrum of well-known thromboembolic complications.

Increasing prevalence of childhood obesity calls for comprehensive and cost-effective educative measures in developing countries such as India. School-based educative programmes greatly influence children's behaviour towards healthy living. We aimed to evaluate the impact of a school-based health and nutritional education programme on knowledge and behaviour of urban Asian Indian school children. Benchmark assessment of parents and teachers was also done. We educated 40 196 children (aged 8–18 years), 25 000 parents and 1500 teachers about health, nutrition, physical activity, non-communicable diseases and healthy cooking practices in three cities of North India. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to assess randomly selected 3128 children, 2241 parents and 841 teachers before intervention and 2329 children after intervention. Low baseline knowledge and behaviour scores were reported in 75–94 % government and 48–78 % private school children, across all age groups. A small proportion of government school children gave correct answers about protein (14–17 %), carbohydrates (25–27 %) and saturated fats (18–32 %). Private school children, parents and teachers performed significantly better than government school subjects (P < 0·05). Following the intervention, scores improved in all children irrespective of the type of school (P < 0·001). A significantly higher improvement was observed in younger children (aged 8–11 years) as compared with those aged 12–18 years, in females compared with males and in government schools compared with private schools (P < 0·05 for all). Major gaps exist in health and nutrition-related knowledge and behaviour of urban Asian Indian children, parents and teachers. This successful and comprehensive educative intervention could be incorporated in future school-based health and nutritional education programmes.