The present study was conducted to assess awareness and perception regarding tuberculosis among the general population of Delhi. A total of 1,008 adults, selected by multistage stratified systematic sampling, were interviewed using a pre-tested proforma. The majority had heard about tuberculosis (99.1%) and most (89.2%) perceived it to be an infectious disease. The correct mode of transmission i.e. airborne (coughing / sneezing) was known to 71.8% study subjects. The majority (90.1%) knew cough as a symptom. Nearly all (98.2%) perceived Tuberculosis to be a preventable disease, citing the treatment of patients as the main-stay of preventing spread of the disease. However, responses like separation of utensils or hospitalisation of the patient to prevent the spread of the disease indicate persistence of stigma and discrimination in a small proportion of the population. There is a need to widen the scope and intensify the information and education being provided to the population based on gaps identified. Asia Pac J Public Health 2007; 19(2): 10-15.

Background & objectives: The increase in the burden of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a matter of grave concern. The present study was undertaken to describe MDR-TB treatment outcome trends in Delhi and their epidemiological correlates, to assess the adequacy of treatment records and to also generate evidence towards influencing and improving practices related to the MDR-TB control programme. Methods: A retrospective record-based study (2009-2014) was conducted in three major drug resistance TB treatment centres of Delhi. Treatment outcomes and adverse effects were extracted from the existing programme records including patients’ treatment cards and laboratory registers. Results: A total of 2958 MDR-TB patients were identified from the treatment cards, of whom 1749 (59.12%) were males. The mean (±standard deviation) age was 30.56±13.5 years. Favourable treatment outcomes were reported in 1371 (53.28%) patients, but they showed a declining trend during the period of observation. On binomial logistic regression analysis, patients with age ≥35 yr, male sex and undernourishment (body mass index <18.5) at the time of treatment initiation had a significantly increased likelihood of unfavourable MDR-TB treatment outcome (P<0.001). Interpretation & conclusions: The study showed an increasing burden of MDR-TB patients, especially in the young population with increased risk of transmission posing a major challenge in achieving TB elimination targets.

Background Three rounds of a repeated cross-sectional serosurvey to estimate the seroprevalence and trends of SARS-CoV-2 were conducted from August-October’ 2020 in the state of Delhi in India in the general population aged ≥5 years. Methods The selection of participants was through a multi-stage sampling design from all the 11 districts and 280 wards of the city-state, with two-stage allocation proportional to population- size. Household selected was via systematic random sampling, and individual participant selection through the age-order procedure. The blood samples were screened using the IgG ELISA COVID-Kawach kit (August Round), and the ERBALISA COVID-19 IgG (September and October) rounds. The seroprevalence was estimated by applying the sampling weights based on age and sex with further adjustment for the assay-kit characteristics. Results A total of 4267 (n=15046), 4311 (n=17409), and 3829 (n=15015) positive tests indicative of the presence of IgG antibody to SARS-CoV-2 were observed during the August, September, and October 2020 serosurvey rounds, respectively. The adjusted seroprevalence declined from 28.39% (95% CI 27.65-29.14) (August) to 24.08% (95% CI 23.43-24.74) (September), and 24.71% (95% CI 24.01, 25.42%) (October). The antibody positivity was highest in the ≥50 and female age-group during all rounds of the serosurvey, while the decline was maximum among the younger age-group (5-17 years). On adjusted analysis, participants with lower per capita income, living in slums or overcrowded households, and those with diabetes comorbidity had significantly higher statistical odds of antibody positivity. Conclusions Despite high IgG seroprevalence, there was evidence for waning of antibody positivity with the progression of the COVID-19 epidemic, implying a potential reduction in population immunity, especially if also associated with the lack of trained T cell immunity.