Health Check

A dedicated data journalism portal for health. Analysis of national health data combined with latest health research & ground reportage. Quiz: @indiafactquiz

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25 years after the public #ban on #smoking, India remains the world’s 2nd largest consumer & producer of tobacco. Behavioural drivers, #mentalhealth links, and uneven enforcement of laws propel public health & economic challenges, @KadereNidh14378 reports: https://t.co/WlB8y3JCDP

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One-third of all daily smokers in India aged 20-34 had started #smoking #tobacco on a daily basis before attaining the age of 18. Behavioural drivers, mental health links, and uneven enforcement of laws propel public health & economic challenges https://t.co/WlB8y3JCDP

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Despite an overall decline in #tobacco use, northeastern states like Mizoram, Manipur, Assam and Nagaland remain a hotspot for tobacco consumption. Cessation efforts need understanding of behavioural drivers, community engagement, @KadereNidh14378 reports: https://t.co/WlB8y3JCDP

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Sale of single-stick #cigarettes accounts for nearly 75% of all cigarettes sold in India, making them more affordable and accessible, especially to minors and low-income users, evading mandated graphic warnings and higher taxes applied to full packs https://t.co/WlB8y3JCDP

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The risk of #smoking is doubled among people with #depression; those with depression are more likely to develop dependent patterns of #tobacco use and experience more severe withdrawal symptoms, explains @pratimamurthy, director @NIMHANS_BLR https://t.co/WlB8y3Katn

[Health Check @HealthCheck_in]

25 years after the public ban on #smoking, India remains the world’s 2nd largest consumer & producer of tobacco. Behavioural drivers, #mentalhealth links, and uneven enforcement of laws propel #publichealth & economic challenges, @KadereNidh14378 reports: https://t.co/WlB8y3Katn

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Heavy rainfall preceded the outbreak of most ‘mystery’ disease outbreaks in India in 2024. Experts say those with comorbidities are always more likely to be affected in such situations. But promptly accessing health services can help a full recovery. Read: https://t.co/yG4htElFFP

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Combinations of pathogens tend to make #diseases look different, or hard to identify, and possibly, more virulent, say experts. But terming such illnesses as ‘mystery’ diseases can lead to fear, confusion, @charubahri explains: https://t.co/yG4htElFFP

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“There is a tendency to mask diseases to suppress information, or under-report deaths, sometimes for political reasons, which is counter-productive to public health,” says epidemiologist Jayaprakash Muliyil. @charubahri reports on recent ‘mystery’ diseases https://t.co/yG4htEl7Qh

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Heavy rains, weak immunity, and mixed #pathogens turned deadly in Kachchh villages in September. Discover how door-to-door surveillance stopped an #outbreak #RuralHealth https://t.co/yG4htElFFP

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In Kachchh last September, 19 died in two weeks from an unknown #disease. Epidemiologists reveal it’s no "mystery"—just a complex pathogen combo. @charubahri reports on how they contained it: https://t.co/yG4htElFFP

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There’s a tendency when undiagnosed illnesses cause an outbreak/deaths to term them as being from a ‘mystery’ #disease. Such terminology does more harm. Experts suggest keeping communities informed, building trust to avoid fear and confusion https://t.co/yG4htEl7Qh

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In September, 19 people had died in Gujarat’s Kachchh following what was reported as a ‘mystery disease’. Investigations showed it was a combination of virus & various bacteria. Experts say calling them ‘mystery’ #diseases leads to fear and confusion https://t.co/yG4htEl7Qh

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A substantial part of out-of-pocket health spending is attributed to primary care, such as outpatient visits. Yet, urban slums face severe shortages in primary care facilities, exacerbating inequities in access,says Indrani Gupta, professor at @iegresearch https://t.co/NvXgkxDovS

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The #urban poor see higher prevalence of fever and diarrhoea among children than the rural poor, data show. Slum overcrowding, air pollution, and gaps in sanitation and water access explain the disparity, new study shows https://t.co/NvXgkxDovS

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Despite better infrastructure in urban areas, the poorest in India’s cities and towns see worse #health outcomes and more difficult access: urban slums lack access to primary care overcrowded slums & uneven facility distribution worsen disparities https://t.co/NvXgkxDWlq

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India’s urban poor see higher infant and child mortality compared to the rural poor, highlighting critical gaps in maternal & neonatal care. Fewer urban women reported #health worker contact in urban India (26%) than rural women (35%) https://t.co/NvXgkxDovS

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Among the poorest 20% in urban India, about 63 children die before the age of five per 1,000 births, higher than in the African nation of Mozambique with a quarter of India’s per capita GDP. Even rural poor see better outcomes (58.8). Read on: https://t.co/NvXgkxDWlq

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The #urban poor see worse #health outcomes than the rich, and even the rural poor, a new @CSEP_Org study that examined govt data shows. Fragmented governance, inadequate focus, and geographical spread affect healthcare access, @PrachiSalve11 writes: https://t.co/NvXgkxDovS

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Besides affordability, stigma also limits #healthcare access by #transgender community. “#AyushmanBharat could address that by requiring empaneled hospitals to be more inclusive”, says Sharin Dsouza, a researcher with nonprofit Sangath https://t.co/IihhpMVAAL