Seetharaman N

• MD (Community Medicine)
• Head of Department at KMCH Institute of Health Sciences and Research

Objective To examine women's perceptions of modern menstrual hygiene methods (MMHM), such as tampons and menstrual cups, focusing on socio-demographic variations and special groups in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. Methods A qualitative study among women of reproductive age (15–49 years) group was conducted using Focus Group Discussions (F...

Background Globalization and urbanization have increased international and internal migration. However, migrants are still not absorbed into the local communities and remain vulnerable groups. Hence, the present study aimed to determine the quality of life (QoL) and healthcare-seeking behavior (HCSB) of internal migrant laborers in Coimbatore, Tami...

A BSTRACT Introduction Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)-related infectious diseases contribute to approximately 5% of the global disease burden. Despite sanitation being a human right, 673 million people worldwide had limited access to toilets. To tackle the same, Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G) was launched in 2014 to facilitate the con...

Background In India, twenty-five percent of women who menstruate are unable to utilize sanitary methods, and even among those who have access, there are multiple obstacles to achieving proper menstrual hygiene management. The consequences of inadequate menstrual health may extend to affect a girl’s socialisation, empowerment, overall well-being, an...

Objective A competency-based undergraduate curriculum for the Indian Medical Graduates has been introduced since August 2019. The objective of this study was to capture the perspectives of students regarding the competency-based medical education curriculum. Material and Methods We present the qualitative findings from a multicentric cross-section...

In India, the incidence of mucormycosis reached high levels during 2021–2022, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to this, we established a multicentric ambispective cohort of patients hospitalised with mucormycosis across India. In this paper, we report their baseline profile, clinical characteristics and outcomes at discharge. P...

Background: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection, a prevalent sexually transmitted infection, is the leading cause of cervical cancer. However, it is preventable. Objectives:To determine the prevalence of HPV vaccine uptake among health sciences students in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu; and to determine the levels of knowledge and health belief...

Background: In India, twenty-five percent of women who menstruate are unable to utilize sanitary methods, and even among those who have access, there are multiple obstacles to achieving proper menstrual hygiene management. The consequences of inadequate menstrual health affect a girl's school participation and extend to her empowerment, overall wel...

Objectives The primary objectives were to determine the proportion of modern menstrual method (MMM) users among college going women in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu; and to estimate the unmet needs associated with use of MMMs in comparison with other menstrual hygiene methods (MHMs). We also assessed the factors that determine MMM use among colle...

In India, the incidence of mucormycosis reached high levels during 2021–2022, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to this, we established a multicentric ambispective cohort of patients hospitalised with mucormycosis across India. In this paper, we report their baseline profile, clinical characteristics and outcomes at discharge. Pati...

Background & objectives In view of anecdotal reports of sudden unexplained deaths in India’s apparently healthy young adults, linking to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection or vaccination, we determined the factors associated with such deaths in individuals aged 18-45 years through a multicentric matched case–control study. Methods This...

Background & objectives: In view of anecdotal reports of sudden unexplained deaths in India’s apparently healthy young adults, linking to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection or vaccination, we determined the factors associated with such deaths in individuals aged 18-45 years through a multicentric matched case–control study. Methods: Th...

Background & objectives: In view of anecdotal reports of sudden unexplained deaths in India’s apparently healthy young adults, linking to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection or vaccination, we determined the factors associated with such deaths in individuals aged 18-45 years through a multicentric matched case–control study. Methods: T...

Background & objectives: In view of anecdotal reports of sudden unexplained deaths in India's apparently healthy young adults, linking to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection or vaccination, we determined the factors associated with such deaths in individuals aged 18-45 years through a multicentric matched case-control study.

Background & objectives: In view of anecdotal reports of sudden unexplained deaths in India's apparently healthy young adults, linking to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection or vaccination, we determined the factors associated with such deaths in individuals aged 18-45 years through a multicentric matched case-control study.

Background & objectives: In view of anecdotal reports of sudden unexplained deaths in India's apparently healthy young adults, linking to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection or vaccination, we determined the factors associated with such deaths in individuals aged 18-45 years through a multicentric matched case-control study.

Objectives: The primary objectives were to determine the proportion of modern menstrual method (MMM) users among college going women in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu; and to estimate the unmet needs associated with use of MMMs in comparison with other menstrual hygiene methods (MHMs). We also assessed the factors that determine MMM use among coll...

Background: Organ donation rates in India are among the lowest globally. The complex interplay of social, religious, and media influences behind organ donation in today’s social milieu is not fully understood. Health‑care professionals are in a unique position to influence popular perception on organ donation through their practices. Objectives: Th...

Background: Competency-based medical education (CBME) curriculum has been implemented in India since 2019 with a goal to create an “Indian Medical Graduate” (IMG) possessing requisite knowledge, skills, attitudes, values, and responsiveness. Objectives: To explore teachers’ perceptions across India at medical colleges on the newly implemented compe...

Introduction The medical education system all over the world is witnessing a paradigm shift from traditional methods of teaching to competency-based medical education. With the current curricular change, teachers are supposed to play a catalyst role in terms of moderating the different frameworks of competency-based medical education (CBME). Follow...

Background: The new competency based medical curriculum was introduced in India from 2019. The curriculum implementation support program (CISP) developed by medical council of India, provides the much-needed intellectual support to colleges for smooth transition from existing to the new curriculum. This study was done to assess the effectiveness of...

Introduction: Medical education in India is experiencing a paradigm shift from traditional curriculum to competency-based medical education (CBME). It de-emphasizes time-based training and promises greater accountability, flexibility, and learner centeredness. Faculty development is integral in the context of CBME. Considering faculty perceptions...

Presentation made during the IEEE workshop on Role of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare organized by Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education on 01.10.2021

Discussion about the role of electronic portfolios in MBBS course within the ambit of NMC's Competency Based Medical Education (CBME) Experience sharing of the introduction of e-portfolios for MBBS students of KMCH Medical College, Coimbatore

An overview of the process of Systematic Review presented during the Frontiers of Medical Education conference organized by AVMC, Pondicherry on 08.07.2021

Background: A structured faculty training method is needed to effectively train the medical teachers. Microteaching is one of the teacher training techniques for imparting teaching skills to the teachers. This study aims to assess the effect of improvement of teaching skills by self/peer evaluation of microteaching technique. Materials and methods:...

Background: A novel innovation in medical education was initiated by the Medical Council of India after 21 years. Competency-based medical education (CBME) is an effective outcome-based strategy, which requires integration of knowledge, attitude, skills, values, and responsiveness. The aim was to assess the students' perspectives on competency-bas...

World Health Organization (WHO) recommends mainstreaming of Complementary and Traditional systems of medicine as it is an affordable and culturally acceptable way of making heath care accessible to everyone. India is currently facing shortage of trained health workforce, especially in rural areas. One of the solutions suggested is to integrate the...

Communication and interaction between teachers and students always plays a vital role in building a sound educational system where learning becomes an experience. Further enhancement of this learning and understanding of the subject can be supported and secured by a process of conceptual mapping. Conceptual mapping is a step-wise process which incl...

India is currently facing shortage of trained health workforce, especially in rural areas. WHO recommends mainstreaming of Complementary & Traditional systems of medicine as an affordable & culturally acceptable way towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Despite the Government of India operating AYUSH clinics in PHCs for more than 10 ye...

Background: Patient satisfaction is a crucial component of the health care system in today’s competitive modern era. There is a limited literature describing the patient satisfaction on AYUSH care and therefore this study was undertaken to assess the satisfaction about facilities, healthcare providers and treatment among the patients attending sele...

Background: India’s current approach for intervention in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is more in terms of early diagnosis and treatment. The focus should also be on the management of risk factors in the diseased individuals. The objectives of the study are to measure the risk factors of NCDs, lifestyle modification followed by them and to asses...

Background: The parents of a special child face different set of problems and needs to adopt different coping strategies that helps to eliminate, modify or manage a stressful event or crisis situation. Aims & Objectives: To determine the various problems faced and the coping strategies adopted by the parents of special children in Puducherry. Mater...

Background: The parents of a special child face different set of problems and needs to adopt different coping strategies that helps to eliminate, modify or manage a stressful event or crisis situation. Aims & Objectives: To determine the various problems faced and the coping strategies adopted by the parents of special children in Puducherry. Mater...

Background: Transgender is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity and expression does not conform to the norms and expectations traditionally associated with the sex assigned to them at birth. Aim & Objectives: To study the health problems among the transgenders, to study the health seeking behaviour of the transgenders, to study the soc...

Background: Obesity is a cluster of non-communicable diseases called "New World Syndrome" and is one of the most neglected public health problems. Obesity is the risk factors for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, cancers and many more diseases. Aims: To document the prevalence of obesity among adults in Rural and Urban areas o...

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for CDFIT – Community Diagnosis and Feasible Intervention Training

Background: Self-medication is the use of non-prescription medicines by people on their own initiative.Pharmacists have a key role to play in providing them with assistance, advice and informationabout medicines. Objectives: To find the prevalence of self-medicationamong rural people in Puducherry; to compare the self-medication practices between N...

Background: Considering that knowledge of the burden of these risk factors in a community can aid in developing need based preventive strategies. Hence, attempt was made to profile the known risk factors of Non- Communicable Diseases among adults in in the selected rural areas of Puducherry, South India and to estimate the prevalence of concomitant...

Background: Adolescent population occupies 1/5th of world’s population and in India 20.9% of the population falls into this age group. Social prohibitions and traditional beliefs blocked the access to get the right kind of information to adolescent girls that led to poor hygiene practices. These practices results in harbouring of micro-organisms th...

A Public Health Perspective on the emerging field of microbiome research

Background Globally, tuberculosis (TB) continues to be the major public health problem. Limited research is carried out on the impact of the disease on health-related quality of life (HR-QoL). The study aims to assess the HR-QoL among TB patients during and after Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) therapy and to compare the HR-QoL of t...

Background: Adolescent population occupies 1/5th of world’s population and in India 20.9% of the population falls into this age group. Social prohibitions and traditional beliefs blocked the access to get the right kind of information to adolescent girls that led to poor hygiene practices. These practices results in harbouring of micro-organisms th...

Background: The vision of Universal Health Coverage for the nation envisages a lot of primary care physicians working in underserved rural areas. Yet, very few of the current generation of doctors seem to be inclined or equipped for practicing in a primary care setting. While the healthcare need for the country has been clearlycharted out, the want...

ABSTRACT Background: With increasing use of computers by young adults in educational institutions as well as at home there is a need to investigate whether students are adopting ergonomic principles when using computers. Objective: To assess the practice of students on ergonomic principles while working on computers and their association with the s...

Introduction: Becoming a doctor is one of the highest aspirations of many school-going students and their parents in India. The high preference for the medical profession is probably based on the social status associated with the profession and the prospect of financial security. Those with the highest scores in the higher secondary school examinat...

Background: About 16 billion injections are administered each year worldwide, and at least half of them are unsafe. India contributes 25% to 30% of the global injection load. A majority of curative injections are unnecessary. The present study was undertaken to assess the burden of injections and prevalent injection practices in India. Methods:...

Purpose: The internet has profoundly changed the way medical knowledge is shared and accessed. To be a computer-literate physician in the 21 st century, the necessary skill-sets need to be learnt sometime during graduate medical training. The current study aims to assess the Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) skills and training need...

Objective: To bring out prevailing perception on health among the medical and engineering professionals. Methods: A cross- sectional study was carried out among 295 professionals (122 doctors and 173 engineers) administering a pre tested semi- structured questionnaire. Results: Analysis of the 295 respondent’s perception on health reveals that heal...

Background : The current WHO recommendation is to use the Z-Score or SD system to grade undernutrition which allows us to measure all the three indices and express the results in terms of Z scores or standard deviation units from the median of the international reference population. Objectives : To estimate the prevalence of undernutrition among un...