Mumbai Population Research Articles

Morphometric evaluation of middle ear anatomical structures using full volume (12 × 9) CBCT scans: A retrospective study in Navi Mumbai

Introduction: The tympanic cavity contains three tiny bones, the malleus, incus, and stapes, which have a fundamental role in the transmission of sound. Recent research emphasizes the use of CBCT for the anatomic study of the temporal bone. The information about middle ear anatomy on CBCT scans is meager; hence, this retrospective study was conducted to identify and determine the various morphometrical parameters of the malleus using CBCT which can be helpful during reconstructive procedures for the otologic surgeon. Materials and Methods: The retrospective study was performed on 200 subjects (101 M and 99 F) in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology. CBCT images of 200 subjects were studied in all planes to identify ossicular chain and the malleus to investigate the morphometric parameters in Indian Subjects. Result: The average of morphometric parameters shows that the mean length of the malleus is 7.2 mm, the mean width of the head of the malleus is 3.02 mm, length of superior semicircular canal is 4.90 mm, and length of external auditory canal is 19.15 mm in Navi Mumbai population. Conclusion: The obtained morphometric data of the malleus through our study will help the prosthesis maker in the formation of various implants and grafts required to treat various ear diseases.

Prevalence, clinical presentation, management of pituitary tumour and its complications among elderly population in Mumbai, India.

Pituitary tumour is not typically thought of as an elderly patient's condition. Hence, we examined all cases of confirmed or suspected pituitary tumour diagnosed in a tertiary hospitals at Mumbai, India during May 2015 and May 2023 among patients over the age of 70 to evaluate the prevalence, clinical presentation, management, complications in elderly patients with a pituitary tumour. After the age of 70 years, 16% people having pituitary tumour were observed. The volume of fossa was statistically greater in elderly patients. The duration of follow up was statistically longer in younger controls. The visual defects observed in elderly group were greater than young patients. Pituitary adenomas in old patients can be treated with trans-sphenoidal-adenomectomy. However, the proportion is lower than younger controls. Data shows that post-operative radiotherapy was more commonly observed in old patients with pituitary adenoma than younger controls.

Assessing a digital technology-supported community child health programme in India using the Social Return on Investment framework.

An estimated 5.0 million children aged under 5 years died in 2020, with 82% of these deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia. Over one-third of Mumbai's population has limited access to healthcare, and child health outcomes are particularly grave among the urban poor. We describe the implementation of a digital technology-based child health programme in Mumbai and evaluate its holistic impact. Using an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered mobile health platform, we developed a programme for community-based management of child health. Leveraging an existing workforce, community health workers (CHW), the programme was designed to strengthen triage and referral, improve access to healthcare in the community, and reduce dependence on hospitals. A Social Return on Investment (SROI) framework is used to evaluate holistic impact. The programme increased the proportion of illness episodes treated in the community from 4% to 76%, subsequently reducing hospitalisations and out-of-pocket expenditure on private healthcare providers. For the total investment of Indian Rupee (INR) 2,632,271, the social return was INR 34,435,827, delivering an SROI ratio of 13. The annual cost of the programme per child was INR 625. Upskilling an existing workforce such as CHWs, with the help of AI-driven decision- support tools, has the potential to extend capacity for critical health services into community settings. This study provides a blueprint for evaluating the holistic impact of health technologies using evidence-based tools like SROI. These findings have applicability across income settings, offering clear rationale for the promotion of technology-supported interventions that strengthen healthcare delivery.

A gender determination using mandibular canine index – a prospective study on Mumbai population and comprehensive review

Background: Teeth is considered a necessitous auxiliary in skeletal age, and determination of gender because teeth have post-mortem destruction and fragmentation resistance and they are last to be destroyed under extreme conditions like temperature, acid, or putrefaction.
 Aims: To evaluate the differences in odontometrics of mandibular canine between males and females and assessment of gender by calculating differences in the mandibular canine index (MCI) of male and female subjects.
 Settings and Design: Prospective, cross-sectional study.
 Subjects and methods: This study focus on evaluation of the existence of sexual dimorphism in the Mumbai population which included permanent mandibular canine of 100 male & 100 female subjects of age group 21 to 28 years. The mesio-distal width (MDW) of right and left canine and inter-canine distance (ICD) were measured. Subsequently, the mandibular canine index was calculated.
 Results: No evidence of any significant statistical difference between the right and left mandibular canines among the same gender, but when compared between male and female, mandibular left canine exhibited greater sexual dimorphism (10 %) as compared with the right canine (9.2 %). The standard MCI value for the Mumbai population was 0.24.
 Conclusions: MCI technique can be used as one of the simple, reliable, and adjuvant diagnostic method for gender determination in forensic dentistry. As it is influenced by various factors like genetics, epigenetics, geographical locations, etc.; it is recommended to carry out population based studies so that standardized values will help in gender determination precisely.

Association Study between T2DM and CAPN10 SNP-19 (rs3842570) Polymorphism in Navi Mumbai Population

Genetic research has brought a lot of new knowledge in the area of genetic predisposition of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It has been proposed that excessive insulin resistance and obesity are also responsible for the higher incidence of type 2 diabetes. Calpain-10 (CAPN10) is a member of a large family of intracellular proteases. The polymorphism at deletion/insertion SNP19 of this gene influences susceptibility to T2DM. The aim of the study was to determine whether calpain-10 (ins/del SNP19) polymorphism contributes significantly to susceptibility to T2DM in population of Navi Mumbai. The study included randomly selected 75 patients of which 33 had T2DM and 42 served as control subjects. Mean waist-to-hip ratio, HDL, LDL, VLDL, cholesterol, and triglyceride showed no difference whereas mean of age, FBS, and body mass index showed significant differences between the control and diabetes subjects. Genotyping of calpain-10 (ins/del SNP19) polymorphism was performed by polymerase chain reaction method. Among 75 participants, for allele-specific SNP19, genotype frequencies of allele1 (2R-32 bp), heterozygous allele (2R-3R 32 bp), and allele 2 (3R-32 bp) were 20 (26.6%), 36 (48%), and 19 (25.3%) observed, respectively. The results from the present study have indicated that CAPN10 (SNP19) shows no significant association with T2DM and more extensive studies on T2DM using candidate gene approach may provide better preventive measures and potential disease diagnostic tools.

A Descriptive Study of Community based Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV2 antibodies among adult population in Mumbai, India using an ELISA based assay

Background: Mumbai, with over 12 million residents, is one of the largest cities in India and the capital of the state of Maharashtra that accounted for close to 20% of the total COVID-19 cases in India. Regular serosurveys in Mumbai have shown stark differences in seroprevalence between slum and non-slum areas. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Mumbai residents and assess the impact of the second wave and ongoing vaccination campaign on the population antibodies. By the start of the study period, 63% of Mumbai residents were partially vaccinated and 21% were fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional seroprevalence study in all 24 wards of Mumbai between August 12 and September 08, 2021. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody seropositivity was detected using an ELISA based assay. Sociodemographic and exposure related data was collected via a verbal questionnaire to analyse risk factors and association with COVID-19 vaccination. Findings: Of the 8,674 participants recruited, 7,516 were positive for IgG SARS-COV-2, resulting in a crude seroprevalence of 86.6%. Using residence type based on the recruitment location (municipal dispensaries for slum residents and general practitioners for non-slum residents), the difference in prevalence between slum and non-slum is not significant (87.0% vs. 86.2%; RR: 1.009, CI: 0.992-1.026). Seroprevalence was higher in females (88.3%) than in males (85.1%) (RR: 096, CI 95%: 0.94-0.97) Conclusion: Our results suggest that the levels of immunity are high in the Mumbai population across residence types. These findings highlight the extent of virus transmission during the second wave and point to the susceptible population to guide the vaccination strategy and better understand transmission dynamics in urban settings.

Assessment of Skeletal Discrepancies by Determining R Angle in Lateral Cephalograms in Navi Mumbai Population

There is considerable interest in the area of orthodontics in malocclusions caused by vertical discrepancies because of their causes, diagnosis, treatment planning, and tendency to return after treatment. Hence, this study aimed to assess, evaluate and check reliability for vertical skeletal discrepancy by establishing a parameter ‘R angle’ in Navi Mumbai population. In this study, the lateral cephalometric radiographs of 135 orthodontic patients between the age group of 18-30 years of age were selected from the database of the Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics in D Y Patil University School of Dentistry, Navi Mumbai The study found that the R angle is clinically and statistically important when examining vertical skeletal discrepancies. So with the above results it is observed that R angle can be used to assess vertical skeletal discrepancy in Navi Mumbai population. Along with other parameters it can be important and valuable tool for orthodontist to determine skeletal discrepancies in vertical plane.

Prevalence of smokeless tobacco use and oral pre-malignant lesions among heavy load truck drivers and general male population in Mumbai, India

Background:A majority (89 percent, 268.6 million) of smokeless tobacco users are from Southeast Asia, which also has the highest oral cancer rates in the world.One of the highest smokeless tobacco use prevalence and oral cancer incidence is found in India, with India contributing approximately 30% of all new oral cancer cases globally. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of smokeless tobacco use and oral pre-malignant lesions among heavy load truck drivers and the general population from Mumbai, India; and to study the association between smokeless tobacco use and oral pre-malignant lesions in this population. Methods:Secondary data analysis of two datasets – one belonging to truck driver population and the other to general population (obtained from the Indian Dental Association) – was conductedusing appropriate statistical methods. Results: The prevalence of smokeless tobacco use was 75.3% among truck drivers and 28.3% in the general population. The prevalence of oral pre-malignant lesions in truck drivers was found to be 17.5% and 15.7% in general population. The odds ratio for presence of oral lesions and smokeless tobacco use was 2.84 (95% CI = 0.578 – 27.424, p-value = 0.22) in truck drivers, and 11.7 (95% CI = 4.475 – 32.503, p-value <0.001) in general population. Conclusions:This study did provide a good insight on the prevalence of smokeless tobacco useand oral lesions among Indian truck drivers. Keywords:Tobacco, Smokeless; Mouth Neoplasms; Leukoplakia; Diagnosis, Oral; Oral Health

Orthopantomography and use of Mandibular Indices for the Evaluation of Gender Distribution in Navi Mumbai Population - A Retrospective, Single Blind Study

Introduction: The study of forensic sciences often leaves the forensic expert to draw conclusions from any and every material available in determining the identity of the deceased. The initial step in identifying a person is to determine their gender based on their adult skeleton. The human skeleton displays sexual dimorphism, of which the skull is most dimorphic providing an accurateness of 92%. However, in certain situations where the skull may not be found intact, the mandible plays a vital role. The mandible's thick covering of compact bone helps keep it from exploding during a mass tragedy. Dimorphism in the mandible is gender specific and is mainly reflected in its shape and size. The mandible is also easily radiographed and specific linear measurements of the mandibular rami as seen on an OPG are useful indices for gender determination. 
 Aims: To examine the efficacy of mandibular rami measures such as maximum ramus breadth, maximum ramus height, minimum ramus breadth, condylar height, coronoid height, mandibular body length and gonial angles on the right and left side of an OPG in determining gender.
 Materials and methods: 110 digital OPG’s (55 males, 55 females) of a Navi Mumbai population were obtained retrospectively from a reputed dental college and hospital. The OPG’s were taken using Xtropan 2000 OPG machine, 10x12 PSP plates, exposure parameters of 75 Kvp, 8 mas, 13 sec, and KODAK CR 7400 digitizer. Master View 3.0 software was used on the desktop computer to measure the mandibular ramus's width and thickness. Maximum ramus breadth, Maximum Ramus height and lowest ramus breadth of the mandibular rami, as well as the height of the condyle and the coronoid bone, and the length of the mandibular body and gonial angles on the right and left sides of the mouth, were all measured. Using a statistical formula, the measurements were substituted and gender was estimated.
 Result: We used the IBM SPSS v 21.0 statistical software for social sciences to do our statistical study. p0.05 was deemed statistically significant, with a 5% margin of error and a 20% margin of error, giving the study an 80 percent power. In the study group, 51 of the 55 men were expected to be males, while 49 of the 55 females were anticipated to be females, while 6 of the 55 females were predicted to be males.
 Conclusion: This research shows that the mandibular ramus is a useful tool for determining gender, and digital panoramic imaging yielded the best accurate linear measures. There was considerable sexual dimorphism in the mandibular ramus in the chosen Navi – Mumbai subpopulation, and the combination of 8 factors demonstrated an accuracy of 91.81 percent and was helpful for gender determination.

Prevalence of smokeless tobacco use and oral pre-malignant lesions among heavy load truck drivers and general male population in Mumbai, India

Prevalence of smokeless tobacco use and oral pre-malignant lesions among heavy load truck drivers and general male population in Mumbai, India

A survey study to assess the knowledge and awareness of the indian sub-population regarding the effects of diabetes on dental implants

Background: Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease having various negative effects on bone metabolism. Dental Implants are widely used in recent times for rehabilitation of missing teeth, therefore there is a need for evaluation of risk factors of bone metabolism. Since a large population in India is suffering from diabetes, it is essential to evaluate their knowledge regarding dental implant placement in diabetic patients. Therefore, this survey aims to address this issue and raise knowledge and awareness regarding the same. Materials and Methods: A well-structured survey consisting of 14 questions was carried out among the general population in Mumbai through various social media platforms. Results: A total of 512 people participated in the survey, with around 59.8% male and 40.2% female participation. 80.9% of the participants were of the opinion that implants could be placed in a diabetic person. 73.4% felt that informing their dentist about diabetic status will cause a change in their treatment plan. However only 20.5% of the participants received any information regarding diabetes affecting the success of dental implants. Conclusion: There is sufficient knowledge among the participants regarding effects of diabetes on the oral health in dental implant therapy. Patients should be educated regarding the possibilities of placing dental implants in a diabetic patient regardless of their glycemic control with the help of dental professionals and healthcare practitioners. Keywords: Diabetes; Implant; Survey; Indian population

Barriers for Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence and Viral Suppression in Members of the Key Population in Mumbai, India: Implications for Interventions.

Background:Poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is associated with poor virologic control and drug resistance in people living with HIV/AIDS. Some barriers to ART adherence are cost, lack of information, stigma, or dissatisfaction with health services.Aims and Objectives:To study the association between barriers for ART adherence and viral suppression, and explore the role of "missing ART dose" as a potential mediator in high-risk groups.Materials and Methods:Demographic, clinical, and behavioral data from 50 "virally suppressed" (viral load [VL] <1000 copies/ml) and 48 "not suppressed" (VL > 1000 copies/ml) individuals belonging to the key population in Mumbai were collected. Sociodemographic, behavioral, and other characteristics were compared, and mediation analysis was used to identify the mediator in the pathway to viral suppression.Results:Those who had missed their ART at least once in the past three months (37% versus 60%, P = 0.03) and stayed alone were less likely to be virally suppressed (31% versus 69%, P = 0.002). Individuals who had negative perception about ART (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.11, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.02, 0.47; P = 0.002), poor ART-related knowledge/behaviors (aOR: 0.14, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.60; P = 0.007), and poor pill taking practices (aOR: 0.10, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.61; P = 0.01) were significantly less likely to be virally suppressed. The mediation pathway "adherence theme > missed ART in the past three months > viral suppression" was significant in these themes.Conclusions:The factors associated with low viral suppression were knowledge/behaviors, perceptions about ART, and poor pill taking practices. Thus, it is important to provide correct information about ART, its effects, side effects, and potential limitations to marginalized population. Involving brothel keepers and Gurus (head of male-to-female transgendered people/Hijras clans), and technology enabled customized counseling sessions will be helpful.

Morphometry study of pedicle for sacral screw fixation in Navi Mumbai population

An extensive review of the literature has revealed a limited pedicle study of the sacrum in Indian population. The present study analyses a very significant variation in the values, as regards the racial/ regional differences. Our study cover morphometric details of the 1st pedicle of sacrum for pedicle screw placement. We intend to study for safe entry of pedicle screw including finding the screw depth in Navi Mumbai population. Boucher in 1959 was the first to use pedicle screws. There has been an almost continuous development in the field of spinal instrumentation by various surgeons. Materials and Methods: The study was done on 30 dry human sacra and 30 cadaver sacral bones which were collected from Department of Anatomy, M.G.M. Medical College, and Terna medical college. Result: No significant difference in posterior pedicle height was seen in both genders. Anteroposterior length and width were higher on both sides in males. Anteroposterior length of alae on both sides in both genders were of almost of equal thickness. Conclusion: Our study brings forth valuable data from a population of Navi Mumbai, which can be of use for operating surgeons and interventionists. Our study revealed racial and regional variation with a comparison to other country studies. Keywords: Pedicle study, Sacrum, Morphometry, Screw fixation.

Antibiotics usage, how well we know it? KAP survey among the dentist population in Mumbai

Background: There is a rising concern for antibiotic resistance worldwide, the primary cause of which is overuse and misuse. This study primarily aimed at assessing the knowledge of dental practitioners regarding the current guidelines on use of antibiotics and to identify the shortcomings if any.Methods: Present study was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study conducted amongst 450 dental practitioners across Mumbai with the help of a self-designed questionnaire. The data was entered into excel sheets and appropriate statistical analysis was done with chi-square test using SPSS version 20.Results: The present study had a response rate of 95%. For the total percentage of patients examined each day that required systemic antibiotics, 36.9% (153) dentists answered 0-5%, followed by 25.3% (105) answered 10-15%. 76.1% (316) dentists came across patients who had self-prescribed antibiotics. 66% (274) dentists had never advised an antibiotic sensitivity/ culture test for their patients. 51.3% (213) dentists came across patients who did not respond to antibiotics. 87.2% (363) dentists were not aware about the ‘AWaRe’ classification of antibiotics given by WHO. 93.3% (383) dentists did not know about antimicrobial stewardship concept.Conclusions: The present study reflected antibiotic overuse and misuse to a certain extent by dental practitioners across Mumbai. Most dentists were unaware about ‘AWaRe’ classification and antimicrobial stewardship. Patient education on ill effects of self-prescription of antibiotics, identification of traits of antibiotic resistance and antibiotic culture tests needs to be prioritized by dentists.

Vitamin D Status in Mothers and their Newborns at a Tertiary Care Centre in Mumbai: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Indian population has a paradoxically high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency. Maternal vitamin D levels are related to outcomes of pregnancy for mother and foetus. To understand the need for screening and appropriate management decisions, data is needed from various regions of India to explore the magnitude of the problem. Aim: To evaluate the vitamin D levels in pregnant mothers and their newborns at a hospital catering to the affluent population in Mumbai. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from August to December 2012. A 100 women of Indian origin, between 20-45 years of age and their newborns who were delivered at the Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre in Mumbai were included. Determination of 25 hydroxy (OH) vitamin D, serum calcium, albumin concentration was done in mothers just before delivery and newborns venous cord blood at the time of delivery. Pearson’s correlation test was used for determining relation between maternal and newborns vitamin D levels and Chi-square test for association of maternal vitamin D levels with their sun exposure and newborns birth weight. Results: The distribution of serum 25 (OH) vitamin D status in mothers was 75 deficient (75%), 13 insufficient (13%) and 12 sufficient (12%). Mean serum 25 (OH) vitamin D in mothers was 15.09 ng/mL. The distribution of serum 25 (OH) vitamin D levels in newborns were 78 deficient (78%), 13 insufficient (13%) and 9 sufficient (9%). Mean serum 25 (OH) vitamin D in neonates was 13.82 ng/mL. There was strong correlation between maternal and newborns serum 25 (OH) vitamin D levels with a Pearson correlation coefficient value of 0.94 and the p-value of &lt;0.001. Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in pregnant mothers associated with hypovitaminosis D in newborns in this hospital-based study catering to affluent population from Mumbai.

Odontometric analysis of canines to establish sexual dimorphism in an urban population

Teeth are the most durable part of the skeleton. Under most of the adverse conditions occurring in nature like putrefaction, mutilation, fire and prolonged immersion in water, teeth are the most indestructible part of the body and may survive all these challenges. Due to this, the use of dental morphology to determine sexual dimorphism is a procedure established in anthropological and biological studies. Among all teeth, canines are found to exhibit greatest sexual dimorphism. This study aimed to determine the gender of an individual based on the bucco-lingual dimensions of the canines and the inter-canine arch width and analyse if any sexual variation existed in them. It was a cross sectional study. In the present study, 50 male and 50 female volunteers residing in Navi Mumbai; in the age group of 18-60 years were selected to observe the sexual dimorphism in the bucco-lingual crown dimensions of the canine and difference in inter-canine width. The bucco-lingual dimensions were measured on the study casts as the greatest distance between the buccal and the lingual surfaces of the canine crown with a digital Vernier calliper. The inter-canine width was measured between the tips of the canines with the calliper beaks placed along the long axis of the teeth. Unpaired 't' test and ROC curve using SPSS 21.0 statistical programme for Windows. It was found that the bucco-lingual dimension was significantly larger in males as compared to females and the difference was statistically significant. The difference in mandibular inter-canine arch width was statistically significant. The study defines that the bucco-lingual dimensions are more reliable criteria for sexual dimorphism in Navi Mumbai population than the inter-canine arch width. Thus, it is indicated that the dimorphism in canines can be of immense medico-legal use in identification and gender determination.

Palatoscopy and odontometrics for sex identification and hereditary pattern analysis in a Navi Mumbai population: A cross-sectional study.

Background:Identification of an individual is a challenging task in the field of forensic odontology. Sometimes, the identity of individuals by fingerprints is difficult; hence, the examination of palatal rugae and the human dentition is a viable option.Aims and Objectives:The objective of the present study was to determine the sex of an individual and the hereditary pattern using three parameters are as follows: palatine rugae, dimensions of maxillary molar and maxillary canine.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional study involved a total of 200 participants which included 60 males, 60 females and 20 families with four members each. Maxillary impressions were made with elastomeric impression material, and dental stone was used to make the models. The parameters used were as follows: palatine rugae classified by Thomas and Kotze (1983), which included the shape, size, direction and unification pattern, mesiodistal (MD) width of canines and intercanine width and MD and buccolingual width of maxillary molars.Statistical Analysis:Unpaired t-test and the median test were used to assess the sex differences in the number and unification pattern for the palatal rugae and to compare dimensions measured for males and females for the odontometric data. The data collected was statistically analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences 17.0 statistical program for windows. The statistical significance was fixed at 0.05.Results:Males showed more number of converging rugae and females showed more number of diverging patterns of rugae. The number of primary and forward rugae was more in both the genders and females showed more wavy rugae while males showed more number of straight and curved rugae. The maxillary canine and maxillary molar dimensions both were more in males than the females and also none of these parameters showed a hereditary pattern.Conclusion:Rugae pattern and the human dentition are both highly individualistic and can be used for personal identification and sex determination.

A Qualitative Assessment of Breast Cancer Awareness in an Urban Indian City

Objective: To assess the awareness of breast cancer and associated risk factors among educated women from an urban population in Mumbai, India. Materials and Methods: A self-directed questionnaire-based survey was used. The questions were based on, life style habits, medical history, menstrual and contraceptive history, risk factor awareness and screening for breast cancer. Results: Nine hundred and fifty women were invited for the survey, 763 responded. The mean age of the cohort was 31 years (range 18 – 60). Knowledge about screening and breast self-examination (BSE) was evident in 682 (89.38%) of respondents. Furthermore, 334 (44%) of respondents were previously informed about BSE), of which 148 (19%) regularly performed a BSE. Awareness of breast cancer screening with mammography was reported by 310 (41%) subjects. Forty-two women (6%) had undergone mammography screening, with increased incidence among homemakers compared to professionals and students. Conclusion: The current study highlights the need for outreach programs to educate women about breast cancer and inform them about prognosis and self-evaluation methods for diagnosing the disease. In addition strategies to improve the compliance of breast screening programs are needed.

The Majority‐Minority Divide in Attitudes toward Internal Migration: Evidence from Mumbai

AbstractRapid urbanization is among the major processes affecting the developing world. The influx of migrants to cities frequently provokes antagonism on the part of long‐term residents, manifested in labor market discrimination, political nativism, and violence. We implemented a novel, face‐to‐face survey experiment on a representative sample of Mumbai's population to elucidate the causes of anti‐migrant hostility. Our findings point to the centrality of material self‐interest in the formation of native attitudes. Dominant group members fail to heed migrants' ethnic attributes, yet for minority group respondents, considerations of ethnicity and economic threat crosscut. We introduce a new political mechanism to explain this divergence. Minority communities facing persistent discrimination view in‐migration by coethnics as a means of enlarging their demographic and electoral base, thereby achieving “safety in numbers.” Our article sheds light on the drivers of preferences over internal migration. It also contributes insights to the international immigration literature and to policy debates over urban expansion.

Geographical and demographic profile of tuberculosis in a pediatric population in Mumbai – A retrospective cross-sectional hospital-based study

AimPediatric tuberculosis (TB) is endemic in Mumbai, India. However, geographical distribution and demographic pattern of children affected with TB are not known. This study aims to determine a geographical and demographic profile of children with TB. MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study that included children from 0–15 years of age suffering from TB, who were referred to our Pediatric TB Clinic, and were seeking treatment at the clinic located in central Mumbai from 2010 to 2011. The patients were diagnosed with tuberculosis based either clinically (fever with cough for more than 2 weeks/loss of weight or failure to thrive/recent contact with an adult having tuberculosis), bacteriologically (positive AFB culture), or histopathology suggestive of caseous granulomas. Records of all the patients were reviewed and the age, gender, type of tuberculosis, drug-resistant (DR) TB, community of patient, and the region of residence were recorded. The association of age, gender, type of tuberculosis, and drug resistance with area of residence as well as type of community was analyzed. ResultsA total of 242 children were included in the study. Mean age of presentation was 5±3.8 years. Male:female ratio was 1.1:1. Totally, 230 (95%) patients were from Mumbai whereas 10 (4.1%) patients were residing outside Mumbai. We were unable to record the residence of 2 patients. Of the 230 patients from Mumbai, 63 patients (26%) were from the Central Mumbai, 93 patients (38.4%) were from Central suburbs, 18 (7.4%) were from the South Mumbai and 57 (23.6%) were from Western suburbs of Mumbai. The association between the area of residence and type of tuberculosis (pulmonary TB, p=0.1349; abdominal TB, p=0.063; bone TB, p=0.871; latent TB, p=0.0783; disseminated TB, p=0.9; adenopathy, p=0.6576; neuro TB, p=0.2564; serositis, p=0.170), gender (p=0.7139), drug resistance (p=0.5182), and age (p=0.2403) was not statistically significant. Overall, 195 (80.6%) patients were Hindus and the remaining 47 (19.4%) patients were Muslims. Similarly, the association between the community (Hindu and Muslim) and type of tuberculosis (pulmonary TB, p=0.7518; abdominal TB, p=0.2146; bone TB, p=1.0; latent TB, p=0.2217; disseminated TB, p=1.0; adenopathy, p=0.3403; neuro TB, p=0.8157; serositis, p=1.0), gender (p=0.2121), drug resistance (p=0.3625), and age (p=0.8721) was also not statistically significant. ConclusionTB at our center was predominantly seen in children from Central Mumbai, which may be due to the central location of our hospital. However, types of TB, DR-TB, were seen equally in children from all parts of the city and were not located to any specific region.