Digital Commons Network^™

“The Co-Authors Of Pregnancy”: Leveraging Men’S Sense Of Responsibility And Other Factors For Male Involvement In Antenatal Services In Kinshasa, Drc, Michelle M. Gill, John Ditekemena, Aimé Loando, Vicky Ilunga, Marleen Temmerman, Franck Fwamba

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Background: Despite efforts to improve male involvement (MI), few male partners typically attend antenatal care (ANC). MI in ANC and interventions to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission have been demonstrated to be beneficial for the HIV-positive mother and her child. This study aimed to explore factors influencing partner attendance and highlight interventions with potential to improve MI within a Congolese context.

Methods: This was an exploratory, qualitative study conducted in two urban and two semi-urban catchment areas of Kinshasa, DRC in June–September 2016. Two women-only and two men-only focus group discussions (FGDs) were held; participants were recruited from ANC clinics and …

"The Co-Authors Of Pregnancy": Leveraging Men's Sense Of Responsibility And Other Factors For Male Involvement In Antenatal Services In Kinshasa, Drc, Michelle M. Gill, John Ditekemena, Aimé Loando, Vicky Ilunga, Marleen Temmerman, Franck Fwamba

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Background: Despite efforts to improve male involvement (MI), few male partners typically attend antenatal care (ANC). MI in ANC and interventions to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission have been demonstrated to be beneficial for the HIV-positive mother and her child. This study aimed to explore factors influencing partner attendance and highlight interventions with potential to improve MI within a Congolese context.
Methods: This was an exploratory, qualitative study conducted in two urban and two semi-urban catchment areas of Kinshasa, DRC in June–September 2016. Two women-only and two men-only focus group discussions (FGDs) were held; participants were recruited from ANC clinics and …

Therapeutic Uses Of Pineapple-Extracted Bromelain In Surgical Care - A Review., Zehra Abdul Muhammad, Tashfeen Ahmad

Department of Surgery Docs

Abstract

Bromelain is an extract obtained from the pineapple plant and is used as a traditional folk remedy for several ailments. In this review, a comprehensive electronic database search was carried out to compile available literature on therapeutic implications of bromelain. Pharmaceutical value of bromelain has been demonstrated in different surgical sub-specialties. Diverse biological processes like anti-inflammatory, anti-oedematous, analgesic, anti-thrombotic, exfoliation etc. are involved in bromelain's therapeutic actions, mediated through the kallikrein-kinin and arachidonic acid pathways as well as through effects on cell mediated immunity. Bromelain equals non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as an anti-inflammatory agent, but has been shown to have …

Practical Guide And Atlas For The Diagnosis Of Fungal Infections, Afia Zafar, Kauser Jabeen, Joveria Farooqi

Books

Laboratory diagnosis of fungal infections remains challenging in South East Asia as it is a neglected field in most diagnostic centres in the developing world. Initial microscopic examination of clinical specimens for the presence of fungal elements followed by growth and eventual identification of isolates up to genus and species levels are very basic and important services that must be provided by any clinical microbiology laboratory. These services have considerable impact on selection of appropriate antifungal therapy and ultimate reduction in morbidity and mortality. With the realisation of scarcity of this service and expertise in Pakistan, our group decided to …

Alcohol Use And Immune Reconstitution Among Hiv-Infected Patients On Antiretroviral Therapy In Nairobi, Kenya, Anthony Cagle, Christine Mcgrath, Barbra A. Richardson, Dennis Donovan, Sameh Sakr, Nelly Yatich, Richard Ngomoa, Agnes Chepngeno Langat, Grace John-Stewart, Michael Chung

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Studies on the effects of alcohol use on HIV disease progression have been contradictory, with at least one study finding a positive effect of low alcohol consumption on CD4 count. In addition, most such studies have taken place in the developed West. We investigated the association between alcohol use and immune reconstitution through CD4 count response among HIV-infected individuals on antiretroviral therapy (ART) at an urban sub-Saharan African clinic. This was a retrospective cohort study of treatment-naïve HIV-infected adults initiating ART in Nairobi, Kenya and followed for 12 months between January 2009 and December 2012. At enrollment, a standardized questionnaire …

Antenatal Corticosteroids For Women At Risk Of Imminent Preterm Birth In Low-Resource Countries: The Case For Equipoise And The Need For Efficacy Trials, Joshua P. Vogel, Olufemi T. Oladapo, Cynthia Pileggi-Castro, Ebunoluwa A. Adejuyigbe, Fernando Althabe, Shabina Ariff, Adejumoke Idowu Ayede, Abdullah H. Baqui, Anthony Costello, Davy M. Chikamata, Caroline Crowther, Bukola Fawole, Luz Gibbons, Alan H. Jobe, Monica Lulu Kapasa, John Kinuthia, Alka Kriplani, Oluwafemi Kuti, James Neilson, Janna Patterson, Gilda Piaggio, Rahat Qureshi, Zahida Qureshi, Mari Jeeva Sankar, Jeffrey S. A. Stringer, Marleen Temmerman, Khalid Yunis, Rajiv Bahl, A. Metin Gülmezoglu

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

The scientific basis for antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) for women at risk of preterm birth has rapidly changed in recent years. Two landmark trials—the Antenatal Corticosteroid Trial and the Antenatal Late Preterm Steroids Trial—have challenged the long-held assumptions on the comparative health benefits and harms regarding the use of ACS for preterm birth across all levels of care and contexts, including resource-limited settings. Researchers, clinicians, programme managers, policymakers and donors working in low-income and middle-income countries now face challenging questions of whether, where and how ACS can be used to optimise outcomes for both women and preterm newborns.

In this article, …

High Achievers Awards 2017 - Celebrating The Leaders Of Tomorrow, Aga Khan University Examination Board

The Aga Khan University Examination Board Archives

• About the Aga Khan University Examination Board
• Director’s Message
• Secondary School Certificate 201 7 High Achievers
• Secondary School Certificate 20 1 7 Results
• SSC Group and Subject-wise High Achievers
• Higher Secondary School Certificate 20 1 7 High Achievers
• Higher Secondary School Certificate 20 1 7 Results
• HSSC Group and Subject-wise High Achievers
• Bridge to a Better Future
• Prospects for Higher Education
• MU-EB Alumni Around the World

Aga Khan University, Report 2017, Aga Khan University

The Aga Khan University Reports Archives

• Chancellor’s Message
• Chairman’s Message
• President’s Message
• Timeline of Highlights /By the Numbers
• Ready for the Rise of Non-communicable Diseases
• Building Better Education Systems
• Talking About Their Generation
• Setting the Agenda in Maternal and Child Health and Development
• Alumni Survey Demonstrates Impact
• Giving Nature a Voice
• Pluralism in Action
• Leading the Way in East African Nursing and Midwifery
• Virtual Reality, Real-World Results
• A New Hospital for Uganda
• Supporters & Partners
• Board of Trustees and Executive Team
• Financial Highlights
• The World of AKU

Importance Of Physical Activity In Women, Minaz Mawani

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Tuberculosis Control In Sindh, Pakistan: Critical Analysis Of Its Implementation, Ali H. Khan

Medical College Documents

Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the main health problems despite preventive and control measures that have been taken in the past few decades. It is responsible for almost 8.8 million cases and 1.4 million deaths around the world. Lack of access to TB services is a barrier for empowering TB patients. In a country like Pakistan, controlling TB has become a challenge because of the lack of private sector involvement in a National Tuberculosis Control Program (NTP). Therefore, collaboration is needed between public, private and government sectors in treating TB as well as in improving the quality of the health …

A Mixed Methods Study To Assess The Effectiveness Of Food-Based Interventions To Prevent Stunting Among Children Under-Five Years In Districts Thatta And Sujawal, Sindh Province, Pakistan: Study Protocol, Sumra Kureishy, Gul Nawaz Khan, Shabina Arrif,, Khizar Ashraf, Angela Cespedes, Atif Habib, Imtiaz Hussain, Asmat Ullah, Ali Turab, Imran Ahmed, Shehla Zaidi, Sajid Bashir Soofi

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Maternal and child malnutrition is widely prevalent in low and middle income countries. In Pakistan, widespread food insecurity and malnutrition are the main contributors to poor health, low survival rates and the loss of human capital development. The nutritional status trends among children exhibit a continuous deteriorating with rates of malnutrition exceeding the WHO critical threshold. With the high prevalence of maternal and child malnutrition, it is important to identify effective preventative approaches, especially for reducing stunting in children under-five years of age. The primary aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of food-based interventions to …

Community Engagement And Integrated Health And Polio Immunisation Campaigns In Conflict-Affected Areas Of Pakistan: A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial, Atif Habib, Sajid Soofi, Simon Cousens, Saeed Anwar, Najib Ulhaque, Imran Ahmed, Noshad Ali, Rehman Tahir, Zulfiqar A Bhutta

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Pakistan faces huge challenges in eradicating polio due to widespread poliovirus transmission and security challenges. Innovative interventions are urgently needed to strengthen community buy-in, to increase the coverage of oral polio vaccine (OPV) and other routine immunisations, and to enhance immunity through the introduction of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) in combination with OPV. We aimed to evaluate the acceptability and effect on immunisation coverage of an integrated strategy for community engagement and maternal and child health immunisation campaigns in insecure and conflict-affected polio-endemic districts of Pakistan.
Methods: We did a community-based three-arm cluster randomised trial in healthy children …

Prevalence And Possible Factors Associated With Anaemia, And Vitamin B 12 And Folate Deficiencies In Women Of Reproductive Age In Pakistan: Analysis Of National-Level Secondary Survey Data, Sajid Bashir Soofi, Gul Nawaz Khan, Kamran Sadiq, Shabina Ariff, Atif Habib, Sumra Kureishy, Imtiaz Hussain, Muhammad Umer, Zamir Suhag, Arjumand Rizvi, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Objective: To determine the prevalence and possible factors associated with anaemia, and vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies in women of reproductive age (WRA) in Pakistan.
Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted on data collected through the large-scale National Nutrition Survey in Pakistan in 2011. Anaemia was defined as haemoglobin levels /dL, vitamin B12 deficiency as serum vitamin B12 levels of /mL (150 pmol/L) and folate deficiency as serum folate levels /mL (10 nmol/L).
Results: A total of 11 751 blood samples were collected and analysed. The prevalence of anaemia, vitamin B12 deficiency and folate deficiency was 50.4%, 52.4% and 50.8%, …

Clinical And Laboratory Profile Of Children With Cystic Fibrosis: Experience Of A Tertiary Care Center In Pakistan, Danish Abdul Aziz, Abdul Gaffar Billoo, Ahad Qureshi, Misha Khalid, Salman Kirmani

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Objective: To determine the clinical presentation, diagnostic investigations and laboratory workup done in admitted children with cystic fibrosis at Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi, Pakistan.
Methods: This is a three years retrospective study from January 2013 to December 2015 conducted at The Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi Pakistan, enrolling admitted patient from birth to 15 years of either gender, diagnosed with CF on the basis of clinical features and positive sweat chloride test. Different clinical presentations were noted including initial presentations. Sweat chloride values more than 60mmol/L were labeled as positive and consistent with diagnosis of CF. Available Delta F-508 …

Paediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Clinical Presentation And Disease Location, Danish Abdul Aziz, Maryum Moin, Atif Majeed, Kamran Sadiq, Abdul Gaffar Biloo

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Objective: To determine different clinical presentationsand disease location demarcatedby upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopyand relevant histopathologyin children diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Methods: This is 5 years (2010 to 2015) retrospective studyconducted at the Aga Khan University Hospitalenrolling65admitted children between 6 months to 15years from either gender, diagnosed with IBD on clinical presentation, endoscopy and biopsy. Different clinical presentations at the time of diagnosis were noted in different categories of the disease. All patients underwent upper and lower (up to the terminal ileum) endoscopy with multiple punch biopsies and histologic assessment of mucosal specimens. All endoscopies were done by …

December 2016 (Issue 2) : Human Microbiome-The Hidden World, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi

Nutrition and Food Services Department (NFSD) Archives

• Effect of microbiome on various diseases
• Impact on immune system
• Impact on nutrition
• Impact on human behaviour
• What can clinicians do

December 2016 (Issue 1) : Turmeric – Magic Spice, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi

Nutrition and Food Services Department (NFSD) Archives

• Antioxidant, Anti Inflammatory Agent
• Indigestion
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Neuro Health Benefits
• Good for Heart
• Diabetes

Mapping The Geography Of Child Mortality: A Key Step In Addressing Disparities, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

No abstract provided.

Mammographic Density Assessed On Paired Raw And Processed Digital Images And On Paired Screen-Film And Digital Images Across Three Mammography Systems, Anya Burton, Graham Byrnes, Jennifer Stone, Rulla M. Tamimi, John Heine, Celine Vachon, Vahit Ozmen, Ana Pereira, Maria Luisa Garmendia, Christopher Scott, John H. Hipwell, Caroline Dickens, Joachim Schüz, Mustafa Erkin Aribal, Kimberly Bertrand, Ava Kwong, Graham G. Giles, John Hopper, Beatriz Pérez Gómez, Marina Pollán, Soo-Hwang Teo, Shivaani Mariapun, Nur Aishah Mohd Taib, Martín Lajous, Ruy Lopez-Riduara, Megan Rice, Isabelle Romieu, Anath Arzee Flugelman, Giske Ursin, Samera Qureshi, Huiyan Ma, Eunjung Lee, Reza Sirous, Mehri Sirous, Jong Won Lee, Jisun Kim, Dorria Salem, Rasha Kamal, Mikael Hartman, Hui Miao, Kee-Seng Chia, Chisato Nagata, Sudhir Vinayak, Rose Ndumia, Carla H. Van Gils, Johanna O. P. Wanders, Beata Peplonska, Agnieszka Bukowska, Steve Allen, Sarah Vinnicombe, Sue Moss, Anna M. Chiarelli, Linda Linton, Gertraud Maskarinec, Martin J. Yaffe, Norman F. Boyd, Isabel Dos-Santos-Silva, Valerie A. Mccormack

Imaging & Diagnostic Radiology, East Africa

Background: Inter-women and intra-women comparisons of mammographic density (MD) are needed in research, clinical and screening applications; however, MD measurements are influenced by mammography modality (screen film/ digital) and digital image format (raw/processed). We aimed to examine differences in MD assessed on these image types.

Methods: We obtained 1294 pairs of images saved in both raw and processed formats from Hologic and General Electric (GE) direct digital systems and a Fuji computed radiography (CR) system, and 128 screen-film and processed CR-digital pairs from consecutive screening rounds. Four readers performed Cumulus-based MD measurements (n = 3441), with each image pair read …

Safeguarding Maternal And Child Health In South Africa By Starting The Child Support Grant Before Birth: Design Lessons From Pregnancy Support Programmes In 27 Countries, M. F. Chersich, Stanley Luchters, D. Blaauw, F. Scorgie, E. Kern, A. Van Den Heever, H. Rees, E. Peach, S. Kharadi, S. Fonn

Population Health, East Africa

Background: Deprivation during pregnancy and the neonatal period increases maternal morbidity, reduces birth weight and impairs child development, with lifelong consequences. Many poor countries provide grants to mitigate the impact of poverty during pregnancy. South Africa (SA) offers a post-delivery Child Support Grant (CSG), which could encompass support during pregnancy, informed by lessons learnt from similar grants.

Objectives: To review design and operational features of pregnancy support programmes, highlighting features that promote their effectiveness and efficiency, and implications thereof for SA.

Methods: Systematic review of programmes providing cash or other support during pregnancy in low- and middle-income countries.

Results: Thirty-two …

Global Research Priorities To Accelerate Early Child Development In The Sustainable Development Era, Tarun Dua, Mark Tomlinson, Elizabeth Tablante, Pia Britto, Aisha Khizar Yousafzai, Bernadette Daelmans, Gary L. Darmstadt

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

No abstract provided.

Epidemiology And Impact Of Campylobacter Infection In Children In 8 Low-Resource Settings: Results From The Mal-Ed Study, Shahida Qureshi, Aneeta Hotwani, Sadia Shakoor, (Mal-Ed) Network Investigators, Imran Ahmed, Didar Alam, Syed Asad Ali, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, Muneera Rasheed, Sajid Bashir Soofi, Ali Turab, Anita K. M. Zaidi

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Enteropathogen infections have been associated with enteric dysfunction and impaired growth in children in low-resource settings. In a multisite birth cohort study (MAL-ED), we describe the epidemiology and impact of Campylobacter infection in the first 2 years of life.
Methods: Children were actively followed up until 24 months of age. Diarrheal and nondiarrheal stool samples were collected and tested by enzyme immunoassay for Campylobacter Stool and blood samples were assayed for markers of intestinal permeability and inflammation.
Results: A total of 1892 children had 7601 diarrheal and 26 267 nondiarrheal stool samples tested for Campylobacter We describe a high …

An Integrated Risk And Vulnerability Assessment Framework For Climate Change And Malaria Transmission In East Africa, Esther Achieng Onyango, Oz Sahin, Alex Awiti, Cordia Chu, Brendan Mackey

East Africa Institute

Background: Malaria is one of the key research concerns in climate change-health relationships. Numerous risk assessments and modelling studies provide evidence that the transmission range of malaria will expand with rising temperatures, adversely impacting on vulnerable communities in the East African highlands. While there exist multiple lines of evidence for the influence of climate change on malaria transmission, there is insufficient understanding of the complex and interdependent factors that determine the risk and vulnerability of human populations at the community level. Moreover, existing studies have had limited focus on the nature of the impacts on vulnerable communities or how well …

November 2016 (Issue 1) : Eat More Fruit Everyday, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi

Nutrition and Food Services Department (NFSD) Archives

• Benefits of Eating Fruit
• Tips for Increasing Fruits in Your Diet
• How to Make Fruits More Appealing
• Tips for Children
• How to Keep Fruit Safe

Vitamin D Levels In Malnourished Children Under 5 Years In A Tertiary Care Center At Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania—A Cross-Sectional Study, Nahida Z. Walli, Emmanuel K. Munubhi, Said Aboud, Karim P. Manji

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Objective: To evaluate vitamin D levels/deficiency among malnourished children < 5 years admitted at a tertiary care center, the Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Children with malnutrition may have co-existing vitamin D deficiency (VDD), which may be severe.

Methods: Serum vitamin D and alkaline phosphatase were evaluated, and X-ray of the wrist was carried out on 134 children.

Results: VDD was found in 41 of 134 children (30.6%). The mean vitamin D level was 74.8 nmol/l. The mean alkaline phosphatase level was 176.6 U/l. Sixty-four (48%) children were found to have severe stunting, of whom 20 (31.2%) were vitamin D deficient. Marasmic children had higher odds of VDD compared with other forms of malnutrition.

Conclusion: The high prevalence of VDD in malnourished children underlines the need for active surveillance …

Comparative Effects Of Ballooning Intracervical Catheter And Prostaglandin Pessary On Cervical Ripening, Raheela Baloch, Qamarunissa Muhabat, Fakhrunissa Waheed, Waqarunissa Ahmed

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Labor is induced to stimulate the uterine contraction in effort to have vaginal birth. Induction may be advocated to reduce fetal or neonatal morbidity and mortality. Indication of labor needs to be considered when risk and benefits analysis indicates that delivering the baby is safe option for mother or both rather than continuing the pregnancy and when there are no clear indications for caesarean section and no contraindication for vaginal delivery.

Labrad : Vol 42, Issue 2 - October 2016, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi

LABRAD - Departments of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine and Radiology Archives

• Revised Nomenclature of Encapsulated Follicular Variant of Papillary Carcinoma; Now NIFTP in 2016
• Heritable Thrombophilia Screening: When & in Whom
• Massive Transfusion
• A Review of Innovance PFA-200 System
• Radiologic-Pathologic Correlation Osteogenic Tumors
• Pre Albumin or Transthyretin - A Useful Biomarker in the Assessment of Malnutrition
• Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in Children: A Pictorial Guide
• Validation of Test Methods in a Clinical Laboratory: A Brief Overview of the Concepts, Aims and Procedures
• Clinical Significance of Stone Composition Analysis in Urolithiasis Management

Nutritional Status And Physical Abuse Among The Children Involved In Domestic Labour In Karachi Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Survey., Saima Zainab, Muhammad Masood Kadir

Community Health Sciences

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the prevalence of physical abuse among domestic child labours and to assess the nutritional status by calculating the Body Mass Index of children involved in domestic labour in Karachi.

METHODS:

A cross sectional study was conducted in the squatter settlements of Karachi. Questionnaire based interviews were conducted to capture physical abuse with 385 children who worked as domestic labour in the household of their employer. The ages of the children were between 10 to 14 years belonging to both genders. The children were enrolled in study by snow-ball sampling technique.

RESULTS:

The overall prevalence of physical abuse …

Peri-Operative Determinants Of Prolonged Cicu Stay After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery In Elderly At A Private Tertiary Care Hospital: A Case Control Study, Fazal Khan, Shiraz Hashmi, Syed Saad Naeem,, Benish Fatima, Hashim Hanif, Mubashir Zareen Khan, Saulat Hasnain Fatimi

Department of Surgery Docs

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To explore peri-operative risk factors associated with prolonged stay in cardiac intensive care unit among patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting.

METHODS:

This retrospective case control study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, comprised medical records of patients who had undergone cardiothoracic revascularisation surgery from January 2006 to December 2013. The patients were grouped into cases and controls at a ratio of 1:2 on the basis of length of stay at cardiac intensive care unit, i.e. >72 hours andanalysis.

RESULTS:

Of the 999 patients, 333(33.3%) were cases and 666(66.6%) were controls. The mean age …

Recent Strategies To Improve Community Case Management Of Diarrhea Among Children Under Five In Developing Countries, Fauziah Rabbani, Aysha Zahidie

Community Health Sciences

No abstract provided.