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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences
School-Based Interventions To Promote Personal And Environmental Hygiene Practices Among Children In Pakistan: Protocol For A Mixed Methods Study, Nousheen Pradhan, Waliyah Mughis, Tazeen S. Ali, Maleeha Naseem, Rozina Karmaliani Professor
School-Based Interventions To Promote Personal And Environmental Hygiene Practices Among Children In Pakistan: Protocol For A Mixed Methods Study, Nousheen Pradhan, Waliyah Mughis, Tazeen S. Ali, Maleeha Naseem, Rozina Karmaliani Professor
Community Health Sciences
Background: Poor personal hygiene and inadequate sanitation practices among young children leads to communicable diseases. There remains a gap in the holistic assessment of school children's hygiene literacy, practices and effectiveness of school-based hygiene interventions in Pakistan. Therefore, a school-based intervention protocol has been designed to promote personal and environmental hygiene practices for primary school children. Towards improving children's hygiene behaviors, the study will also focus on enhancing mothers' hygiene knowledge and practices.
Methods: Using quasi-experimental design with mixed methods data collection approaches, this study will be conducted in schools located in an urban squatter settlements in Pakistan. To assess …
Mainstreaming Nutrition Services: Stabilization Centers And Outpatient Therapeutic Program Centers, Ashar Muhammad Malik
Mainstreaming Nutrition Services: Stabilization Centers And Outpatient Therapeutic Program Centers, Ashar Muhammad Malik
Community Health Sciences
No abstract provided.
A Multicenter Case Control Study Of Association Of Vitamin D With Breast Cancer Among Women In Karachi, Pakistan, Uzma Shamsi, Shaista Khan, Syed Iqbal Azam, Aysha Habib, Amir Maqbool, Mohammad Hanif, Tiffany Gill, Romaina Iqbal, David Callen
A Multicenter Case Control Study Of Association Of Vitamin D With Breast Cancer Among Women In Karachi, Pakistan, Uzma Shamsi, Shaista Khan, Syed Iqbal Azam, Aysha Habib, Amir Maqbool, Mohammad Hanif, Tiffany Gill, Romaina Iqbal, David Callen
Community Health Sciences
Background: The prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy and breast cancer are both high among women living in Karachi, Pakistan.
Methods: A matched case control study was conducted in two hospitals of Karachi, Pakistan to evaluate the association of vitamin D (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D) concentrations, vitamin D supplementation and sun exposure with breast cancer among Pakistani women. A total of 411 newly diagnosed histologically confirmed primary breast cancer cases were enrolled and 784 controls, free of breast and any other cancers, were matched by age (year of birth ± 5 years), residence in the same geographic area and study site. Information …
Time To Adopt Developmental Origins Of Health And Disease (Dohad) Science In Pakistan, Rozina Nuruddin, Akbar Shoukat Ali, Nuruddin Badruddin Mohammed
Time To Adopt Developmental Origins Of Health And Disease (Dohad) Science In Pakistan, Rozina Nuruddin, Akbar Shoukat Ali, Nuruddin Badruddin Mohammed
Community Health Sciences
No abstract provided.
Identification Of Policy Priorities To Address The Burden Of Smokeless Tobacco In Pakistan: A Multimethod Analysis, Kamran Siddiqi, Ziauddin Islam, Zohaib Khan, Faraz Siddiqui, Masuma Mishu, Omara Dogar, Vandana Shah, Javaid Khan, Subhash Pokhrel, Romaina Iqbal
Identification Of Policy Priorities To Address The Burden Of Smokeless Tobacco In Pakistan: A Multimethod Analysis, Kamran Siddiqi, Ziauddin Islam, Zohaib Khan, Faraz Siddiqui, Masuma Mishu, Omara Dogar, Vandana Shah, Javaid Khan, Subhash Pokhrel, Romaina Iqbal
Section of Pulmonary & Critical Care
Introduction: We assessed the magnitude of smokeless tobacco (ST) use in Pakistan and identified policy gaps to help ascertain short-, medium-, and long-term priorities. We then elicited stakeholders' views as to which of these identified priorities are most important.
Methods: In a multimethod study, we: analyzed Global Tobacco Surveillance System data sets to estimate ST consumption and disease burden; conducted a documentary review to identify gaps in policies to control ST in comparison with smoking; elicited stakeholders' views in an interactive workshop to identify a set of policy options available to address ST burden in Pakistan; and ranked policy …
Factors Associated With Geriatric Morbidity And Impairment In A Megacity Of Pakistan, Saniya Sabzwari, Romaina Iqbal, Zafar Fatmi, Iqbal Azam Syed
Factors Associated With Geriatric Morbidity And Impairment In A Megacity Of Pakistan, Saniya Sabzwari, Romaina Iqbal, Zafar Fatmi, Iqbal Azam Syed
Department of Family Medicine
Background: The elderly population is increasing globally. In Pakistan, the elderly comprise 6% of the population that is predicted to triple by 2050. Non-communicable diseases are common health problems of the elderly in Pakistan, however, resulting geriatric impairments and disability are unknown. This study was conducted to determine geriatric impairments and identify associated socio-demographic factors and comorbidities among community dwelling elderly in Karachi, Pakistan.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during 2013-2014. Community clusters were selected from all sub-districts of Karachi, the largest city of Pakistan. Data was collected from systematically selected households within these clusters from individuals, aged ≥60 …
A New Health Care Model For Pakistan, Mohammad Wasay, Ashar Malik
A New Health Care Model For Pakistan, Mohammad Wasay, Ashar Malik
Section of Neurology
No abstract provided.
Regional Variation In Comorbid Prediabetes And Diabetes And Associated Factors Among Hypertensive Individuals In Rural Bangladesh, Pakistan, And Sri Lanka, Liang Feng, Aliya Naheed, H. Asita De Silva, Imtiaz Jehan, Rubhana Raqib, Md Tauhidul Islam, Nathasha Luke, Anuradhani Kasturiratne, Hamida Farazdaq, Sahar Senan, Tazeen Jafar, Cobra-Bps Study Group
Regional Variation In Comorbid Prediabetes And Diabetes And Associated Factors Among Hypertensive Individuals In Rural Bangladesh, Pakistan, And Sri Lanka, Liang Feng, Aliya Naheed, H. Asita De Silva, Imtiaz Jehan, Rubhana Raqib, Md Tauhidul Islam, Nathasha Luke, Anuradhani Kasturiratne, Hamida Farazdaq, Sahar Senan, Tazeen Jafar, Cobra-Bps Study Group
Community Health Sciences
We aimed to explore the cross-country variation in the prevalence of comorbid prediabetes or diabetes and determine the sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical factors, especially body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference, associated with comorbid diabetes in individuals with hypertension in rural South Asia. We analyzed cross-sectional data of 2426 hypertensive individuals of ≥40 years from 30 randomly selected rural communities in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Prediabetes was defined as fasting plasma glucose (FPG) between 100 and 125 mg/dL without use of antidiabetic treatment and diabetes as FPG ≥126 mg/dL or use of antidiabetic medication. The prevalence (95% CI) of …
Are Family Planning Vouchers Effective In Increasing Use, Improving Equity And Reaching The Underserved? An Evaluation Of A Voucher Program In Pakistan, Moazzam Ali, Syed Khurram Azmat, Hasan Bin Hamza, Md Mizanur Rahman, Waqas Hameed
Are Family Planning Vouchers Effective In Increasing Use, Improving Equity And Reaching The Underserved? An Evaluation Of A Voucher Program In Pakistan, Moazzam Ali, Syed Khurram Azmat, Hasan Bin Hamza, Md Mizanur Rahman, Waqas Hameed
Community Health Sciences
Background: Low modern contraceptive prevalence rate and high unmet need in Pakistan aggravates the vulnerabilities of unintended pregnancies and births contributing to maternal morbidity and mortality. This research aims to assess the effectiveness of a free, single-purpose voucher approach in increasing the uptake, use and better targeting of modern contraceptives among women from the lowest two wealth quintiles in rural and urban communities of Punjab province, Pakistan.
Methods: A quasi-interventional study with pre- and post-phases was implemented across an intervention (Chakwal) and a control district (Bhakkar) in Punjab province (August 2012-January 2015). To detect a 15% increase in modern contraceptive …
Health Systems Changes After Decentralisation: Progress, Challenges And Dynamics In Pakistan, Shehla Zaidi, Maryam Bigdeli, Etienne V. Langlois, Atif Riaz, David W. Orr, Nasir Idrees, Jesse B. Bump
Health Systems Changes After Decentralisation: Progress, Challenges And Dynamics In Pakistan, Shehla Zaidi, Maryam Bigdeli, Etienne V. Langlois, Atif Riaz, David W. Orr, Nasir Idrees, Jesse B. Bump
Community Health Sciences
Decentralisation is widely practised but its scrutiny tends to focus on structural and authority changes or outcomes. Politics and process of devolution implementation needs to be better understood to evaluate how national governments use the enhanced decision space for bringing improvements in the health system and the underlying challenges faced. We use the example of Pakistan's radical, politically driven provincial devolution to analyse how national structures use decentralisation opportunities for improved health planning, spending and carrying out transformations to the health system. Our narrative draws on secondary data sources from the PRIMASYS study, supplemented with policy roundtable notes from Pakistan. …
Needs Assessment Regarding Occupational Health And Safety Interventions Among Textile Workers: A Qualitative Case Study In Karachi, Pakistan, Numan Hussain, Muhammad Masood Kadir, Asaad Ahmed Nafees, Rozina Karmaliani, Tanzil Jamali
Needs Assessment Regarding Occupational Health And Safety Interventions Among Textile Workers: A Qualitative Case Study In Karachi, Pakistan, Numan Hussain, Muhammad Masood Kadir, Asaad Ahmed Nafees, Rozina Karmaliani, Tanzil Jamali
Community Health Sciences
Objective: To determine the perceived health and safety needs identified by textile workers, managers and experts as well as direct observation of the prevailing health and safety practices in the textile industry.
Methods: The qualitative study using the needs assessment conceptual framework was conducted in July-August 2015 in Karachi, and comprised focus group discussions with textile workers, in-depth interviews with factory managers and health and safety officers, and key informant interviews with relevant stakeholders and experts. A walk-through survey was also conducted in selected mills for which the Checklist of hazards in textiles was used.
Results: A total of 6focus …
The Logistics Of Voucher Management: The Underreported Component In Family Planning Voucher Discussions, Moazzam Ali, Madeline Farron, Syed Khurram Azmat, Waqas Hameed
The Logistics Of Voucher Management: The Underreported Component In Family Planning Voucher Discussions, Moazzam Ali, Madeline Farron, Syed Khurram Azmat, Waqas Hameed
Community Health Sciences
Background: The purpose of health care vouchers or coupons is to receive a health service in exchange which is fully or partially subsidized, such as any treatment offered for communicable disease; for immunization; antenatal care-/postnatal care-related maternal health services; a family planning (FP) service; or to get a health commodity like a medicine. Vouchers are targeted for a group of people who can benefit the most such as on the basis of poverty ranking, marginalized or living in rural areas. According to the World Health Organization, voucher schemes in the area of sexual and reproductive health are considered of high …
Epidemiology Of Asthma And Associated Factors In An Urban Pakistani Population: Adult Asthma Study-Karachi, Shama Razzaq, Asaad Ahmed Nafees, Unaib Rabbani, Muhammad Irfan, Shahla Naeem, Muhammad Arslan Khan, Zafar Fatmi, Peter Burney
Epidemiology Of Asthma And Associated Factors In An Urban Pakistani Population: Adult Asthma Study-Karachi, Shama Razzaq, Asaad Ahmed Nafees, Unaib Rabbani, Muhammad Irfan, Shahla Naeem, Muhammad Arslan Khan, Zafar Fatmi, Peter Burney
Community Health Sciences
Background: This study was conducted in order to determine the prevalence of asthma and associated risk factors in the adult population of Karachi, Pakistan.
Methods: This multi-stage, cross-sectional survey was conducted from May 2014-August 2015; comprising 1629 adults in 75 randomly selected clusters in Karachi, Pakistan. Definitions included: 'self-reported asthma', 'reversibility in FEV1' and 'respiratory symptoms and reversibility in FEV1'.
Results: Prevalence of asthma was 1.8% (self-reported) (95% CI: 1.0-2.6), 11.3% (reversibility in FEV1) (95% CI: 9.4-13.3) and 6.6% (symptoms and reversibility in FEV1) (95% CI: 5.1-8.1). Asthmatics were more likely to …
Application Of The Gps Technology To Assess Time-Location Pattern Of Undergraduate Students At A Private Medical University In Karachi, Pakistan: A Pilot Study, Tanzil Jamali, Adeel Ahmed Khan, Asaad Ahmed Nafees, Muhammad Ahmed, Syed Iqbal Azam, Muhammad Masood Kadir, Kiyoung Lee
Application Of The Gps Technology To Assess Time-Location Pattern Of Undergraduate Students At A Private Medical University In Karachi, Pakistan: A Pilot Study, Tanzil Jamali, Adeel Ahmed Khan, Asaad Ahmed Nafees, Muhammad Ahmed, Syed Iqbal Azam, Muhammad Masood Kadir, Kiyoung Lee
Community Health Sciences
To compare time-location pattern of undergraduate university students through GPS and diary method, and with level of physical activity, a cross-sectional survey was conducted from September 2012 - May 2013 involving 50 undergraduate students from Aga Khan University. Data were recorded through GPS, diary method, International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-L) and accelerometer (ActiGraph). Median self-reported time spent in the indoor-inside the campus, indoor-outside the campus and outdoor environment was 405 (IQR:300-540), 720 (IQR:465-840) and 300 minutes (IQR:180-495) respectively, while 52% of the students were in moderate, 40% vigorous and 8% in mild categories of physical activity. Mean differences in location …
Does Courtesy Bias Affect How Clients Report On Objective And Subjective Measures Of Family Planning Service Quality? A Comparison Between Facility- And Home-Based Interviews, Waqas Hameed, Muhammad Ishaque, Xaher Gul, Junaid-Ur-Rehman Siddiqui, Sharmeen Hussain, Wajahat Hussain, Aftab Ahmed, Asma Balal
Does Courtesy Bias Affect How Clients Report On Objective And Subjective Measures Of Family Planning Service Quality? A Comparison Between Facility- And Home-Based Interviews, Waqas Hameed, Muhammad Ishaque, Xaher Gul, Junaid-Ur-Rehman Siddiqui, Sharmeen Hussain, Wajahat Hussain, Aftab Ahmed, Asma Balal
Community Health Sciences
Purpose: Despite a general understanding that exit interviews being conducted at service providers' facilities may influence clients' responses favorably to health professionals, there is very little evidence available that demonstrates the extent to which this problem exists. This study aimed at assessing and comparing clients' perceptions of the quality of family planning services and their satisfaction levels between facility- and home-based interviews.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among clients receiving family planning services across three service delivery channels - nongovernmental organization (NGO) clinics, social franchise (SF) centers, and outreach camps. The survey took place from December 2015 to January …
Validation Of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis For Assessing Dry Weight Of Dialysis Patients In Pakistan, Huma Asmat, Romaina Iqbal, Fatima Sharif, Aamer Mahmood, Aamir Abbas, Waqar Kashif
Validation Of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis For Assessing Dry Weight Of Dialysis Patients In Pakistan, Huma Asmat, Romaina Iqbal, Fatima Sharif, Aamer Mahmood, Aamir Abbas, Waqar Kashif
Department of Medicine
Accurate dry weight estimation (DW) to achieve euvolemia is one of the key objectives of hemodialysis (HD). While conventionally DW is estimated by clinical examination, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) has been proposed as an objective method to determine DW and has been tested extensively in the Western population. We aim to validate BIA for determining DW in a Pakistani population against the conventional clinician's method. This is a single-center validation study conducted at two outpatient HD units of Aga Khan Hospital, Karachi. One hundred and forty-eight DW readings of patients who were on maintenance HD were taken both by BIA …
Low Prevalence Of Asthma Among Textile Workers In Karachi, Pakistan, Sana Tanzil, Asaad A. Nafees
Low Prevalence Of Asthma Among Textile Workers In Karachi, Pakistan, Sana Tanzil, Asaad A. Nafees
Community Health Sciences
Objective: To determine the prevalence of asthma in textile workers through post-bronchodilator spirometry and to compare the differences in prevalence based on different criteria used to assess asthma.
Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted between July and December 2013 in Karachi, Pakistan, and comprised workers from15 textile mills in the city and its outskirts. Asthma and associated respiratory symptoms were assessed using the American Thoracic Society Division of Lung Diseases Questionnaire, and post-bronchodilator spirometry. SPSS 19 was used for statistical analysis.
Results: Among the 372 workers in the study, asthma was found in 19(5%) as diagnosed on post-bronchodilator spirometry. The …
Comparing Lung Function Of Textile Workers With The Healthy Pakistani Population, Unaib Rabbani, Asaad Ahmed Nafees
Comparing Lung Function Of Textile Workers With The Healthy Pakistani Population, Unaib Rabbani, Asaad Ahmed Nafees
Community Health Sciences
Background: The purpose of this study was to compare lung function of textile workers with healthy Pakistani population, compare predicted values based on the European Respiratory Society (ERS) equations with those based on the Pakistani equations, and to develop predictor equations for textile workers in Pakistan.
Methods: This was a secondary analysis of data from two previous surveys where lung function of textile workers was compared with healthy Pakistani men. Spirometry was performed according to the American Thoracic Society guidelines. Independent sample t-test was used to compare the lung function parameters and multivariate linear regression was used to develop predictor …
Knowledge, Attitude And Practices Regarding Respiratory Symptoms Among Textile Workers Of Karachi, Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Survey, Aneeta Khoso, Asaad Ahmed Nafees
Knowledge, Attitude And Practices Regarding Respiratory Symptoms Among Textile Workers Of Karachi, Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Survey, Aneeta Khoso, Asaad Ahmed Nafees
Community Health Sciences
Objectives: To determine the prevalence and predictors of good knowledge, appropriate attitude and appropriate protective practices regarding respiratory symptoms among textile workers, and to determine the association of knowledge, attitude and practices with respiratory symptoms.
Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted in 2009 and comprised male workers from 15 textile mills in and around Karachi. A structured and pre-tested questionnaire was used which included questions to explore the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding respiratory symptoms. SPSS 19 was used for statistical analysis.
Results: The study had a sample size of 372 and found prevalence of good knowledge to be in …
Healthcare Delivery System Improvements: A Way Forward To Improve Health In Developing Countries And Pakistan, Waris Qidwai
Healthcare Delivery System Improvements: A Way Forward To Improve Health In Developing Countries And Pakistan, Waris Qidwai
Department of Family Medicine
No abstract provided.
Impact Of Water And Sanitation And Health Education Interventions On Health And Hygiene Behaviors: A Study From A Northern Pakistani Village, Aysha Zahidie, Fauziah Rabbani
Impact Of Water And Sanitation And Health Education Interventions On Health And Hygiene Behaviors: A Study From A Northern Pakistani Village, Aysha Zahidie, Fauziah Rabbani
Community Health Sciences
Introduction: Water and sanitation interventions were delivered in the northern areas of Pakistan as a joint venture of the Aga Khan University and the Aga Khan Health Systems Oshikhandass Diarrhea and Dysentery Project (1989-96) followed by the Aga Khan Water, Sanitation, Health and Hygiene Studies Program (WSHHSP). Through these interventions water treatment plants, new pit latrines along with a component of health education were introduced. Objectives: To explore perceptions, knowledge and practices of inhabitants of Oshikhandass village in Gilgit related to water quality, latrine use and hand washing following the intervention. Methods: Through a cross-sectional study during June-July 2012, six …
Asbestos Risk Assessment In Pakistan: Current Scenario And Way Forward, Adeel Ahmed Khan, Asaad Ahmed Nafees, Zafar Fatmi
Asbestos Risk Assessment In Pakistan: Current Scenario And Way Forward, Adeel Ahmed Khan, Asaad Ahmed Nafees, Zafar Fatmi
Community Health Sciences
No abstract provided.
Determining The Factors Associated With Unmet Need For Family Planning: A Cross-Sectional Survey In 49 Districts Of Pakistan, Waqas Hameed, Syed Khurram Azmat, Mohsina Bilgrami, Muhammad Ishaqe
Determining The Factors Associated With Unmet Need For Family Planning: A Cross-Sectional Survey In 49 Districts Of Pakistan, Waqas Hameed, Syed Khurram Azmat, Mohsina Bilgrami, Muhammad Ishaqe
Community Health Sciences
Introduction & Background: Around 137 million women in the developing world who would like to avoid childbearing are unable to do so, despite a huge increase in contraceptive access and use globally. Ironically, the prevalence of unmet need in Pakistan is among the highest in the world despite being one of the first countries in South Asia to launch national family planning program. The aim of this paper is to estimate the prevalence of unmet need for contraception and to indentify the factors associated with it.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in forty nine districts of Pakistan across all …
A Silent Storm: Hepatitis C In Pakistan, Noureen Jiwani, Raisa B. Gul
A Silent Storm: Hepatitis C In Pakistan, Noureen Jiwani, Raisa B. Gul
School of Nursing & Midwifery
No abstract provided.