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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Preconceptional Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplementation In 2 Low-Resource Countries Results In Distinctly Different Igf-1/Mtor Placental Responses, Marisol Castillo-Castrejon, Ivana V. Yang, Elizabeth J. Davidson, Sarah J. Borengasser, Purevsuren Jambal, Jamie Westcott, Jennifer F. Kemp, Ana Garces, Sumera Aziz Ali, Sarah Saleem Dec 2020

Preconceptional Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplementation In 2 Low-Resource Countries Results In Distinctly Different Igf-1/Mtor Placental Responses, Marisol Castillo-Castrejon, Ivana V. Yang, Elizabeth J. Davidson, Sarah J. Borengasser, Purevsuren Jambal, Jamie Westcott, Jennifer F. Kemp, Ana Garces, Sumera Aziz Ali, Sarah Saleem

Community Health Sciences

Background: Preconceptional maternal small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplementation (SQLNS) improved intrauterine linear growth in low-resource countries as demonstrated by the Women First Preconception Maternal Nutrition Trial (WF). Fetal growth is dependent on nutrient availability and regulated by insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) through changes in placental transfer capacity, mediated by the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway.
Objectives: Our objective was to evaluate the role of placental mTOR and IGF-1 signaling on fetal growth in women from 2 low-resource countries with high rates of stunting after they received preconceptional SQLNS.
Methods: We studied 48 women from preconception through delivery who were …


Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Mental Health And Well-Being Of Communities: An Exploratory Qualitative Study Protocol, Anam Shahil Feroz, Naureen Akber Ali, Noshaba Akber Ali, Ridah Feroz, Salima Nazim Meghani, Sarah Saleem Dec 2020

Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Mental Health And Well-Being Of Communities: An Exploratory Qualitative Study Protocol, Anam Shahil Feroz, Naureen Akber Ali, Noshaba Akber Ali, Ridah Feroz, Salima Nazim Meghani, Sarah Saleem

Community Health Sciences

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly resulted in an increased level of anxiety and fear in communities in terms of disease management and infection spread. Due to fear and social stigma linked with COVID-19, many individuals in the community hide their disease and do not access healthcare facilities in a timely manner. In addition, with the widespread use of social media, rumours, myths and inaccurate information about the virus are spreading rapidly, leading to intensified irritability, fearfulness, insomnia, oppositional behaviours and somatic complaints. Considering the relevance of all these factors, we aim to explore the perceptions and attitudes of community …


Predictors Of Mortality In Hospitalized Patients With Influenza: A Five-Year Experience From A Tertiary Care Centre In Pakistan, Iffat Khanum, Amber Sabeen Ahmed, Safia Awan, Sabiha Banu, Bushra Jamil Dec 2020

Predictors Of Mortality In Hospitalized Patients With Influenza: A Five-Year Experience From A Tertiary Care Centre In Pakistan, Iffat Khanum, Amber Sabeen Ahmed, Safia Awan, Sabiha Banu, Bushra Jamil

Department of Medicine

Influenza outbreaks are associated with significant morbidity. Our aim was to determine the factors associated with increased mortality in hospitalized patients admitted with diagnosis of influenza, at a tertiary care center in Pakistan. This study included all adult patients with an influenza infection, confirmed by realtime reverse-transcriptase polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) at Aga Khan University Hospital Pakistan. In our study, 112 patients with laboratory-confirmed influenza virus infection were admittedat our hospital from the 1st of January 2013 to the 31st of December 2018. Eighty-nine patients (79.46%) were managed in ward or special care units and 23 patients (20.5%) received treatment in intensive …


Elderly Musculoskeletal Disease Burden In Karachi, Pakistan: Associations And Implications For Developing Countries, Saniya Sabzwari, Zafar Fatmi, Adeel Ahmed Khan Dec 2020

Elderly Musculoskeletal Disease Burden In Karachi, Pakistan: Associations And Implications For Developing Countries, Saniya Sabzwari, Zafar Fatmi, Adeel Ahmed Khan

Department of Family Medicine

Objective: The global rise in the older population has increased the rates of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, conditions that impact mobility and functionality. There is limited data on musculoskeletal disease in older populations residing in developing countries.
Methods: A community-based study using multistage cluster random sampling of older individuals was conducted in Karachi. Predefined criteria were used for osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. Gait assessment was performed.
Results: More than half of the participants were females and 53% reported illiteracy. Around 30% had osteoporosis and two-thirds had osteoarthritis. Multivariate analysis showed associations of female sex, Pashtun ethnicity, illiteracy, and hypertension with the combined …


Oral Rehydration Therapies In Senegal, Mali, And Sierra Leone: A Spatial Analysis Of Changes Over Time And Implications For Policy, Kirsten E. Wiens, Lauren E. Schaeffer, Samba O. Sow, Babacar Ndoye, Carrie Jo Cain, Mathew M. Baumann, Kimberly B. Johnson, Paulina A. Lindstedt, Brigette F. Blacker, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta Dec 2020

Oral Rehydration Therapies In Senegal, Mali, And Sierra Leone: A Spatial Analysis Of Changes Over Time And Implications For Policy, Kirsten E. Wiens, Lauren E. Schaeffer, Samba O. Sow, Babacar Ndoye, Carrie Jo Cain, Mathew M. Baumann, Kimberly B. Johnson, Paulina A. Lindstedt, Brigette F. Blacker, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Woman and Child Health

Background: Oral rehydration solution (ORS) is a simple intervention that can prevent childhood deaths from severe diarrhea and dehydration. In a previous study, we mapped the use of ORS treatment subnationally and found that ORS coverage increased over time, while the use of home-made alternatives or recommended home fluids (RHF) decreased, in many countries. These patterns were particularly striking within Senegal, Mali, and Sierra Leone. It was unclear, however, whether ORS replaced RHF in these locations or if children were left untreated, and if these patterns were associated with health policy changes.
Methods: We used a Bayesian geostatistical model and …


Association Between Duration Of Residence And Prevalence Of Type 2 Diabetes Among Male South Asian Expatriate Workers In The United Arab Emirates: A Cross-Sectional Study, Syed Mahboob Shah, Lindsay M. Jaacks, Fatima Al-Maskari, Juma Al-Kaabi, Faisal Aziz, Elpidoforos Soteriades, Tom Loney, Hamed Farooqi, Anjum Memon, Raghib Ali Dec 2020

Association Between Duration Of Residence And Prevalence Of Type 2 Diabetes Among Male South Asian Expatriate Workers In The United Arab Emirates: A Cross-Sectional Study, Syed Mahboob Shah, Lindsay M. Jaacks, Fatima Al-Maskari, Juma Al-Kaabi, Faisal Aziz, Elpidoforos Soteriades, Tom Loney, Hamed Farooqi, Anjum Memon, Raghib Ali

Department of Family Medicine

Expatriates account for about 80% of the total population in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This study aimed to evaluate the hypothesis that prevalence of type 2 diabetes in male South Asian expatriates increases with increased length of residence in the UAE.
Design, settings and participants: This cross-sectional study recruited a representative sample (n=1375) of male South Asian expatriates aged ≥18 years in Al Ain, UAE. Sociodemographic, anthropometric and lifestyle data were obtained using a pilot-tested adapted version of the WHO STEPS instrument.
Main outcome measures: Duration of residence was used as a marker for acculturation. Type 2 diabetes was …


Why Are The Pakistani Maternal, Fetal And Newborn Outcomes So Poor Compared To Other Low And Middle-Income Countries?, Aleha Aziz, Sarah Saleem, Tracy L. Nolen, Nousheen Akber Pradhan, Elizabeth M. Mcclure, Saleem Jessani, Ana L. Garces, Patricia L. Hibberd, Janet L. Moore, Sameen Siddiqi Dec 2020

Why Are The Pakistani Maternal, Fetal And Newborn Outcomes So Poor Compared To Other Low And Middle-Income Countries?, Aleha Aziz, Sarah Saleem, Tracy L. Nolen, Nousheen Akber Pradhan, Elizabeth M. Mcclure, Saleem Jessani, Ana L. Garces, Patricia L. Hibberd, Janet L. Moore, Sameen Siddiqi

Community Health Sciences

Background: Pakistan has among the poorest pregnancy outcomes worldwide, significantly worse than many other low-resource countries. The reasons for these differences are not clear. In this study, we compared pregnancy outcomes in Pakistan to other low-resource countries and explored factors that might help explain these differences.
Methods: The Global Network (GN) Maternal Newborn Health Registry (MNHR) is a prospective, population-based observational study that includes all pregnant women and their pregnancy outcomes in defined geographic communities in six low-middle income countries (India, Pakistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guatemala, Kenya, Zambia). Study staff enroll women in early pregnancy and follow-up soon after …


Regional Trends In Birth Weight In Low- And Middle-Income Countries 2013-2018, Irene Marete, Osayame Ekhaguere, Carla M. Bann, Sherri L. Bucher, Paul Nyongesa, Archana B. Patel, Patricia L. Hibberd, Sarah Saleem, Robert L. Goldenberg, Shivaprasad S. Goudar Dec 2020

Regional Trends In Birth Weight In Low- And Middle-Income Countries 2013-2018, Irene Marete, Osayame Ekhaguere, Carla M. Bann, Sherri L. Bucher, Paul Nyongesa, Archana B. Patel, Patricia L. Hibberd, Sarah Saleem, Robert L. Goldenberg, Shivaprasad S. Goudar

Community Health Sciences

Background: Birth weight (BW) is a strong predictor of neonatal outcomes. The purpose of this study was to compare BWs between global regions (south Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, Central America) prospectively and to determine if trends exist in BW over time using the population-based maternal and newborn registry (MNHR) of the Global Network for Women'sand Children's Health Research (Global Network).
Methods: The MNHR is a prospective observational population-based registryof six research sites participating in the Global Network (2013-2018), within five low- and middle-income countries (Kenya, Zambia, India, Pakistan, and Guatemala) in threeglobal regions (sub-Saharan Af rica, south Asia, Central America). The …


Association Of Parity With Birthweight And Neonatal Death In Five Sites: The Global Network's Maternal Newborn Health Registry Study, Ana Garces, Wilton Perez, Margo S. Harrison, Kay S. Hwang, Tracy L. Nolen, Robert L. Goldenberg, Archana B. Patel, Patricia L. Hibberd, Adrien Lokangaka, Sarah Saleem Dec 2020

Association Of Parity With Birthweight And Neonatal Death In Five Sites: The Global Network's Maternal Newborn Health Registry Study, Ana Garces, Wilton Perez, Margo S. Harrison, Kay S. Hwang, Tracy L. Nolen, Robert L. Goldenberg, Archana B. Patel, Patricia L. Hibberd, Adrien Lokangaka, Sarah Saleem

Community Health Sciences

Background: Nulliparity has been associated with lower birth weight (BW) and other adverse pregnancy outcomes, with most of the data coming from high-income countries. In this study, we examined birth weight for gestational age z-scores and neonatal (28-day) mortality in a large prospective cohort of women dated by first trimester ultrasound from multiple sites in low and middle-income countries.
Methods: Pregnant women were recruited during the first trimester of pregnancy and followed through 6 weeks postpartum from Maternal Newborn Health Registry (MNHR) sites in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Guatemala, Belagavi and Nagpur, India, and Pakistan from 2017 and …


Gender Variations In Neonatal And Early Infant Mortality In India And Pakistan: A Secondary Analysis From The Global Network Maternal Newborn Health Registry, Zubair H. Aghai, Shivaprasad S. Goudar, Archana Patel, Sarah Saleem, Sangappa M. Dhaded, Avinash Kavi, Parth Lalakia, Farnaz Naqvi, Patricia L. Hibberd, Elizabeth M. Mcclure Dec 2020

Gender Variations In Neonatal And Early Infant Mortality In India And Pakistan: A Secondary Analysis From The Global Network Maternal Newborn Health Registry, Zubair H. Aghai, Shivaprasad S. Goudar, Archana Patel, Sarah Saleem, Sangappa M. Dhaded, Avinash Kavi, Parth Lalakia, Farnaz Naqvi, Patricia L. Hibberd, Elizabeth M. Mcclure

Community Health Sciences

Background: To determine the gender differences in neonatal mortality, stillbirths, and perinatal mortality in south Asia using the Global Network data from the Maternal Newborn Health Registry.
Methods: This study is a secondary analysis of prospectively collected data from the three south Asian sites of the Global Network. The maternal and neonatal demographic, clinical characteristics, rates of stillbirths, early neonatal mortality (1-7 days), late neonatal mortality (8-28 days), mortality between 29-42 days and the number of infants hospitalized after birth were compared between the male and female infants.
Results: Between 2010 and 2018, 297,509 births [154,790 males (52.03%) and 142,719 …


Development Of The Global Network For Women's And Children's Health Research's Socioeconomic Status Index For Use In The Network's Sites In Low And Lower Middle-Income Countries, Archana B. Patel, Carla M. Bann, Ana L. Garces, Nancy F. Krebs, Adrien Lokangaka, Antoinette Tshefu, Carl L. Bose, Sarah Saleem, Robert L. Goldenberg, Shivaprasad S. Goudar Dec 2020

Development Of The Global Network For Women's And Children's Health Research's Socioeconomic Status Index For Use In The Network's Sites In Low And Lower Middle-Income Countries, Archana B. Patel, Carla M. Bann, Ana L. Garces, Nancy F. Krebs, Adrien Lokangaka, Antoinette Tshefu, Carl L. Bose, Sarah Saleem, Robert L. Goldenberg, Shivaprasad S. Goudar

Community Health Sciences

Background: Socioeconomic status (SES) is an important determinant of health globally and an important explanatory variable to assess causality in epidemiological research. The 10th Sustainable Development Goal is to reduce disparities in SES that impact health outcomes globally. It is easier to study SES in high-income countries because household income is representative of the SES. However, it is well recognized that income is poorly reported in low- and middle- income countries (LMIC) and is an unreliable indicator of SES. Therefore, there is a need for a robust index that will help to discriminate the SES of rural households in a …


Rates And Risk Factors For Preterm Birth And Low Birthweight In The Global Network Sites In Six Low- And Low Middle-Income Countries, Yamini V. Pusdekar, Archana B. Patel, Kunal G. Kurhe, Savita R. Bhargav, Vanessa Thorsten, Ana Garces, Robert L. Goldenberg, Shivaprasad S. Goudar, Sarah Saleem, Fabian Esamai Dec 2020

Rates And Risk Factors For Preterm Birth And Low Birthweight In The Global Network Sites In Six Low- And Low Middle-Income Countries, Yamini V. Pusdekar, Archana B. Patel, Kunal G. Kurhe, Savita R. Bhargav, Vanessa Thorsten, Ana Garces, Robert L. Goldenberg, Shivaprasad S. Goudar, Sarah Saleem, Fabian Esamai

Community Health Sciences

Background: Preterm birth continues to be a major public health problem contributing to 75% of the neonatal mortality worldwide. Low birth weight (LBW) is an important but imperfect surrogate for prematurity when accurate assessment of gestational age is not possible. While there is overlap between preterm birth and LBW newborns, those that are both premature and LBW are at the highest risk of adverse neonatal outcomes. Understanding the epidemiology of preterm birth and LBW is important for prevention and improved care for at risk newborns, but in many countries, data are sparse and incomplete.
Methods: We conducted data analyses using …


Cesarean Birth In The Global Network For Women's And Children's Health Research: Trends In Utilization, Risk Factors, And Subgroups With High Cesarean Birth Rates, Margo S. Harrison, Ana L. Garces, Shivaprasad S. Goudar, Sarah Saleem, Janet L. Moore, Fabian Esamai, Archana B. Patel, Elwyn Chomba, Carl L. Bose, Edward A. Liechty Dec 2020

Cesarean Birth In The Global Network For Women's And Children's Health Research: Trends In Utilization, Risk Factors, And Subgroups With High Cesarean Birth Rates, Margo S. Harrison, Ana L. Garces, Shivaprasad S. Goudar, Sarah Saleem, Janet L. Moore, Fabian Esamai, Archana B. Patel, Elwyn Chomba, Carl L. Bose, Edward A. Liechty

Community Health Sciences

Background: The objectives of this analysis were to document trends in and risk factors associated with the cesarean birth rate in low- and middle-income country sites participating in the Global Network for Women's and Children's Health Research (Global Network).
Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a prospective, population-based study of home and facility births conducted in the Global Network sites.
Results: Cesarean birth rates increased uniformly across all sites between 2010 and 2018. Across all sites in multivariable analyses, women younger than age twenty had a reduced risk of cesarean birth (RR 0.9 [0.9, 0.9]) and women over 35 …


Maternal Mortality In Six Low And Lower-Middle Income Countries From 2010 To 2018: Risk Factors And Trends, Melissa Bauserman, Vanessa R. Thorsten, Tracy L. Nolen, Jackie Patterson, Adrien Lokangaka, Antoinette Tshefu, Archana B. Patel, Patricia L. Hibberd, Sarah Saleem, Saleem Jessani Dec 2020

Maternal Mortality In Six Low And Lower-Middle Income Countries From 2010 To 2018: Risk Factors And Trends, Melissa Bauserman, Vanessa R. Thorsten, Tracy L. Nolen, Jackie Patterson, Adrien Lokangaka, Antoinette Tshefu, Archana B. Patel, Patricia L. Hibberd, Sarah Saleem, Saleem Jessani

Community Health Sciences

Background: Maternal mortality is a public health problem that disproportionately affects low and lower-middle income countries (LMICs). Appropriate data sources are lacking to effectively track maternal mortality and monitor changes in this health indicator over time.
Methods: We analyzed data from women enrolled in the NICHD Global Network for Women's and Children's Health Research Maternal Newborn Health Registry (MNHR) from 2010 through 2018. Women delivering within research sites in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guatemala, India (Nagpur and Belagavi), Kenya, Pakistan, and Zambia are included. We evaluated maternal and delivery characteristics using log-binomial models and multivariable models to obtain relative …


Institutional Deliveries And Stillbirth And Neonatal Mortality In The Global Network's Maternal And Newborn Health Registry, Shivaprasad S. Goudar, Norman Goco, Manjunath S. Somannavar, Avinash Kavi, Sunil S. Vernekar, Antoinette Tshefu, Elwyn Chomba, Ana L. Garces, Sarah Saleem, Farnaz Naqvi Dec 2020

Institutional Deliveries And Stillbirth And Neonatal Mortality In The Global Network's Maternal And Newborn Health Registry, Shivaprasad S. Goudar, Norman Goco, Manjunath S. Somannavar, Avinash Kavi, Sunil S. Vernekar, Antoinette Tshefu, Elwyn Chomba, Ana L. Garces, Sarah Saleem, Farnaz Naqvi

Community Health Sciences

Background: Few studies have shown how the move toward institutional delivery in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) impacts stillbirth and newborn mortality.
Objectives: The study evaluated trends in institutional delivery in research sites in Belagavi and Nagpur India, Guatemala, Kenya, Pakistan, and Zambia from 2010 to 2018 and compared them to changes in the rates of neonatal mortality and stillbirth.
Methods: We analyzed data from a nine-year interval captured in the Global Network (GN) Maternal Newborn Health Registry (MNHR). Mortality rates were estimated from generalized estimating equations controlling for within-cluster correlation. Cluster-level analyses were performed to assess the association between …


Determinants Of Infant And Young Complementary Feeding Practices Among Children 6-23 Months Of Age In Urban Pakistan: A Multicenter Longitudinal Study, Shabina Ariff, Kamran Sadiq, Javairia Khalid, Laila Sikanderali, Batha Tariq, Fariha Shaheen, Gul Nawaz Khan, Atif Habib, Sajid Bashir Soofi Dec 2020

Determinants Of Infant And Young Complementary Feeding Practices Among Children 6-23 Months Of Age In Urban Pakistan: A Multicenter Longitudinal Study, Shabina Ariff, Kamran Sadiq, Javairia Khalid, Laila Sikanderali, Batha Tariq, Fariha Shaheen, Gul Nawaz Khan, Atif Habib, Sajid Bashir Soofi

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Suboptimal feeding practices have a negative impact on children's health and growth in the first 2 years of life and increase their risk of undernutrition, morbidity, and mortality. The aim of the study was to assess the factors that influence infant and young child feeding practices among urban mothers in a hospital setting at Karachi, Pakistan.
Methods: A longitudinal multi-center cohort study was conducted in four countries, MULTICENTER BODY COMPOSITION REFERENCE STUDY (MBCRS) to produce normal body composition reference data in healthy infants from 3 months to 24 months of age. Repeated anthropometric (weight, length and head circumference) and …


Non-Communicable Diseases Among Adolescents: Current Status, Determinants, Interventions And Policies, N Akseer, S Mehta, J Wigle, R Chera, Z J. Brickman, S Al-Gashm, B Sorichetti, A Vandermorris, D B. Hipgrave, N Schwalbe, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta Dec 2020

Non-Communicable Diseases Among Adolescents: Current Status, Determinants, Interventions And Policies, N Akseer, S Mehta, J Wigle, R Chera, Z J. Brickman, S Al-Gashm, B Sorichetti, A Vandermorris, D B. Hipgrave, N Schwalbe, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Woman and Child Health

Background: Addressing non-communicable disease (NCDs) is a global priority in the Sustainable Development Goals, especially for adolescents. However, existing literature on NCD burden, risk factors and determinants, and effective interventions and policies for targeting these diseases in adolescents, is limited. This study develops an evidence-based conceptual framework, and highlights pathways between risk factors and interventions to NCD development during adolescence (ages 10-19 years) and continuing into adulthood. Additionally, the epidemiologic profile of key NCD risk factors and outcomes among adolescents and preventative NCD policies/laws/legislations are examined, and a multivariable analysis is conducted to explore the determinants of NCDs among adolescents …


Trends And Determinants Of Newborn Mortality In Kyrgyzstan: A Countdown Country Case Study, Mahdis Kamali, James E. Wright, Nadia Akseer, Hana Tasic, Kaitlin Conway, Saman Brar, Cholpon Imanalieva, Gerrit Maritz, Arjumand Rizvi, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta Dec 2020

Trends And Determinants Of Newborn Mortality In Kyrgyzstan: A Countdown Country Case Study, Mahdis Kamali, James E. Wright, Nadia Akseer, Hana Tasic, Kaitlin Conway, Saman Brar, Cholpon Imanalieva, Gerrit Maritz, Arjumand Rizvi, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Woman and Child Health

Background: Kyrgyzstan has made considerable progress in reducing child mortality compared with other countries in the region, despite a comparatively low economic standing. However, maternal mortality is still high. Given the availability of an established birth registration system, we aimed to comprehensively assess the trends and determinants of reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health in Kyrgyzstan.
Methods: For this Countdown to 2030 country case study, we used publicly available data repositories and the national birth registry of Kyrgyzstan to examine trends and inequalities of reproductive, maternal, and newborn health and mortality between 1990 and 2018, at a national and subnational …


Knowledge, Attitudes And Practices Towards Covid-19 Among Pakistani Residents: Information Access And Low Literacy Vulnerabilities, Zafar Fatmi, Shafaq Mahmood, Waqas Hameed, Ibtisam Qazi, Muhammad Siddiqui, Anny Dhanwani, Sameen Siddiqi Dec 2020

Knowledge, Attitudes And Practices Towards Covid-19 Among Pakistani Residents: Information Access And Low Literacy Vulnerabilities, Zafar Fatmi, Shafaq Mahmood, Waqas Hameed, Ibtisam Qazi, Muhammad Siddiqui, Anny Dhanwani, Sameen Siddiqi

Community Health Sciences

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has accentuated the need for speedy access to information. Digital divide and socio-demographic disparity create an information hiatus and therefore unhealthy practices with regard to dealing with COVID-19, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Aims: We assessed knowledge, attitudes, practices and their determinants regarding COVID-19 in Pakistan during March-April 2020.
Methods: 905 adults ≥18 years (males and females) participated: 403 from a web-based survey; 365 from an urban survey; and 137 from a rural survey. Frequency of adequate knowledge, attitudes and practices for the three populations was determined based on available global guidelines. Multivariable logistic regression …


An Artificial Intelligence-Based, Personalized Smartphone App To Improve Childhood Immunization Coverage And Timelines Among Children In Pakistan: Protocol For A Randomized Controlled Trial, Abdul Momin Kazi, Saad Ahmed Qazi, Sadori Khawaja, Nazia Ahsan, Rao Moueed Ahmed, Muhammad Ayub Khan Mughal, Hussain Kalimuddin, Yasir Rauf, Mehreen Raza, Saima Jamal Dec 2020

An Artificial Intelligence-Based, Personalized Smartphone App To Improve Childhood Immunization Coverage And Timelines Among Children In Pakistan: Protocol For A Randomized Controlled Trial, Abdul Momin Kazi, Saad Ahmed Qazi, Sadori Khawaja, Nazia Ahsan, Rao Moueed Ahmed, Muhammad Ayub Khan Mughal, Hussain Kalimuddin, Yasir Rauf, Mehreen Raza, Saima Jamal

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: The immunization uptake rates in Pakistan are much lower than desired. Major reasons include lack of awareness, parental forgetfulness regarding schedules, and misinformation regarding vaccines. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and distancing measures, routine childhood immunization (RCI) coverage has been adversely affected, as caregivers avoid tertiary care hospitals or primary health centers. Innovative and cost-effective measures must be taken to understand and deal with the issue of low immunization rates. However, only a few smartphone-based interventions have been carried out in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to improve RCI.
Objective: The primary objectives of this study are to …


Validation Of A Swahili Version Of The 9-Item Patient Health Questionnaire (Phq-9) Among Adults Living With Hiv Compared To A Community Sample From Kilifi, Kenya, Paul Mwangi, Moses K. Nyongesa, Hans M. Koot, Pim Cuijpers, Charles R.J.C. Newton, Abubakar Abdillah Dec 2020

Validation Of A Swahili Version Of The 9-Item Patient Health Questionnaire (Phq-9) Among Adults Living With Hiv Compared To A Community Sample From Kilifi, Kenya, Paul Mwangi, Moses K. Nyongesa, Hans M. Koot, Pim Cuijpers, Charles R.J.C. Newton, Abubakar Abdillah

Institute for Human Development

Background: Depression remains under-investigated in people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa due to paucity of adequately validated measures. This study aimed to validate an adapted version of the 9-item Pa- tient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) among adults living with HIV compared to those from the community in Kilifi, Kenya.

Methods: Analysis of data from 450 adults living with HIV and 337 adults from the community was conducted examining the reliability, factorial structure, measurement invariance and discriminant validity of interviewer- administered PHQ-9, Swahili version.

Results: Internal consistency of the Swahili PHQ-9 was good overall, in adults living with …


Long-Term Neurocognitive And Educational Outcomes Of Neonatal Insults In Kilifi, Kenya, Dorcas N. Magai, Hans M. Koot, Paul Mwangi, Esther Chongwo, Charles R. Newton, Amina Abubakar Dec 2020

Long-Term Neurocognitive And Educational Outcomes Of Neonatal Insults In Kilifi, Kenya, Dorcas N. Magai, Hans M. Koot, Paul Mwangi, Esther Chongwo, Charles R. Newton, Amina Abubakar

Institute for Human Development

Background: There is little data on the long-term neurocognitive and educational outcomes among school-aged survivors of neonatal jaundice (NNJ) and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in Africa. This study investigates the long-term neurocognitive and educational outcomes and the correlates of these outcomes in school-aged survivors of NNJ or HIE in Kilifi, Kenya.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on neurocognitive and educational outcomes among school-aged survivors (6–12 years) of NNJ (n = 134) and HIE (n = 107) and compared them to a community comparison group (n = 134). We assessed nonverbal intelligence, planning, working memory, attention, syntax, pragmatics, wordfinding, …


Nursing Education Amidst Covid-19: Obstacles And Way Forward, Farida Bibi Mughal, Nasreen Rafiq, Bibi Hajira Irshad Ali Dec 2020

Nursing Education Amidst Covid-19: Obstacles And Way Forward, Farida Bibi Mughal, Nasreen Rafiq, Bibi Hajira Irshad Ali

School of Nursing & Midwifery

No abstract provided.


Imagining A Lean And Agile Digital Health Ecosystem - A Measure Of Pandemic Responsiveness, Zainab Samad, Sana Mahmood, Sameen Siddiqi, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta Dec 2020

Imagining A Lean And Agile Digital Health Ecosystem - A Measure Of Pandemic Responsiveness, Zainab Samad, Sana Mahmood, Sameen Siddiqi, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Section of Cardiology

No abstract provided.


Early Marriage And Early Childbearing In South Asia: Trends, Inequalities, And Drivers From 2005 To 2018, Samuel Scott, Phuong Hong Nguyen, Sumanta Neupane, Priyanjana Pramanik, Priya Nanda, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, Kaosar Afsana, Purnima Menon Dec 2020

Early Marriage And Early Childbearing In South Asia: Trends, Inequalities, And Drivers From 2005 To 2018, Samuel Scott, Phuong Hong Nguyen, Sumanta Neupane, Priyanjana Pramanik, Priya Nanda, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, Kaosar Afsana, Purnima Menon

Woman and Child Health

Early marriage (EM) and early childbearing (ECB) have far-reaching consequences. This study describes the prevalence, trends, inequalities, and drivers of EM and ECB in South Asia using eight rounds of Demographic and Health Survey data across 13 years. We report the percentage of ever-married women aged 20-24 years (n = 105,150) married before 18 years (EM) and with a live birth before 20 years (ECB). Relative trends were examined using average annual rate of reduction (AARR). Inequalities were examined by geography, marital household wealth, residence, and education. Sociodemographic drivers of changes for EM were assessed using regression decomposition analyses. We …


Loss To Follow Up Of Pregnant Women With Hiv And Infant Hiv Outcomes In The Prevention Of Maternal To Child Transmission Of Hiv Programme In Two High-Burden Provinces In Papua New Guinea: A Retrospective Clinical Audit, Angela Kelly-Hanku, Claire Elizabeth Nightingale, Minh Duc Pham, Agnes Mek, Primrose Homiehombo, Mary Bagita, Justine Nankinga, Andrew Vallely, Lisa Vallely, Stanley Luchters Dec 2020

Loss To Follow Up Of Pregnant Women With Hiv And Infant Hiv Outcomes In The Prevention Of Maternal To Child Transmission Of Hiv Programme In Two High-Burden Provinces In Papua New Guinea: A Retrospective Clinical Audit, Angela Kelly-Hanku, Claire Elizabeth Nightingale, Minh Duc Pham, Agnes Mek, Primrose Homiehombo, Mary Bagita, Justine Nankinga, Andrew Vallely, Lisa Vallely, Stanley Luchters

Population Health, East Africa

Introduction Despite early adoption of the WHO guidelines to deliver lifelong antiretroviral (ARV) regimen to pregnant women on HIV diagnosis, the HIV prevention of mother to child transmission programme in Papua New Guinea remains suboptimal. An unacceptable number of babies are infected with HIV and mothers not retained in treatment. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of this programme and to investigate the factors associated with programme performance outcomes.

Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical records of HIV-positive pregnant women at two hospitals providing prevention of mother to child transmission services. All women enrolled in the prevention …


Frequency Of Hypocalcemic Fits In Children 2 Months To 2 Years Of Age, Presenting With The First Episode Of Afebrile Seizures At Hospital Settings In Urban Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study, Waseem Rahman, Heeramani Lohana, Sarwat Urooj, Sheraz Ahmed, Abdul Moeed, Khadija Nuzhat Humayun Dec 2020

Frequency Of Hypocalcemic Fits In Children 2 Months To 2 Years Of Age, Presenting With The First Episode Of Afebrile Seizures At Hospital Settings In Urban Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study, Waseem Rahman, Heeramani Lohana, Sarwat Urooj, Sheraz Ahmed, Abdul Moeed, Khadija Nuzhat Humayun

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Introduction: Seizures are common in the pediatric age group, occurring approximately 10% of children. Hypocalcemia is one of the most common metabolic causes of afebrile seizures. The objective of the study was to determine the frequency of hypocalcemic fits in children presenting with the first episode of afebrile seizures from 2 months to 2 years of age.
Methods: The study was conducted at the Aga Khan hospital Karachi and its three secondary hospitals including the following sites of Kharadar, Hyderabad, and garden. It was a cross-sectional study. The duration of the study was of 6 months from 18th July 2017 …


Maternal Risk Factors And Short Term Outcome Of Prematurity: A Descriptive Study At A Secondary Care Hospital, Heeramani Lohana, Shakeel Ahmed, Nigar Jabeen, Farida Karim, Sarwat Urooj, Ayesha Ahmed Dec 2020

Maternal Risk Factors And Short Term Outcome Of Prematurity: A Descriptive Study At A Secondary Care Hospital, Heeramani Lohana, Shakeel Ahmed, Nigar Jabeen, Farida Karim, Sarwat Urooj, Ayesha Ahmed

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Approximately 15 million babies are born premature (before 37 weeks of gestation) and 1 million babies die due to prematurity complications every year. Less is known about risk factors of prematurity in middle and low-income countries. The prevalence of prematurity ranges from 5% - 18%.
Objective: To determine the prevalence of premature births and to assess the rate of survival, along with the morbidity, among preterm newborns. Furthermore, to document our experience with different gestational age groups of preterm births; and to analyze the association among these strata and their clinical outcomes.
Study Design: A descriptive study.
Place …


Antimicrobial Resistance In Typhoidal Salmonella: Surveillance For Enteric Fever In Asia Project, 2016-2019, Farah Naz Qamar, Mohammad Tahir Yousafzai, Irum Fatima Dehraj, Sadia Shakoor, Seema Irfan, Aneeta Hotwani, Muhammad J. Hunzai, Rozina Thobani, Najeeb Rahman, Junaid Mehmood, Ashraf M. Memon Dec 2020

Antimicrobial Resistance In Typhoidal Salmonella: Surveillance For Enteric Fever In Asia Project, 2016-2019, Farah Naz Qamar, Mohammad Tahir Yousafzai, Irum Fatima Dehraj, Sadia Shakoor, Seema Irfan, Aneeta Hotwani, Muhammad J. Hunzai, Rozina Thobani, Najeeb Rahman, Junaid Mehmood, Ashraf M. Memon

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Clinicians have limited therapeutic options for enteric as a result of increasing antimicrobial resistance, and therefore typhoid vaccination is recommended as a preventive measure. As a part of the Surveillance for Enteric Fever in Asia Project (SEAP), we investigated the extent measured the burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among confirmed enteric fever cases in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan.
Methods: From September 2016-September 2019, SEAP recruited study participants of all age groups from its outpatient, inpatient, hospital laboratory, laboratory network, and surgical sites who had a diagnosis of febrile illness that was either suspected or blood culture confirmed for enteric …


Illness Severity And Outcomes Among Enteric Fever Cases From Bangladesh, Nepal, And Pakistan: Data From The Surveillance For Enteric Fever In Asia Project, 2016-2019, Ashley T. Longley, Caitlin Hemlock, Kashmira Date, Stephen P. Luby, Jason R. Andrews, Samir K. Saha, Isaac I. Bogoch, Mohammad Tahir Yousafzai, Denise O. Garrett, Farah Naz Qamar Dec 2020

Illness Severity And Outcomes Among Enteric Fever Cases From Bangladesh, Nepal, And Pakistan: Data From The Surveillance For Enteric Fever In Asia Project, 2016-2019, Ashley T. Longley, Caitlin Hemlock, Kashmira Date, Stephen P. Luby, Jason R. Andrews, Samir K. Saha, Isaac I. Bogoch, Mohammad Tahir Yousafzai, Denise O. Garrett, Farah Naz Qamar

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Enteric fever can lead to prolonged hospital stays, clinical complications, and death. The Surveillance for Enteric Fever in Asia Project (SEAP), a prospective surveillance study, characterized the burden of enteric fever, including illness severity, in selected settings in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan. We assessed disease severity, including hospitalization, clinical complications, and death among SEAP participants.
Methods: We analyzed clinical and laboratory data from blood culture-confirmed enteric fever cases enrolled in SEAP hospitals and associated network laboratories from September 2016 to September 2019. We used hospitalization and duration of hospital stay as proxies for severity. We conducted a follow-up interview …