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Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Pakistan

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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Routine Immunization Coverage And Immunization Card Retention In Pakistan: Results From A Cross-Sectional National Survey, Imtiaz Hussain, Ahmad Khan, Dale A. Rhoda, Imran Ahmed, Muhammad Umer, Uzair Ansari, Muhammad Akram Shah, Soofia Yunus, Sajid Bashir Soofi, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta Nov 2022

Routine Immunization Coverage And Immunization Card Retention In Pakistan: Results From A Cross-Sectional National Survey, Imtiaz Hussain, Ahmad Khan, Dale A. Rhoda, Imran Ahmed, Muhammad Umer, Uzair Ansari, Muhammad Akram Shah, Soofia Yunus, Sajid Bashir Soofi, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Immunization is one of the most successful public health interventions available, saving millions of lives from death and disability each year. Therefore, improving immunization coverage is a high priority for the Government of Pakistan and essential to progress toward universal health coverage. This survey reports the national and provincial/regional coverage and determinants of fully, partially, and not-vaccinated children aged 12–23 months, antigen-wise coverage, percentage of home-based vaccination records (HBR) retention, and reasons for nonretention; dropout, timeliness, and prevalence of missed opportunities for simultaneous vaccination (MOSV).
Methods: The survey was a descriptive cross-sectional national household survey carried out across Pakistan. …


Gender-Based Violence In Pakistan And Public Health Measures: A Call To Action, Azza Sarfraz, Zouina Sarfraz, Muzna Sarfraz, Zul Qarnain Jul 2022

Gender-Based Violence In Pakistan And Public Health Measures: A Call To Action, Azza Sarfraz, Zouina Sarfraz, Muzna Sarfraz, Zul Qarnain

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

No abstract provided.


Pneumococcal Carriage In Infants Post-Pcv10 Introduction In Pakistan: Results From Serial Cross-Sectional Surveys, Shahira Shahid, Amala Khan, Muhammad Imran Nisar, Farah Khalid, Muhammad Farrukh Qazi, Sheraz Ahmed, Furqan Kabir, Aneeta Hotwani, Sahrish Muneer, Syed Asad Ali, Anita K. M. Zaidi, Fyezah Jehan Jun 2022

Pneumococcal Carriage In Infants Post-Pcv10 Introduction In Pakistan: Results From Serial Cross-Sectional Surveys, Shahira Shahid, Amala Khan, Muhammad Imran Nisar, Farah Khalid, Muhammad Farrukh Qazi, Sheraz Ahmed, Furqan Kabir, Aneeta Hotwani, Sahrish Muneer, Syed Asad Ali, Anita K. M. Zaidi, Fyezah Jehan

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

The 10-valent pneumococcal vaccine was introduced in Pakistan's Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in 2013 as a 3 + 0 schedule without catchup. We conducted three annual cross-sectional surveys from 2014-2016 to measure vaccine-type (VT) carriage in infants from a rural part of Pakistan. Nasopharyngeal specimens were collected by random sampling of infants from two union councils of Matiari. Samples were then transported to the Infectious Disease Research Laboratory (IDRL) at the Aga Khan University within 6-8 h of collection. Serotypes were established using sequential multiplex PCR. Of the 665 children enrolled across three surveys, 547 were culture-positive for pneumococcus. …


Effect Of Bovine Lactoferrin On Seroconversion Following Polio Vaccine Administration In Children: Protocol For A Double-Blinded Randomised Controlled Trial, Atif Habib, Sidrah Nausheen, Shanila Nooruddin, Tooba Javed, Tariq Samejo, Amjad Hussain, Suneeta Namdave, Sehrish Amirali, Muhammad Umer, Lumaan Sheikh May 2022

Effect Of Bovine Lactoferrin On Seroconversion Following Polio Vaccine Administration In Children: Protocol For A Double-Blinded Randomised Controlled Trial, Atif Habib, Sidrah Nausheen, Shanila Nooruddin, Tooba Javed, Tariq Samejo, Amjad Hussain, Suneeta Namdave, Sehrish Amirali, Muhammad Umer, Lumaan Sheikh

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Introduction: The oral polio vaccine (OPV) has substantial results in eliminating wild poliovirus and the vaccine of choice in polio eradication. However, the mucosal immunity induced by the OPV is still uncertain. Literature has shown that bovine lactoferrin (BLF) is a safe and useful protein found in cow's milk with extraordinary antimicrobial, antiviral, antiinflammatory and immune-modulatory functions that help children's gut to fight against micro-organisms like poliovirus. However, limited data exist regarding the effect of BLF on polio vaccine immune response. The primary objective is to evaluate the effect of BLF in enhancing mucosal and humoral immunity in children following …


Understanding Perceptions And Practices For Designing An Appropriate Community-Based Kangaroo Mother Care Implementation Package: Qualitative Exploratory Study, Shabina Ariff, Ikram Maznani, Maria Asif Bhura, Zahid Memon, Tayyaba Arshad, Tariq Ahmed Samejo, Shujaat Zaidi, Muhammad Umer, Imran Ahmed, Muhammad Atif Habib, Sajid Bashir Soofi, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta Jan 2022

Understanding Perceptions And Practices For Designing An Appropriate Community-Based Kangaroo Mother Care Implementation Package: Qualitative Exploratory Study, Shabina Ariff, Ikram Maznani, Maria Asif Bhura, Zahid Memon, Tayyaba Arshad, Tariq Ahmed Samejo, Shujaat Zaidi, Muhammad Umer, Imran Ahmed, Muhammad Atif Habib, Sajid Bashir Soofi, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Low birth weight (LBW) is a common outcome of preterm birth, which increases the risk of an infant's morbidity and mortality. Approximately 20 million infants are born with LBW globally per year. Since a significant number of births in Pakistan take place at home, it is important to focus on the use of kangaroo mother care (KMC), the practice of skin-to-skin contact, in communities to prevent neonatal mortality and morbidity.
Objective: We employed a formative research approach to understand the context of communities and facilities with regard to neonatal care and KMC practice. The broader aims were to inform …


Water, Sanitation And Hygiene: A Leading Cause Of Viral Transmission In Pakistan?, Zouina Sarfraz, Azza Sarfraz, Aman Siddiqui, Ali Totonchian, Muzna Sarfraz, Ivan Cherrez-Ojeda Sep 2021

Water, Sanitation And Hygiene: A Leading Cause Of Viral Transmission In Pakistan?, Zouina Sarfraz, Azza Sarfraz, Aman Siddiqui, Ali Totonchian, Muzna Sarfraz, Ivan Cherrez-Ojeda

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

No abstract provided.


Development Of An On-Job Mentorship Programme To Improve Nursing Experience For Enhanced Patient Experience Of Compassionate Care, Alma Arshad Hookmani, Naureen Lalani, Noureen Sultan, Aly Zubairi, Ayesha Hussain, Babar Hasan, Muneera A. Rasheed Sep 2021

Development Of An On-Job Mentorship Programme To Improve Nursing Experience For Enhanced Patient Experience Of Compassionate Care, Alma Arshad Hookmani, Naureen Lalani, Noureen Sultan, Aly Zubairi, Ayesha Hussain, Babar Hasan, Muneera A. Rasheed

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Evidence suggests improvement in nursing staff satisfaction, competence, and retention after implementation of evidence-based mentorship programmes. When guided by a framework of compassion, mentoring as a caring action can not only build healthy, transformative relationships but a similar behavior is reciprocated to patients which subsequently can drive patient experience of care. However, examples of on-job mentorship programs for nurses in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are limited.
Objective: The objective of the study was to develop an on-job nursing mentorship programme using a compassionate framework aimed at improving nurses' experience and thus enhancing patient experience in a tertiary care …


Usability And Acceptability Of A Mobile App For Behavior Change And To Improve Immunization Coverage Among Children In Pakistan: A Mixed-Methods Study, Abdul Momin Kazi, Nazia Ahsan, Waliyah Mughis, Saima Jamal, Raheel Allana, Mehreen Raza, Sahrish Muneer, Muhammad Ayub Khan Mughal, Hussain Kalimuddin, Fareeha Sameen Sep 2021

Usability And Acceptability Of A Mobile App For Behavior Change And To Improve Immunization Coverage Among Children In Pakistan: A Mixed-Methods Study, Abdul Momin Kazi, Nazia Ahsan, Waliyah Mughis, Saima Jamal, Raheel Allana, Mehreen Raza, Sahrish Muneer, Muhammad Ayub Khan Mughal, Hussain Kalimuddin, Fareeha Sameen

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Pakistan's immunization uptake rates are still significantly lower than anticipated despite several initiatives. Lack of awareness, forgetting about vaccination schedule, and vaccine misconception/misinformation are a few of the major drivers that mitigate the rates of immunization. The current COVID-19 pandemic emphasizes the importance of immunization. The significant reductions in regular childhood vaccination during pandemic have increased the risk of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. Concerns among parents over possibly exposing their children to COVID-19 during child visits may have contributed to the reported declines. Innovative and cost-effective mHealth interventions must be implemented in order to address the problem of inadequate …


Cohort Profile: The Alliance For Maternal And Newborn Health Improvement (Amanhi) Biobanking Study, Fahad Aftab, Salahuddin Ahmed, Aneeta Hotwani, Muhammad Ilyas, Mohammad Javaid, Fyezah Jehan, Farah Khalid, Usma Mehmood, Muhammad Imran Nisar, Muhammad Sajid Aug 2021

Cohort Profile: The Alliance For Maternal And Newborn Health Improvement (Amanhi) Biobanking Study, Fahad Aftab, Salahuddin Ahmed, Aneeta Hotwani, Muhammad Ilyas, Mohammad Javaid, Fyezah Jehan, Farah Khalid, Usma Mehmood, Muhammad Imran Nisar, Muhammad Sajid

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

No abstract provided.


Concentrations Of Lead, Mercury, Arsenic, Cadmium, Manganese, And Aluminum In The Blood Of Pakistani Children With And Without Autism Spectrum Disorder And Their Associated Factors, Mohammad H. Rahbar, Shahnaz H. Ibrahim, Syed Iqbal Azam, Manouchehr Hessabi, Fatima Karim, Sori Kim, Jing Zhang, Nasreen Gulzar Ali, Katherine A. Loveland Aug 2021

Concentrations Of Lead, Mercury, Arsenic, Cadmium, Manganese, And Aluminum In The Blood Of Pakistani Children With And Without Autism Spectrum Disorder And Their Associated Factors, Mohammad H. Rahbar, Shahnaz H. Ibrahim, Syed Iqbal Azam, Manouchehr Hessabi, Fatima Karim, Sori Kim, Jing Zhang, Nasreen Gulzar Ali, Katherine A. Loveland

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with early onset in utero or childhood. Environmental exposure to six metals (Pb, Hg, As, Cd, Mn, Al) is believed to be associated with ASD directly or interactively with genes. Objective: To assess the association of ASD among Pakistani children with the six metals and genotype frequencies of three GST genes (GSTP1, GSTM1, GSTT1).
Methods: We enrolled 30 ASD cases, age 2-12 years old, and 30 age- and sex-matched typically developing (TD) controls in Karachi, Pakistan. We assessed associations of ASD status with various factors using …


Effect Of Community-Based Kangaroo Mother Care Package On Neonatal Mortality Among Preterm And Low Birthweight Infants In Rural Pakistan: Protocol For A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial, Shabina Ariff, Atif Habib, Zahid Memon, Tayyaba Arshad, Tariq Samejo, Ikram Maznani, Muhammad Umer, Amjad Hussain, Arjumand Rizvi, Imran Ahmed, Sajid Bashir Soofi, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta Aug 2021

Effect Of Community-Based Kangaroo Mother Care Package On Neonatal Mortality Among Preterm And Low Birthweight Infants In Rural Pakistan: Protocol For A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial, Shabina Ariff, Atif Habib, Zahid Memon, Tayyaba Arshad, Tariq Samejo, Ikram Maznani, Muhammad Umer, Amjad Hussain, Arjumand Rizvi, Imran Ahmed, Sajid Bashir Soofi, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Neonatal mortality due to preterm birth and low birthweight remains a significant challenge in Pakistan. Kangaroo mother care (KMC) is a unique, low-cost intervention proven to reduce neonatal mortality and morbidity and increase exclusive breastfeeding rates. However, KMC has not been attempted in community settings in Pakistan. We aim to implement and evaluate the effectiveness of a community-based KMC package to reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality among preterm and low birthweight (LBW) infants, which will provide evidence for policy development and the large-scale implementation of KMC across the country.
Objective: The primary objective of this trial is to reduce …


Effectiveness Of Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine Against Culture-Confirmed Salmonella Enterica Serotype Typhi In An Extensively Drug-Resistant Outbreak Setting Of Hyderabad, Pakistan: A Cohort Study, Mohammad Tahir Yousafzai, Sultan Karim, Sonia Qureshi, Abdul Momin Kazi, Hina Memon, Amber Junejo, Zohra Khawaja, Najeeb Ur Rehman, Muhammad Sajid Ansari, Rafey Ali, Heera Mani Lohana, Farah Naz Qamar Aug 2021

Effectiveness Of Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine Against Culture-Confirmed Salmonella Enterica Serotype Typhi In An Extensively Drug-Resistant Outbreak Setting Of Hyderabad, Pakistan: A Cohort Study, Mohammad Tahir Yousafzai, Sultan Karim, Sonia Qureshi, Abdul Momin Kazi, Hina Memon, Amber Junejo, Zohra Khawaja, Najeeb Ur Rehman, Muhammad Sajid Ansari, Rafey Ali, Heera Mani Lohana, Farah Naz Qamar

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi (S Typhi) is a major public health problem in low-income and middle-income countries. We aimed to investigate the effectiveness and impact of the typhoid conjugate vaccine Typbar-TCV against S Typhi among children in an outbreak setting of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) S Typhi in Pakistan.
Methods: This cohort study was done from Feb 21, 2018, to Dec 31, 2019. A census survey of all households located in the Qasimabad and Latifabad subdistricts of Hyderabad, Pakistan, was done at baseline, and 174 005 households were registered in the census. The Typbar-TCV immunisation campaign was initiated at temporary …


Acceptance Of Covid-19 Vaccine In Pakistan: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study, Mohammad Aadil Qamar, Omar Irfan, Rubaid A. Dhillon, Areesh Bhatti, Mir Ibrahim Sajid, Safia Awan, Wajiha Rizwan, Ali Bin Sarwar Zubairi, Zouina Sarfraz, Javaid Ahmed Khan Jul 2021

Acceptance Of Covid-19 Vaccine In Pakistan: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study, Mohammad Aadil Qamar, Omar Irfan, Rubaid A. Dhillon, Areesh Bhatti, Mir Ibrahim Sajid, Safia Awan, Wajiha Rizwan, Ali Bin Sarwar Zubairi, Zouina Sarfraz, Javaid Ahmed Khan

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine is available across various countries worldwide, with public-private partnerships ensuring all individuals are vaccinated through a phased approach. Irrespective of the geographical spread, several myths pertaining to the COVID-19 vaccine have stemmed, ultimately limiting the national administration of vaccines and rollouts. This study assessed the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine among the general public in Pakistan.
Methods: A pre-validated questionnaire was administered from January 2021 to February 2021 to assess the public attitude and acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine. Logistic regression analyses were run to identify factors associated with the acceptance among the …


Uterine Artery Embolization Combined With Methotrexate For Broad Ligament Ectopic Pregnancy In A 30-Year Old Primigravida, Khurram Khaliq Bhinder, Azza Sarfraz, Zouina Sarfraz, Shaista Riaz, Samreen Aslam, Zouina Ameena Jun 2021

Uterine Artery Embolization Combined With Methotrexate For Broad Ligament Ectopic Pregnancy In A 30-Year Old Primigravida, Khurram Khaliq Bhinder, Azza Sarfraz, Zouina Sarfraz, Shaista Riaz, Samreen Aslam, Zouina Ameena

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

We present the case of 30-year old primigravida female at 11 weeks' gestation who was diagnosed to have ectopic pregnancy on obstetric ultrasound. An MRI pelvis was ordered to assess invasion into the posterior myometrium which confirmed a single right-sided broad ligament-extra uterine pelvic ectopic pregnancy with extrinsic mass effect on the right lower uterine segment without frank myometrial invasion. On an urgent basis, a uterine artery embolization (UAE) was performed by targeting the right femoral artery. Selective catheterization was performed of both uterine arteries and the right side showed a major feeder of the gestational sac. Supplied dose of …


Evaluating Motor Performance With The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test Of Motor Proficiency In Impoverished Pakistani Children, Zehra Habib Hasan, Fariha Shaheen, Arjumand Rizvi, Jelena Obradovic, Aisha Khan Yousafzai Jun 2021

Evaluating Motor Performance With The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test Of Motor Proficiency In Impoverished Pakistani Children, Zehra Habib Hasan, Fariha Shaheen, Arjumand Rizvi, Jelena Obradovic, Aisha Khan Yousafzai

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Objective: To evaluate the sensitivity of the modified Brief Form of Bruininks Oseretsky Test in identifying motor differences secondary to malnutrition and poverty.
Methods: This longitudinal cohort study was conducted at Nowshero Feroze, Sindh from 2013 to 2014 and comprised data drawn from children who participated in a randomised controlled trial, that assessed responsive stimulation and nutrition interventions in the first two years of life. Outcome measures included motor development assessed using Brief Form of Bruininks Oseretsky Test, child anthropometry and household economic and demographic information. Data was analysed using SPSS 15 and STATA 12.
Results: Of the 1058 children, …


Clinical Signs Predictive Of Severe Illness In Young Pakistani Infants, Shahira Shahid, Shiyam Sunder Tikmani, Kanwal Nayani, Ayesha Munir, Nick Brown, Anita K. M. Zaidi, Fyezah Jehan, Muhammad Imran Nisar Feb 2021

Clinical Signs Predictive Of Severe Illness In Young Pakistani Infants, Shahira Shahid, Shiyam Sunder Tikmani, Kanwal Nayani, Ayesha Munir, Nick Brown, Anita K. M. Zaidi, Fyezah Jehan, Muhammad Imran Nisar

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Objective: Early detection of specific signs and symptoms to predict severe illness is essential to prevent infant mortality. As a continuation of the results from the multicenter Young Infants Clinical Signs and Symptoms (YICSS) study, we present here the performance of the seven-sign algorithm in 3 age categories (0-6 days, 7-27 days and 28-59 days) in Pakistani infants aged 0-59 days.
Results: From September 2003 to November 2004, 2950 infants were enrolled (age group 0-6 days = 1633, 7-27 days = 817, 28-59 days = 500). The common reason for seeking care was umbilical redness or discharge (29.2%) in the …


Impact Of 10-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (Pcv10) On Nasopharyngeal Carriage In Children 2 Years Of Age: Data From A Four-Year Time Series Cross-Sectional Study From Pakistan, Muhammad Imran Nisar, Shahira Shahid, Sajid Muhammad, Farah Khalid, Amjad Hussain, Sheraz Ahmed, Sadia Shakoor, Furqan Kabir, Aneeta Hotwani, Syed Asad Ali, Anita K. M. Zaidi, Fyezah Jehan, Najeeha Talat Iqbal Feb 2021

Impact Of 10-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (Pcv10) On Nasopharyngeal Carriage In Children 2 Years Of Age: Data From A Four-Year Time Series Cross-Sectional Study From Pakistan, Muhammad Imran Nisar, Shahira Shahid, Sajid Muhammad, Farah Khalid, Amjad Hussain, Sheraz Ahmed, Sadia Shakoor, Furqan Kabir, Aneeta Hotwani, Syed Asad Ali, Anita K. M. Zaidi, Fyezah Jehan, Najeeha Talat Iqbal

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

The dataset described in this paper was collected for a time-series cross-sectional study exploring the impact of 10-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV10) on nasopharyngeal (NP) carriage in children under 2 years of age from a rural population in Sindh, Pakistan. The study was carried out in two union councils of Matiari - Khyber and Shah Alam Shah Jee Wasi (Latitude 25.680298 / Longitude 68.502711). Data was collected on socio-demographics, clinical characteristics and vaccination status using android phone-based application. NP samples were collected using standard World Health Organisation (WHO) techniques, culture and serotyping was done using sequential Multiplex PCR described by …


Direct And Indirect Effect Of 10 Valent Pneumococcal Vaccine On Nasopharyngeal Carriage In Children Under 2 Years Of Age In Matiari, Pakistan, Muhammad Imran Nisar, Sheraz Ahmed, Fyezah Jehan, Shahira Shahid, Sadia Shakoor, Furqan Kabir, Aneeta Hotwani, Sahrish Munir, Sajid Muhammad, Farah Khalid, Syed Asad Ali, Anita K. M. Zaidi, Najeeha Talat Iqbal Jan 2021

Direct And Indirect Effect Of 10 Valent Pneumococcal Vaccine On Nasopharyngeal Carriage In Children Under 2 Years Of Age In Matiari, Pakistan, Muhammad Imran Nisar, Sheraz Ahmed, Fyezah Jehan, Shahira Shahid, Sadia Shakoor, Furqan Kabir, Aneeta Hotwani, Sahrish Munir, Sajid Muhammad, Farah Khalid, Syed Asad Ali, Anita K. M. Zaidi, Najeeha Talat Iqbal

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Pakistan introduced Ten-valent pneumococcal-conjugate-vaccine PCV10 in 2012 as a 3 + 0 schedule without catch-up.
Methods: Children <2 years old in Matiari, Sindh provided nasopharyngeal swabs between 2014 and 2018, which were cultured for pneumococcus and serotyped through multiplex PCR at the Aga Khan University Hospital. Carriage rates over time for Vaccine-Type (VT) and Non-VT (NVT) serotypes were used to estimate direct, indirect, total and overall effects of vaccination. Regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with VT carriage.
Results: Pneumococcus was detected in 2370/3140 (75%). VT carriage decreased overall, 16.1-9.6% (p-trend <0.001); vaccinated (all 3 doses of PCV10 received) 11.3-8.1% (p-trend 0.031) and unvaccinated (no PCV10 dose received) 17.4-10.3% (p-trend 0.003) with a decline in serotypes 6B, 9V/9A and 19F. Immunization increased from 41.0% to 68.4% (p-trend 0.001). Direct effect of vaccine was 32.8% (95% CI 14.7-47.0%) and indirect effect 44.6%(95% CI 40.6-48.6%). Factors associated with decreased VT colonization were education 1-5 years (aOR 0.7, 95%CI 0.6-1.0), history of difficulty breathing (aOR 0.7, 95%CI 0.5-1.0), exposure to smoke (aOR 0.8, 95% CI 0.6-1.0), child fully immunized (aOR 0.7, 95%CI 0.5-1.0) and enrolled in 3rd (aOR 0.6, 95%CI 0.4-0.8) and 4th (aOR 0.6, 95%CI 0.5-0.9) year of the study whereas history of runny nose (aOR 1.5, 95% CI 1.2-1.9) was positively associated.
Conclusions: Decrease in VT pneumococcal carriage in vaccinated and unvaccinated children indicates herd immunity. Sustained increase in vaccine coverage and close long-term surveillance is warranted.


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 …


Typhoid And Paratyphoid Cost Of Illness In Pakistan: Patient And Health Facility Costs From The Surveillance For Enteric Fever In Asia Project Ii, Nelly Mejia, Farah Naz Qamar, Mohammad Tahir Yousafzai, Jamal Raza, Denise O. Garrett, Kashmira Date, Taiwo Abimbola, Sarah W. Pallas Dec 2020

Typhoid And Paratyphoid Cost Of Illness In Pakistan: Patient And Health Facility Costs From The Surveillance For Enteric Fever In Asia Project Ii, Nelly Mejia, Farah Naz Qamar, Mohammad Tahir Yousafzai, Jamal Raza, Denise O. Garrett, Kashmira Date, Taiwo Abimbola, Sarah W. Pallas

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: The objective of this study was to estimate the cost of illness from enteric fever (typhoid and paratyphoid) at selected sites in Pakistan.
Methods: We implemented a cost-of-illness study in 4 hospitals as part of the Surveillance for Enteric Fever in Asia Project (SEAP) II in Pakistan. From the patient and caregiver perspective, we collected direct medical, nonmedical, and indirect costs per case of enteric fever incurred since illness onset by phone after enrollment and 6 weeks later. From the health care provider perspective, we collected data on quantities and prices of resources used at 3 of the hospitals, …


Researching The Delivery Of Health And Nutrition Interventions For Women And Children In The Context Of Armed Conflict: Lessons On Research Challenges And Strategies From Branch Consortium Case Studies Of Somalia, Mali, Pakistan And Afghanistan, Michelle F. Gaffey, Anushka Ataullahjan, Jai K. Das, Mohammed Shafiq Mirzazada, Moctar Tounkara, Abdirisak A. Dalmar, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta Oct 2020

Researching The Delivery Of Health And Nutrition Interventions For Women And Children In The Context Of Armed Conflict: Lessons On Research Challenges And Strategies From Branch Consortium Case Studies Of Somalia, Mali, Pakistan And Afghanistan, Michelle F. Gaffey, Anushka Ataullahjan, Jai K. Das, Mohammed Shafiq Mirzazada, Moctar Tounkara, Abdirisak A. Dalmar, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: The BRANCH Consortium recently conducted 10 mixed-methods case studies to investigate the provision of health and nutrition interventions for women and children in conflict-affected countries, aiming to better understand the dominant influences on humanitarian health actors' programmatic decision-making and how such actors surmount intervention delivery barriers. In this paper, the research challenges encountered and the mitigating strategies employed by the case study investigators in four of the BRANCH case study contexts are discussed: Somalia, Mali, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Discussion: Many of the encountered research challenges were anticipated, with investigators adopting mitigation strategies in advance or early on, but others …


Current Challenges Of Digital Health Interventions In Pakistan: Mixed Methods Analysis, Abdul Momin Kazi, Saad Ahmed Qazi, Nazia Ahsan, Sadori Khawaja, Fareeha Sameen, Muhammad Ayub Khan Mughal, Zabin Wajidali, Hussain Kalimuddin, Yasir Rauf, Fatima Mahmood Sep 2020

Current Challenges Of Digital Health Interventions In Pakistan: Mixed Methods Analysis, Abdul Momin Kazi, Saad Ahmed Qazi, Nazia Ahsan, Sadori Khawaja, Fareeha Sameen, Muhammad Ayub Khan Mughal, Zabin Wajidali, Hussain Kalimuddin, Yasir Rauf, Fatima Mahmood

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Digital health is well-positioned in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) to revolutionize health care due, in part, to increasing mobile phone access and internet connectivity. This paper evaluates the underlying factors that can potentially facilitate or hinder the progress of digital health in Pakistan.
Objective: The objective of this study is to identify the current digital health projects and studies being carried out in Pakistan, as well as the key stakeholders involved in these initiatives. We aim to follow a mixed-methods strategy and to evaluate these projects and studies through a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis to …


Correction To: Epidemiology Of Patients Presenting To A Pediatric Emergency Department In Karachi, Pakistan, Nadir Ijaz, Matthew Strehlow, N Ewen Wang, Elizabeth Pirrotta, Areeba Tariq, Naseeruddin Mahmood, Swaminatha Mahadevan Aug 2020

Correction To: Epidemiology Of Patients Presenting To A Pediatric Emergency Department In Karachi, Pakistan, Nadir Ijaz, Matthew Strehlow, N Ewen Wang, Elizabeth Pirrotta, Areeba Tariq, Naseeruddin Mahmood, Swaminatha Mahadevan

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.


Immunity And Field Efficacy Of Type 2-Containing Polio Vaccines After Cessation Of Trivalent Oral Polio Vaccine: A Population-Based Serological Study In Pakistan, Arie Voorman, Atif Habib, Imtiaz Hussain, Rana Muhammad Safdar, Jamal A. Ahmed, William C. Weldon, Imran Ahmed, Muhammad Umer, Jeffrey Partridge, Sajid Bashir Soofi May 2020

Immunity And Field Efficacy Of Type 2-Containing Polio Vaccines After Cessation Of Trivalent Oral Polio Vaccine: A Population-Based Serological Study In Pakistan, Arie Voorman, Atif Habib, Imtiaz Hussain, Rana Muhammad Safdar, Jamal A. Ahmed, William C. Weldon, Imran Ahmed, Muhammad Umer, Jeffrey Partridge, Sajid Bashir Soofi

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: In Pakistan and other countries using oral polio vaccine (OPV), immunity to type 2 poliovirus is now maintained by a single dose of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) in routine immunization, supplemented in outbreak settings by monovalent OPV type 2 (mOPV2) and IPV. While well-studied in clinical trials, population protection against poliovirus type 2 achieved in routine and outbreak settings is generally unknown.
Methods: We conducted two phases of a population-based serological survey of 7940 children aged 6-11 months old, between November 2016 and October 2017 from 13 polio high-risk locations in Pakistan.
Results: Type 2 seroprevalence was 50% among …


Rsv Associated Hospitalizations In Children In Karachi, Pakistan: Implications For Vaccine Prevention Strategies, Syed Asad Ali, Mohammad Tahir Yousafzai, Rabbia Waris, Fatima Jafri, Fatima Aziz, Imran Naeem Abbasi, Anita K. M. Zaidi Jul 2017

Rsv Associated Hospitalizations In Children In Karachi, Pakistan: Implications For Vaccine Prevention Strategies, Syed Asad Ali, Mohammad Tahir Yousafzai, Rabbia Waris, Fatima Jafri, Fatima Aziz, Imran Naeem Abbasi, Anita K. M. Zaidi

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Major progress is being made in vaccines against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), with multiple vaccine candidates currently in the clinical phase of development. Making an investment case for public sector financing of RSV vaccine will require estimation of burden, cost-effectiveness, and impact. The aim of this study is to determine the proportion, age distribution and clinical spectrum of RSV associated hospitalizations in children in Karachi, Pakistan. A three years prospective study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi, a city of 20 million in south Pakistan, from August 2009 to June 2012. Children less than five years …


Diagnostic Methods To Determine Microbiology Of Postpartum Endometritis In South Asia: Laboratory Methods Protocol Used In The Postpartum Sepsis Study: A Prospective Cohort Study, Sadia Shakoor, Megan E. Reller, Amnesty Lefevre, Aneeta Hotwani, Shahida M. Qureshi, Farheen Yousuf, Mohammad Shahidul Islam, Nicholas Connor, Iftekhar Rafiqullah, Fatima Mir Feb 2016

Diagnostic Methods To Determine Microbiology Of Postpartum Endometritis In South Asia: Laboratory Methods Protocol Used In The Postpartum Sepsis Study: A Prospective Cohort Study, Sadia Shakoor, Megan E. Reller, Amnesty Lefevre, Aneeta Hotwani, Shahida M. Qureshi, Farheen Yousuf, Mohammad Shahidul Islam, Nicholas Connor, Iftekhar Rafiqullah, Fatima Mir

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: The South Asian region has the second highest risk of maternal death in the world. To prevent maternal deaths due to sepsis and to decrease the maternal mortality ratio as per the World Health Organization Millenium Development Goals, a better understanding of the etiology of endometritis and related sepsis is required. We describe microbiological laboratory methods used in the maternal Postpartum Sepsis Study, which was conducted in Bangladesh and Pakistan, two populous countries in South Asia.
Methods/Design: Postpartum maternal fever in the community was evaluated by a physician and blood and urine were collected for routine analysis and culture. …


Benzodiazepine Use Among Adults Residing In The Urban Settlements Of Karachi, Pakistan: A Cross Sectional Study., Saleem P. Iqbal, Syed Ahmer, Salima Farooq, Yasmin Parpio, Ambreen Tharani, Rashid A. M Khan, Mohammad Zaman Aug 2011

Benzodiazepine Use Among Adults Residing In The Urban Settlements Of Karachi, Pakistan: A Cross Sectional Study., Saleem P. Iqbal, Syed Ahmer, Salima Farooq, Yasmin Parpio, Ambreen Tharani, Rashid A. M Khan, Mohammad Zaman

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: There are hardly any studies carried out in Pakistan on the usage of benzodiazepines at the level of community. This research was aimed to determine the frequency of benzodiazepine use, along with its associations with socio-demographic and clinical characteristics among community dwelling adults, residing in two urban settlements of Karachi, Pakistan. Methods: We performed a cross sectional study from August 2008 to December 2009, in 2 areas of Karachi, namely Garden and Sultanabad. We followed the systematic sampling strategy to randomly select the households, with an adult of either sex and of age 18 years or more. Data collection …