Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Hepatitis B And C: Prevalence And Risk Factors Associated With Seropositivity Among Children In Karachi, Pakistan, Wasim Jafri, Nadim Jafri, Javed Yakoob, Muhammad Islam, Syed Farhan Ali Tirmizi, Tazeen Jafar, Saeed Akhtar, Saeed Hamid, Hasnain Ali Shah, Sheikh Qamaruddin Nizami

Section of Gastroenterology

Background

Infections with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) can lead to chronic liver disease and hepato-cellular carcinoma (HCC). This cross-sectional study estimated the prevalence and identified risk factors associated with Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and HCV antibody (anti-HCV) sero-positivity among children 1 to 15 years of age.

Methods

The study targeted the low to middle socioeconomic population that comprises 80% to 85% of the population. Consent was obtained from parents of the eligible children before administering questionnaire and collected a blood sample for anti-HCV and HBsAg serology.

Results

3533 children were screened for HBsAg and …

Knowledge, Attitude And Misconceptions Regarding Tuberculosis In Pakistani Patients, Javaid Ahmed Khan, Muhammad Irfan, Amna Zaki, Madiha Beg, Syed Fayyaz Hussain, Nadeem Rizvi

Section of Pulmonary & Critical Care

Objective:

To assess knowledge of patients with tuberculosis; about their disease and misconceptions regarding TB.

Methods:

A cross sectional study was conducted at Out-patient clinics of two teaching hospitals (private and public) in Karachi, Pakistan. A questionnaire was filled for the purpose.

Results:

A total of 170 patients were interviewed, 112 from private and 58 from a public sector hospital. Cough, fever, bloody sputum and chest pain were recognized as the common symptoms of TB. Eleven (7%) patients thought TB was not an infectious disease and 18 (10.6%) did not consider it a preventable disease. Contaminated food was considered the …

Socio-Demographic Correlates Of Betel, Areca And Smokeless Tobacco Use As A High Risk Behavior For Head And Neck Cancers In A Squatter Settlement Of Karachi, Pakistan, Samia Mazahir, Rabia Malik, Maria Maqsood, Kanwal Aliraza Merchant, Farida Malik, Atif Majeed, Zafar Fatmi, Muhammad Rizwanulhaq Khawaja, Shehzad Ghaffar

Community Health Sciences

Background

Head and neck cancers are a major cancer burden in Pakistan. They share a common risk factor profile including regular consumption of products of betel, areca and tobacco. Use of paan, chaalia, gutka, niswar and tumbaku is acceptable in Pakistan and is considered a normal cultural practice. This cross-sectional study was carried out to understand the relation of socio-demographic factors for the consumption of paan, chaalia, gutka, niswar and tumbaku in Pakistani population. Through systematic sampling, 425 subjects from a squatter settlement in Karachi were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. High risk behavior was defined as Daily use of …

Fewer And Better-Educated Children: Expanded Choices In Schooling And Fertility In Rural Pakistan, Zeba Sathar, Cynthia B. Lloyd, Minhaj Ul Haque, Mumraiz Khan, Monica J. Grant

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

This report presents the results of a longitudinal study of changing educational opportunities in rural Punjab and N.W.F.P. from 1997 to 2004. The purpose of the study was to answer two major research questions: what were the effects of changes in schooling opportunities in the community over the past six years on enrollment and attainment, and what were the effects on family planning and fertility behavior? This study builds on an earlier study undertaken in 1997. As noted in this report, the study is innovative in several ways: (1) it is longitudinal; (2) it combines consideration of three dimensions of …

Baseline Survey: Summary Report Of District Jhelum, Pakistan Initiative For Mothers And Newborns (Paiman)

Reproductive Health

This summary report presents some of the key findings of a 2005 baseline household survey in Jhelum district, one of the ten districts in Pakistan that are the focus of the PAIMAN project. The Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN) is a five-year project funded by the United States Agency for International Development. The project is committed to assisting the Government of Pakistan in implementing the full spectrum of interventions necessary to address maternal and neonatal health (MNH) issues. PAIMAN district survey results are presented individually for each of the ten districts. PAIMAN developed a monitoring and evaluation plan …

Baseline Survey: Summary Report Of District Buner, Pakistan Initiative For Mothers And Newborns (Paiman)

Reproductive Health

This summary report presents some of the key findings of a 2005 baseline household survey in Buner district, one of the ten districts in Pakistan that are the focus of the PAIMAN project. The Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN) is a five-year project funded by the United States Agency for International Development. The project is committed to assisting the Government of Pakistan in implementing the full spectrum of interventions necessary to address maternal and neonatal health (MNH) issues. PAIMAN district survey results are presented individually for each of the ten districts. PAIMAN developed a monitoring and evaluation plan …

Baseline Household Survey: Sukkur District, Pakistan Initiative For Mothers And Newborns (Paiman)

Reproductive Health

The Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN) is a five-year project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). PAIMAN is committed to assisting the Government of Pakistan in implementing the full spectrum of interventions necessary to address maternal and neonatal health issues. USAID has provided a grant to implement PAIMAN in ten districts of Pakistan’s four provinces. The goal of the project is to reduce maternal, newborn, and child mortality. The project calls for a multipronged and integrated strategic approach combining individual health care with public health and community-based interventions. To ensure that success is properly …

Safe Motherhood Applied Research And Training (Smart) Report 2: The Interventions, Abdul Wajid, Zakir Hussain Shah, Ashfa Hashmi, Zeba Tasneem, Lubna Shireen

Reproductive Health

The Safe Motherhood Applied Research and Training (SMART) project, an operations research project designed to develop and test interventions to reduce maternal, perinatal, and neonatal mortality and morbidity in predominantly rural districts of Pakistan, was a three-year project (2003 to 2006) funded by the European Union. The study area was in the district of Dera Ghazi Khan; the control area was in the district of Layyah. The project focused on three areas to accomplish its goals: empowering women to seek appropriate and timely general, maternal, and newborn care; supporting methods that encourage men to play a positive and active role …

Safe Motherhood Applied Research And Training (Smart) Report 1: Project Overview, Gul Rashida, Peter C. Miller

Reproductive Health

Maternal mortality in Pakistan is believed to be quite high, at about 350–500 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. Reducing maternal mortality is one of the major objectives of the Government of Pakistan. Interventions required to address maternal mortality include safe motherhood, which means a woman’s ability to have a safe and healthy pregnancy and delivery. The Safe Motherhood Applied Research and Training (SMART) project was an operations research project designed to develop and test interventions to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality in a predominantly rural district of Pakistan. The vast majority of maternal deaths are attributed to delays in …

Baseline Household Survey: Khanewal District, Pakistan Initiative For Mothers And Newborns (Paiman)

Reproductive Health

The Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN) is a five-year project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). PAIMAN is committed to assisting the Government of Pakistan in implementing the full spectrum of interventions necessary to address maternal and neonatal health issues. USAID has provided a grant to implement PAIMAN in ten districts of Pakistan’s four provinces. The goal of the project is to reduce maternal, newborn, and child mortality. The project calls for a multipronged and integrated strategic approach combining individual health care with public health and community-based interventions. To ensure that success is properly …

Baseline Household Survey: Jhelum District, Pakistan Initiative For Mothers And Newborns (Paiman)

Reproductive Health

The Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN) is a five-year project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). PAIMAN is committed to assisting the Government of Pakistan in implementing the full spectrum of interventions necessary to address maternal and neonatal health issues. USAID has provided a grant to implement PAIMAN in ten districts of Pakistan’s four provinces. The goal of the project is to reduce maternal, newborn, and child mortality. The project calls for a multipronged and integrated strategic approach combining individual health care with public health and community-based interventions. To ensure that success is properly …

Baseline Survey: Summary Report Of District Lasbela, Pakistan Initiative For Mothers And Newborns (Paiman)

Reproductive Health

This summary report presents some of the key findings of a 2005 baseline household survey in Lasbela district, one of the ten districts in Pakistan that are the focus of the PAIMAN project. The Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN) is a five-year project funded by the United States Agency for International Development. The project is committed to assisting the Government of Pakistan in implementing the full spectrum of interventions necessary to address maternal and neonatal health (MNH) issues. PAIMAN district survey results are presented individually for each of the ten districts. PAIMAN developed a monitoring and evaluation plan …

Baseline Survey: Summary Report Of District Sukkur, Pakistan Initiative For Mothers And Newborns (Paiman)

Reproductive Health

This summary report presents some of the key findings of a 2005 baseline household survey in Sukkur district, one of the ten districts in Pakistan that are the focus of the PAIMAN project. The Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN) is a five-year project funded by the United States Agency for International Development. The project is committed to assisting the Government of Pakistan in implementing the full spectrum of interventions necessary to address maternal and neonatal health (MNH) issues. PAIMAN district survey results are presented individually for each of the ten districts. PAIMAN developed a monitoring and evaluation plan …

Earthquake Vulnerability Assessment Pakistan, 2005–06, Arshad Mahmood

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

The 7.6-magnitude earthquake on October 8, 2005, caused a large number of deaths, and left more than 100,000 people injured and an estimated 3 million people displaced or homeless. To assist the Government of Pakistan in the preparation of a rehabilitation plan, the first step was to identify the vulnerable people living in the tent camps. The Population Council completed an assessment survey of the camps in the earthquake area. This assessment is distinctive from the surveys carried out previously, since it collects socio-demographic and vulnerability indicators about each individual. The assessment is useful in tracking the conditions of especially …

Assessment Of District Health Supervisory System, Pakistan Initiative For Mothers And Newborns (Paiman)

Reproductive Health

The Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN) is a five-year project designed to reduce the country's maternal and neonatal mortality by making sure women have access to skilled birth attendants during childbirth and throughout the postpartum period. PAIMAN developed a community-based approach that provides a continuum of care to mothers and newborns through supportive linkages from home care to hospital-based care. Various assessments of the district health system suggest that it suffers from weaknesses that impair its efficiency, quality, and impact. Inefficient and ineffective supervision is one of the most important factors for the health sector’s poor performance. Effective, …

Baseline Survey: Summary Report Of District Dadu, Pakistan Initiative For Mothers And Newborns (Paiman)

Reproductive Health

This summary report presents some of the key findings of a 2005 baseline household survey in Dadu district, one of the ten districts in Pakistan that are the focus of the PAIMAN project. The Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN) is a five-year project funded by the United States Agency for International Development. The project is committed to assisting the Government of Pakistan in implementing the full spectrum of interventions necessary to address maternal and neonatal health (MNH) issues. PAIMAN district survey results are presented individually for each of the ten districts. PAIMAN developed a monitoring and evaluation plan …

Baseline Household Survey: Dadu District, Pakistan Initiative For Mothers And Newborns (Paiman)

Reproductive Health

The Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN) is a five-year project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). PAIMAN is committed to assisting the Government of Pakistan in implementing the full spectrum of interventions necessary to address maternal and neonatal health issues. USAID has provided a grant to implement PAIMAN in ten districts of Pakistan’s four provinces. The goal of the project is to reduce maternal, newborn, and child mortality. The project calls for a multipronged and integrated strategic approach combining individual health care with public health and community-based interventions. To ensure that success is properly …

Baseline Household Survey: Jaffarabad District, Pakistan Initiative For Mothers And Newborns (Paiman)

Reproductive Health

The Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN) is a five-year project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). PAIMAN is committed to assisting the Government of Pakistan in implementing the full spectrum of interventions necessary to address maternal and neonatal health issues. USAID has provided a grant to implement PAIMAN in ten districts of Pakistan’s four provinces. The goal of the project is to reduce maternal, newborn, and child mortality. The project calls for a multipronged and integrated strategic approach combining individual health care with public health and community-based interventions. To ensure that success is properly …

Baseline Household Survey: Lasbela District, Pakistan Initiative For Mothers And Newborns (Paiman)

Reproductive Health

The Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN) is a five-year project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). PAIMAN is committed to assisting the Government of Pakistan in implementing the full spectrum of interventions necessary to address maternal and neonatal health issues. USAID has provided a grant to implement PAIMAN in ten districts of Pakistan’s four provinces. The goal of the project is to reduce maternal, newborn, and child mortality. The project calls for a multipronged and integrated strategic approach combining individual health care with public health and community-based interventions. To ensure that success is properly …

Baseline Household Survey: Rawalpindi District, Pakistan Initiative For Mothers And Newborns (Paiman)

Reproductive Health

The Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN) is a five-year project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). PAIMAN is committed to assisting the Government of Pakistan in implementing the full spectrum of interventions necessary to address maternal and neonatal health issues. USAID has provided a grant to implement PAIMAN in ten districts of Pakistan’s four provinces. The goal of the project is to reduce maternal, newborn, and child mortality. The project calls for a multipronged and integrated strategic approach combining individual health care with public health and community-based interventions. To ensure that success is properly …

Baseline Household Survey: Upper Dir District, Pakistan Initiative For Mothers And Newborns (Paiman)

Reproductive Health

The Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN) is a five-year project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). PAIMAN is committed to assisting the Government of Pakistan in implementing the full spectrum of interventions necessary to address maternal and neonatal health issues. USAID has provided a grant to implement PAIMAN in ten districts of Pakistan’s four provinces. The goal of the project is to reduce maternal, newborn, and child mortality. The project calls for a multipronged and integrated strategic approach combining individual health care with public health and community-based interventions. To ensure that success is properly …

The Implications Of Changing Educational And Family Circumstances For Children's Grade Progression In Rural Pakistan: 1997-2004, Cynthia B. Lloyd, Cem Mete, Monica J. Grant

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

This Population Council working paper assesses the effects of primary school characteristics, household characteristics, and recent household economic and demographic shocks on school dropout rates during the first eight grades in rural Punjab and North West Frontier Province, Pakistan. While grade retention has improved over the past six years, dropout rates for girls remain fairly high, particularly at the end of primary school (grade five). The results of this study show clearly the complementary nature of supply and demand factors in determining grade progression in rural Pakistan, particularly for girls. The results suggest that substantial improvement in the schooling environment …

Baseline Household Survey: Buner District, Pakistan Initiative For Mothers And Newborns (Paiman)

Reproductive Health

The Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN) is a five-year project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). PAIMAN is committed to assisting the Government of Pakistan in implementing the full spectrum of interventions necessary to address maternal and neonatal health issues. USAID has provided a grant to implement PAIMAN in ten districts of Pakistan’s four provinces. The goal of the project is to reduce maternal, newborn, and child mortality. The project calls for a multipronged and integrated strategic approach combining individual health care with public health and community-based interventions. To ensure that success is properly …

Baseline Survey: Summary Report Of District Jaffarabad, Pakistan Initiative For Mothers And Newborns (Paiman)

Reproductive Health

This summary report presents some of the key findings of a 2005 baseline household survey in Jaffarabad district, one of the ten districts in Pakistan that are the focus of the PAIMAN project. The Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN) is a five-year project funded by the United States Agency for International Development. The project is committed to assisting the Government of Pakistan in implementing the full spectrum of interventions necessary to address maternal and neonatal health (MNH) issues. PAIMAN district survey results are presented individually for each of the ten districts. PAIMAN developed a monitoring and evaluation plan …

Baseline Survey: Summary Report Of District Khanewal, Pakistan Initiative For Mothers And Newborns (Paiman)

Reproductive Health

This summary report presents some of the key findings of a 2005 baseline household survey in Khanewal district, one of the ten districts in Pakistan that are the focus of the PAIMAN project. The Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN) is a five-year project funded by the United States Agency for International Development. The project is committed to assisting the Government of Pakistan in implementing the full spectrum of interventions necessary to address maternal and neonatal health (MNH) issues. PAIMAN district survey results are presented individually for each of the ten districts. PAIMAN developed a monitoring and evaluation plan …

Baseline Household Survey: Dera Ghazi Khan District, Pakistan Initiative For Mothers And Newborns (Paiman)

Reproductive Health

The Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN) is a five-year project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). PAIMAN is committed to assisting the Government of Pakistan in implementing the full spectrum of interventions necessary to address maternal and neonatal health issues. USAID has provided a grant to implement PAIMAN in ten districts of Pakistan’s four provinces. The goal of the project is to reduce maternal, newborn, and child mortality. The project calls for a multipronged and integrated strategic approach combining individual health care with public health and community-based interventions. To ensure that success is properly …

Baseline Survey: Summary Report Of District Dg Khan, Pakistan Initiative For Mothers And Newborns (Paiman)

Reproductive Health

This summary report presents some of the key findings of a 2005 baseline household survey in Dera Ghazi Khan (DG Khan) district, one of the ten districts in Pakistan that are the focus of the PAIMAN project. The Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN) is a five-year project funded by the United States Agency for International Development. The project is committed to assisting the Government of Pakistan in implementing the full spectrum of interventions necessary to address maternal and neonatal health (MNH) issues. PAIMAN district survey results are presented individually for each of the ten districts. PAIMAN developed a …

Baseline Survey: Summary Report Of District Rawalpindi, Pakistan Initiative For Mothers And Newborns (Paiman)

Reproductive Health

This summary report presents some of the key findings of a 2005 baseline household survey in Rawalpindi district, one of the ten districts in Pakistan that are the focus of the PAIMAN project. The Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN) is a five-year project funded by the United States Agency for International Development. The project is committed to assisting the Government of Pakistan in implementing the full spectrum of interventions necessary to address maternal and neonatal health (MNH) issues. PAIMAN district survey results are presented individually for each of the ten districts. PAIMAN developed a monitoring and evaluation plan …

Baseline Survey: Summary Report Of District Upper Dir, Pakistan Initiative For Mothers And Newborns (Paiman)

Reproductive Health

This summary report presents some of the key findings of a 2005 baseline household survey in Upper Dir district, one of the ten districts in Pakistan that are the focus of the PAIMAN project. The Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN) is a five-year project funded by the United States Agency for International Development. The project is committed to assisting the Government of Pakistan in implementing the full spectrum of interventions necessary to address maternal and neonatal health (MNH) issues. PAIMAN district survey results are presented individually for each of the ten districts. PAIMAN developed a monitoring and evaluation …

Safe Motherhood Applied Research And Training (Smart) Report 3: Changes In Knowledge And Behavior Of Women And Families, Muhammad Shafique Arif, Peter C. Miller, Nayyer Munir, Irfan Masood

Reproductive Health

The Safe Motherhood Applied Research and Training (SMART) project was conceived as an operations research project designed to test the effectiveness of two different strategies for improving maternal and neonatal health in Pakistan. To evaluate the results of this test, several types of evaluative research were conducted, including qualitative studies of various types, health systems assessments, evaluations of specific components, and household surveys. The household surveys are the subject of this report, which is Report 3 (Changes in knowledge and behavior of women and families) in a series of six. The surveys are two types: a large-scale, before-after household survey …