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 …