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Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

2021

Aga Khan University

Pakistan

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Articles 1 - 30 of 71

Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Factors Associated With Gestational Diabetes Among Women Registered At Secondary Hospitals In Karachi, Pakistan, Sumaira Feroz Ali, Tazeen S. Ali, Arusa Lakhani, Zaib Nadeem Dec 2021

Factors Associated With Gestational Diabetes Among Women Registered At Secondary Hospitals In Karachi, Pakistan, Sumaira Feroz Ali, Tazeen S. Ali, Arusa Lakhani, Zaib Nadeem

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Introduction: Few things are proven, there are modifiable and non-modifiable factors that could impact on the health of pregnant women who have Gestational Diabetes Millitus (GDM). However, case control studies are lacking that explore the modifiable factors and identify which modifiable factors are associated with GDM.
Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify the modifiable associated risk factors of GDM among women at 32 to 40 weeks of gestation.
Methodology: A case-control study design was conducted at secondary hospitals for women and children in Karachi, Pakistan. The data were collected from 100 cases and same number of controls, …


The Impact Of Disease Control Measures On The Spread Of Covid-19 In The Province Of Sindh, Pakistan, Bilal Ahmed Usmani, Mustafain Ali, Muhammad Abul Hasan, Amna Rehana Siddiqui, Sameen Siddiqi, Aaron Guanliang Lim, Saad Ahmed Qazi Nov 2021

The Impact Of Disease Control Measures On The Spread Of Covid-19 In The Province Of Sindh, Pakistan, Bilal Ahmed Usmani, Mustafain Ali, Muhammad Abul Hasan, Amna Rehana Siddiqui, Sameen Siddiqi, Aaron Guanliang Lim, Saad Ahmed Qazi

Community Health Sciences

The province of Sindh reported the first COVID-19 case in Pakistan on 26th February 2020. The Government of Sindh has employed numerous control measures to limit its spread. However, for low-and middle-income countries such as Pakistan, the management protocols for controlling a pandemic are not always as definitive as they would be in other developed nations. Given the dire socio-economic conditions of Sindh, continuation of province-wise lockdowns may inadvertently cause a potential economic breakdown. By using a data driven SEIR modelling framework, this paper describes the evolution of the epidemic projections because of government control measures. The data from reported …


Human Papillomavirus-Associated Anal Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions In Men Who Have Sex With Men And Transgender Women Living With And Without Hiv In Karachi Pakistan: Implications For Screening And Prevention, Muslima Ejaz, Muhammad Mubarak, Tazeen Saeed Ali, Sören Andersson, Anna Mia Ekström Nov 2021

Human Papillomavirus-Associated Anal Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions In Men Who Have Sex With Men And Transgender Women Living With And Without Hiv In Karachi Pakistan: Implications For Screening And Prevention, Muslima Ejaz, Muhammad Mubarak, Tazeen Saeed Ali, Sören Andersson, Anna Mia Ekström

Community Health Sciences

Background: Anal squamous intraepithelial lesions (ASIL), strongly related to human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, is more prevalent among men who have sex with men (MSM). However, no such data are available for Pakistan yet, and neither HPV vaccination nor anal-cytology screening is implemented in Pakistan. The purpose of this first ever study was to assess the prevalence of HPV-related anal cytological abnormalities among MSM and transgender women living with and without HIV infection in Pakistan.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study from March 2016 to November 2017 at sexual health centers run by the Perwaaz Trust and the National AIDS …


Desire To Limiting Child Birth And The Associated Determinants Among Married Females: Sukh Survey-Karachi, Pakistan, Shama Razzaq, Saleem Jessani, Sumera Aziz Ali, Zahid Abbasi, Sarah Saleem Nov 2021

Desire To Limiting Child Birth And The Associated Determinants Among Married Females: Sukh Survey-Karachi, Pakistan, Shama Razzaq, Saleem Jessani, Sumera Aziz Ali, Zahid Abbasi, Sarah Saleem

Community Health Sciences

Objective: High rates of population growth negatively influence the social and economic development of a country. This study aimed to determine the women's desire to limiting child birth in future (fertility intention) and its determinants among Pakistani women of reproductive age resident of Karachi.
Methods: A community-based, multistage cross-sectional study was carried out among residents of the squatter settlements in Karachi. The were 4,485 married residents, and currently non-pregnant females of 18 to 49 years old. Framework adapted has been based on "Pullum 1980" to operationalize the outcome of determining the desire to limiting childbearing and the factors related with …


Overcoming The Challenges Of Community-Engaged Emergency Referrals In A Rural District Of Pakistan, Imran Naeem Abbasi, Sameen Siddiqi Nov 2021

Overcoming The Challenges Of Community-Engaged Emergency Referrals In A Rural District Of Pakistan, Imran Naeem Abbasi, Sameen Siddiqi

Community Health Sciences

A functional referral system for addressing health emergencies requires coordinated efforts by health system's stakeholders and the community. Using the Rural Health Programme (RHP) Thatta as a platform provided by an academic institution, district health system stakeholders and the community of Mirpur Sakro, taluka of Thatta, were engaged to strengthen the referral system for health emergencies through active community engagement. Through consultations with stakeholders, a referral system plan was developed with community volunteers from each village as focal persons for transportation, referring patients to health facilities and maintaining referral documentation. The stakeholders' experience and perceptions about the referral system were …


Unintended Pregnancy And The Associated Factors Among Pregnant Females: Sukh Survey-Karachi, Pakistan, Shama Razzaq, Saleem Jessani, Narjis Rizvi, Sarah Saleem Nov 2021

Unintended Pregnancy And The Associated Factors Among Pregnant Females: Sukh Survey-Karachi, Pakistan, Shama Razzaq, Saleem Jessani, Narjis Rizvi, Sarah Saleem

Community Health Sciences

Objective: Unintended pregnancy has become a substantially growing reproductive health concern in South Asian region. The objective of this survey was to assess the magnitude of unintended pregnancy along with its correlates among currently pregnant women residing in Karachi.
Methods: A community based, multistage, cross-sectional study was carried out among 612 currently pregnant women from squatter settlements of Karachi, inquiring for "unintended pregnancy", outcome of interest. Multivariable logistic analysis was done using SPSS v.19 to determine associated factors.
Results: Of 612 pregnant women interviewed, 168(27.4%) reported their pregnancies as unintended. The multivariable regression identified a high likelihood of unintended pregnancy …


Financing Mechanisms Applied For Successful Universal Health Coverage In Malaysia, Thailand And Singapore - Lessons For Pakistan, Rawshan Jabeen, Unaib Rabbani, Nazish Abbas Nov 2021

Financing Mechanisms Applied For Successful Universal Health Coverage In Malaysia, Thailand And Singapore - Lessons For Pakistan, Rawshan Jabeen, Unaib Rabbani, Nazish Abbas

Community Health Sciences

Universal health coverage is a global agenda and, currently for Pakistan, achieving this goal is a challenge because of a number of constraints. The current narrative review was planned to describe an overview of the provision of health insurance in Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore that have achieved universal health coverage, and to propose a roadmap for Pakistan. Literature search was conducted on Google Scholar and PubMed databases as well as on the World Bank website to retrieve relevant articles. The three studied countries achieved universal health coverage by gradually increasing allocation for health and through various mechanisms, such as health …


Spatiotemporal Variation And Socioeconomic Factors Of Financial Hardships Of Out-Of-Pocket Health Expenditure In Pakistan, Muhammad Ashar Malik, Iqbal Azam Syed, Amir Khan, Faisal Rifaq, Kinza Chaudhary Oct 2021

Spatiotemporal Variation And Socioeconomic Factors Of Financial Hardships Of Out-Of-Pocket Health Expenditure In Pakistan, Muhammad Ashar Malik, Iqbal Azam Syed, Amir Khan, Faisal Rifaq, Kinza Chaudhary

Community Health Sciences

Background: Financial hardships of out-of-pocket health expenditure (OPHE) is a growing concern for health policy makers in many low and middle-income countries. Spatiotemporal variation between Pakistan's four provinces over 2001-2015 is discussed, which would help comparing existing health services delivery and financial risk protection plans.
Aims: In this paper, we estimate financial hardship of OPHE in Pakistan.
Methods: We use the data sets of the household integrated economic surveys 2001-02, 2005-06, 2010-11 and 2015-16. We estimate OPHE share in household total and non-subsistence expenditure, catastrophic headcount at the threshold of OPHE ≥ 10% of total expenditure or OPHE ≥ 25% …


Stroke Care In Pakistan, Anjum Farooq, Narayanaswamy Venketasubramanian, Mohammad Wasay Oct 2021

Stroke Care In Pakistan, Anjum Farooq, Narayanaswamy Venketasubramanian, Mohammad Wasay

Section of Neurology

Increasing incidence of stroke and lack of infrastructure in both urban and rural areas needs immediate attention in Pakistan. There is a high proportion of young stroke with poor stroke outcomes. Acute stroke care is scarce in Pakistan due to the small number of neurologists (1 neurologist per 1 million population), few stroke units, and limited availability of alteplase (recombinant tissue plasminogen activator) in the country.


Assessment Of Macronutrients Consumption In The Diet Of Adolescent School Children In Four Seasons: A Longitudinal Study From An Urban City In Pakistan, Syed Hasan Raza Abidi, Aysha Almas, Abdul Ghani, Sania Sabir, Romaina Iqbal Oct 2021

Assessment Of Macronutrients Consumption In The Diet Of Adolescent School Children In Four Seasons: A Longitudinal Study From An Urban City In Pakistan, Syed Hasan Raza Abidi, Aysha Almas, Abdul Ghani, Sania Sabir, Romaina Iqbal

Medical College Documents

Background: A healthy diet in the adolescence period is essential for physical, mental, and immunological development. We aimed to assess macronutrient consumption in the diet of adolescent school children using 24 h recalls in four seasons of the year.
Method: This was a longitudinal study conducted from February 2014 to June 2015. The study population included 155 school children aged 7-14 years from an urban school in Karachi. 24HR recall was conducted on 4 random days of the 4 main seasons. A food composition table was developed where the weight, calories, carbohydrate, fat, and protein content of the food items …


Covid-19 Vaccination In Sindh Province, Pakistan: A Modelling Study Of Health Impact And Cost-Effectiveness, Carl A B. Pearson, Fiammetta Bozzani, Simon R. Procter, Nicholas G. Davies, Maryam Huda, Henning Tarp Jensen, Marcus Keogh-Brown, Muhammad Khalid, Sedona Sweeney, Sergio Torres-Rueda Oct 2021

Covid-19 Vaccination In Sindh Province, Pakistan: A Modelling Study Of Health Impact And Cost-Effectiveness, Carl A B. Pearson, Fiammetta Bozzani, Simon R. Procter, Nicholas G. Davies, Maryam Huda, Henning Tarp Jensen, Marcus Keogh-Brown, Muhammad Khalid, Sedona Sweeney, Sergio Torres-Rueda

Community Health Sciences

Background: Multiple Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines appear to be safe and efficacious, but only high-income countries have the resources to procure sufficient vaccine doses for most of their eligible populations. The World Health Organization has published guidelines for vaccine prioritisation, but most vaccine impact projections have focused on high-income countries, and few incorporate economic considerations. To address this evidence gap, we projected the health and economic impact of different vaccination scenarios in Sindh Province, Pakistan (population: 48 million).
Methods and findings: We fitted a compartmental transmission model to COVID-19 cases and deaths in Sindh from 30 April to 15 …


Relationship Between Estimated Average Glucose (Eag) And Fasting Plasma Glucose In A Cohort Of Pakistani Diabetic Subjects, Nanik Ram, Sibtain Ahmed, Saadia Sattar, Saira Furqan, Najmul Islam Oct 2021

Relationship Between Estimated Average Glucose (Eag) And Fasting Plasma Glucose In A Cohort Of Pakistani Diabetic Subjects, Nanik Ram, Sibtain Ahmed, Saadia Sattar, Saira Furqan, Najmul Islam

Section of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism

Introduction: Scientific literature is scarce on the utility of estimated average glucose (eAG) from Pakistan. Hence, there is a dire need to evaluate the relationship between eAG and fasting plasma glucose (FPG), in order to enhance our understanding of eAG and its usefulness. This study aims to investigate the relationship between FPG and eAG in diabetic patients calculated using HbA1C.
Materials and methods: A retrospective study was conducted at the Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. The medical records of both genders in the age range of 18-60 years, presenting as outpatients at the endocrine clinic, labeled as DM, were reviewed …


Impact Of Covid-19 On The Pre And Post Analytical Clinical Laboratory Testing Processes- A Performance Evaluation Study Using Six Sigma, Sibtain Ahmed, Farhat Jahan, Muhammad Umer Naeem Effendi, Farooq Ghani Oct 2021

Impact Of Covid-19 On The Pre And Post Analytical Clinical Laboratory Testing Processes- A Performance Evaluation Study Using Six Sigma, Sibtain Ahmed, Farhat Jahan, Muhammad Umer Naeem Effendi, Farooq Ghani

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the total testing process using six sigma metrics based on a comparison of pre and during pandemic periods.
Material & methods: The study duration was over 12 months, 6 months before and 6 months after the COVID-19 onset in Pakistan in March 2020 after the recognition of the first case, using quality indicators (QIs). QIs were chosen from a model of QIs recommended by the CAP. Analysis was performed using Six Sigma calculators and QIs were expressed in percentage (%) and Sigma value were computed. …


Examining The Relationships Between Early Childhood Experiences And Adolescent And Young Adult Health Status In A Resource-Limited Population: A Cohort Study, Zeba A. Rasmussen, Wasiat H. Shah, Chelsea L. Hansen, Syed Iqbal Azam, Ejaz Hussain, Barbara A. Schaefer, Nicole Zhong, Alexandra A. Jamison, Khalil Ahmed, Benjamin J J. Mccormick Sep 2021

Examining The Relationships Between Early Childhood Experiences And Adolescent And Young Adult Health Status In A Resource-Limited Population: A Cohort Study, Zeba A. Rasmussen, Wasiat H. Shah, Chelsea L. Hansen, Syed Iqbal Azam, Ejaz Hussain, Barbara A. Schaefer, Nicole Zhong, Alexandra A. Jamison, Khalil Ahmed, Benjamin J J. Mccormick

Department of Medicine

Background: Adolescence is a critical point in the realization of human capital, as health and educational decisions with long-term impacts are made. We examined the role of early childhood experiences on health, cognitive abilities, and educational outcomes of adolescents followed up from a longitudinal cohort study in Pakistan, hypothesizing that early childhood experiences reflecting poverty would manifest in reduced health and development in adolescence.
Methods and findings: Adolescents/young adults previously followed as children aged under 5 years were interviewed. Childhood data were available on diarrhea, pneumonia, and parental/household characteristics. New data were collected on health, anthropometry, education, employment, and languages …


How Children Perceive Covid-19? Kids Drawings And Perceptions Of Parents, Shelina Bhamani, Vardah Bharuchi, Nasreen Ali, Areeba Makhdoom, Ramla Hashmi, Sanober Nadeem, Hijaan Mitha, Alyza Muhammad, Mohsina Hussain, Fatima Shafiq, Ali Faisal Saleem, Lumaan Sheikh Sep 2021

How Children Perceive Covid-19? Kids Drawings And Perceptions Of Parents, Shelina Bhamani, Vardah Bharuchi, Nasreen Ali, Areeba Makhdoom, Ramla Hashmi, Sanober Nadeem, Hijaan Mitha, Alyza Muhammad, Mohsina Hussain, Fatima Shafiq, Ali Faisal Saleem, Lumaan Sheikh

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

COVID-19 affected many lives, number of children become stressful and socially isolated. School closure also has great impact on children’s social-emotional development and overall wellbeing. The aim of current study was to identify children’s reactions to COVID-19 and its impact on academic and social life. Qualitative participatory research design was used to assess children perception about COVID-19. Data were collected from parent’s interview and Children drawing. Three major themes include: Fear of the drastic changes, increased sense of responsibility, and gratitude for being at home with family was reported by the parents however children drawings revealed that most of the …


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.


The Family Planning "Know-Do" Gap Among Married Women Of Reproductive Age In Urban Pakistan, S Yameen, Sidrah Nausheen, I Hussain, K Hackett, Arjumand Rizvi, Uzair Ansari, Zohra S. Lassi, D Canning, I Shah, Sajid Bashir Soofi Sep 2021

The Family Planning "Know-Do" Gap Among Married Women Of Reproductive Age In Urban Pakistan, S Yameen, Sidrah Nausheen, I Hussain, K Hackett, Arjumand Rizvi, Uzair Ansari, Zohra S. Lassi, D Canning, I Shah, Sajid Bashir Soofi

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Objective: To examine the prevalence and predictors of family planning (FP) know-do gaps among married women of reproductive age (MWRA) in low socio-economic urban areas of Karachi, Pakistan.
Design: This was a cross-sectional survey of randomly selected 7288 MWRA (16-49 years) to identify predictors of the know-do gap in FP using a logistic regression model.
Results: More than one third (35.5%) of MWRA had FP know-do gap, i.e., despite having a knowledge of contraceptives and desire to limit or delay childbearing, they were not using contraceptives. Women were less likely to use FP if they were getting older (25-35 years: …


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 …


Quality Of Inpatient Care Of Small And Sick Newborns In Pakistan: Perceptions Of Key Stakeholders, Nousheen Pradhan, Ammarah Ali, Sana Roujani, Sumera Aziz Ali, Samia Rizwan, Sarah Saleem, Sameen Siddiqi Sep 2021

Quality Of Inpatient Care Of Small And Sick Newborns In Pakistan: Perceptions Of Key Stakeholders, Nousheen Pradhan, Ammarah Ali, Sana Roujani, Sumera Aziz Ali, Samia Rizwan, Sarah Saleem, Sameen Siddiqi

Community Health Sciences

Background: In LMICs including Pakistan, neonatal health and survival is a critical challenge, and therefore improving the quality of facility-based newborn care services is instrumental in averting newborn mortality. This paper presents the perceptions of the key stakeholders in the public sector to explore factors influencing the care of small and sick newborns and young infants in inpatient care settings across Pakistan.
Methods: This exploratory study was part of a larger study assessing the situation of newborn and young infant in-patient care provided across all four provinces and administrative regions of Pakistan. We conducted 43 interviews. Thirty interviews were conducted …


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 …


Acceptance Rates And Beliefs Toward Covid-19 Vaccination Among The General Population Of Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Survey, Farah Yasmin, Waleed Asghar, Maryam Salma Babar, Hiba Khan, Shoaib Ahmad, Zaid Hameed, Muhammad Sohaib Asghar, Hamza Nauman, Abdullah Khan Khattak Sep 2021

Acceptance Rates And Beliefs Toward Covid-19 Vaccination Among The General Population Of Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Survey, Farah Yasmin, Waleed Asghar, Maryam Salma Babar, Hiba Khan, Shoaib Ahmad, Zaid Hameed, Muhammad Sohaib Asghar, Hamza Nauman, Abdullah Khan Khattak

Medical College Documents

Developing countries like Pakistan have previously suffered from barriers to acceptance of vaccination by the public because of financial and belief barriers. This study aims to explore these beliefs and highlight concerns regarding vaccine hesitancy in the general population of Pakistan since they are a hindrance to an effective coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) immunization in the country. A cross-sectional study was performed involving 1,778 participants from all four provinces of Pakistan. Results from the study showed more than half of the participants to be unsure of the safety (50%) and efficacy (51%) of the vaccine, whereas 42% were concerned about the …


Higher Entropy Observed In Sars-Cov-2 Genomes From The First Covid-19 Wave In Pakistan, Najia Karim Ghanchi, Asghar Nasir, Kiran I. Masood, Syed Hani Abidi, Syed Faisal Mahmood, Akber Kanji, Safina Abdul Razzak, Waqasuddin Khan, Saba Shahid, Maliha Yameen, Ali Raza, Javaria Ashraf, Zeeshan Ansar Ahmed, Mohammad Buksh Dharejo, Nazneen Islam, Zahra Hasan, Rumina Hasan Aug 2021

Higher Entropy Observed In Sars-Cov-2 Genomes From The First Covid-19 Wave In Pakistan, Najia Karim Ghanchi, Asghar Nasir, Kiran I. Masood, Syed Hani Abidi, Syed Faisal Mahmood, Akber Kanji, Safina Abdul Razzak, Waqasuddin Khan, Saba Shahid, Maliha Yameen, Ali Raza, Javaria Ashraf, Zeeshan Ansar Ahmed, Mohammad Buksh Dharejo, Nazneen Islam, Zahra Hasan, Rumina Hasan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background: We investigated the genome diversity of SARS-CoV-2 associated with the early COVID-19 period to investigate evolution of the virus in Pakistan.
Materials and methods: We studied ninety SARS-CoV-2 strains isolated between March and October 2020. Whole genome sequences from our laboratory and available genomes were used to investigate phylogeny, genetic variantion and mutation rates of SARS-CoV-2 strains in Pakistan. Site specific entropy analysis compared mutation rates between strains isolated before and after June 2020.
Results: In March, strains belonging to L, S, V and GH clades were observed but by October, only L and GH strains were present. The …


Dietary Diversity And Social Determinants Of Nutrition Among Late Adolescent Girls In Rural Pakistan, Jo-Anna B. Baxter, Yaqub Wasan, Muhammad Islam, Simon Cousens, Sajid Bashir Soofi, Imran Ahmed, Daniel W. Sellen, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta Aug 2021

Dietary Diversity And Social Determinants Of Nutrition Among Late Adolescent Girls In Rural Pakistan, Jo-Anna B. Baxter, Yaqub Wasan, Muhammad Islam, Simon Cousens, Sajid Bashir Soofi, Imran Ahmed, Daniel W. Sellen, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

The conditions in which adolescent girls mature shape their health, development and nutrition. Nutrient requirements increase to support growth during adolescence, but gaps between consumption and requirements exist in low- and middle-income countries. We aimed to identify and quantify the relationship between dietary intake and diverse social determinants of nutrition (SDN) among a subset of adolescent girls 15-18.9 years (n = 390) enrolled within the Matiari emPowerment and Preconception Supplementation (MaPPS) Trial. The primary outcome, dietary diversity score (DDS), was derived by applying the Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women 10-item scale to 24-h dietary recall data collected three times per …


Balancing Science And Public Policy In Pakistan's Covid-19 Response, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, Faisal Sultan, Aamer Ikram, Adil H. Haider, Assad Hafeez, Muhammad Islam Aug 2021

Balancing Science And Public Policy In Pakistan's Covid-19 Response, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, Faisal Sultan, Aamer Ikram, Adil H. Haider, Assad Hafeez, Muhammad Islam

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected the world in an unprecedented manner and South Asian countries were among the first to experience imported cases. Pakistan's response to COVID-19 has been under scrutiny for its granularity, reach and impact.
Aims: to evaluate objectively the chronology and depth of the response to COVID-19 in Pakistan.
Methods: We evaluated available national and subnational epidemiological and burden information on COVID-19 cases and deaths in Pakistan, including projection models available to the Government at an early stage of the pandemic.
Results: Pakistan, with a population of 215 million and considerable geographic diversity, experienced case …


Balancing Science And Public Policy In Pakistan's Covid-19 Response, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, Faisal Sultan, Aamer Ikram, Adil H. Haider, Assad Hafeez, Muhammad Islam Aug 2021

Balancing Science And Public Policy In Pakistan's Covid-19 Response, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, Faisal Sultan, Aamer Ikram, Adil H. Haider, Assad Hafeez, Muhammad Islam

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected the world in an unprecedented manner and South Asian countries were among the first to experience imported cases. Pakistan's response to COVID-19 has been under scrutiny for its granularity, reach and impact.
Aims: to evaluate objectively the chronology and depth of the response to COVID-19 in Pakistan.
Methods: We evaluated available national and subnational epidemiological and burden information on COVID-19 cases and deaths in Pakistan, including projection models available to the Government at an early stage of the pandemic.
Results: Pakistan, with a population of 215 million and considerable geographic diversity, experienced case …


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 …


Probabilistic Measures Of Hiv-1 Transmission In Different Hiv-1 Key Population Groups Of Larkana, Pakistan, Syed Rizwan-Ul-Hasa, Abiha Abdullah, Shakil Arshad Siddiqui, Shakil Ahmed, Sharaf Ali Shah, Fatima Mir, Syed Hani Abidi Aug 2021

Probabilistic Measures Of Hiv-1 Transmission In Different Hiv-1 Key Population Groups Of Larkana, Pakistan, Syed Rizwan-Ul-Hasa, Abiha Abdullah, Shakil Arshad Siddiqui, Shakil Ahmed, Sharaf Ali Shah, Fatima Mir, Syed Hani Abidi

Medical College Documents

Objective: To estimate the probability of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 transmission from different key HIV population groups using probabilistic modelling.
Methods: This study was conducted in December 2020. A probabilistic model was used to estimate the probability of HIV-1 transmission from different key HIV population groups in Larkana. Our model was run on three probabilistic assumptions: 1) each replication gave two conceivable results: 'true' or 'false'; 2) the chance of giving a 'true' result is the same for each replication; and 3) the replications are independent - 'true' in one will not impact the likelihood of 'true' in another.
Results: …


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 …