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

Women's Health Commons

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

Articles 1 - 13 of 13

Full-Text Articles in Women's Health

Factors Associated With Mammographic Breast Density Among Women In Karachi Pakistan, Uzma Shamsi, Shaista Afzal Saeed, Azra Shamsi, Syed Iqbal Azam, David Callen Dec 2021

Factors Associated With Mammographic Breast Density Among Women In Karachi Pakistan, Uzma Shamsi, Shaista Afzal Saeed, Azra Shamsi, Syed Iqbal Azam, David Callen

Community Health Sciences

Background: There are no studies done to evaluate the distribution of mammographic breast density and factors associated with it among Pakistani women.
Methods: Participants included 477 women, who had received either diagnostic or screening mammography at two hospitals in Karachi Pakistan. Mammographic breast density was assessed using the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System. In person interviews were conducted using a detailed questionnaire, to assess risk factors of interest, and venous blood was collected to measure serum vitamin D level at the end of the interview. To determine the association of potential factors with mammographic breast density, multivariable polytomous logistic …


Improving Maternal And Child Health In Pakistan: A Programme Evaluation Using A Difference In Difference Analysis, Muhammad Ashar Malik, Lara Riedige Rohm, Pieter Van Baal, Eddy Van Doorslaer Van Doorslaer Dec 2021

Improving Maternal And Child Health In Pakistan: A Programme Evaluation Using A Difference In Difference Analysis, Muhammad Ashar Malik, Lara Riedige Rohm, Pieter Van Baal, Eddy Van Doorslaer Van Doorslaer

Community Health Sciences

Introduction: Pakistan is a country with high maternal and infant mortality. Several large foreign funded projects were targeted at improving maternal, neonatal and child health. The Norway-Pakistan Partnership Initiative (NPPI) was one of these projects. This study aims to evaluate whether NPPI was successful in improving access and use of skilled maternal healthcare.
Methods: We used data from three rounds (2009-2010, 2011-2012 and 2013-2014) of the Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement Survey (PSLM). A difference-in-difference regression framework was used to estimate the effectiveness of NPPI and its different programme components with respect to maternal healthcare seeking behaviour of pregnant …


The Efficacy Of A Personalized Mhealth Coaching Program During Pregnancy On Maternal Diet, Supplement Use, And Physical Activity: Protocol For A Parallel-Group Randomized Controlled Trial, Rozina Nuruddin, Khadija Vadsaria, Nuruddin Badruddin Mohammed, Saleem Sayani Nov 2021

The Efficacy Of A Personalized Mhealth Coaching Program During Pregnancy On Maternal Diet, Supplement Use, And Physical Activity: Protocol For A Parallel-Group Randomized Controlled Trial, Rozina Nuruddin, Khadija Vadsaria, Nuruddin Badruddin Mohammed, Saleem Sayani

Community Health Sciences

Background: Adequate intake of macro- and micronutrients and adoption of an active lifestyle during pregnancy are essential for optimum maternal and fetal health and offspring development. Dietary counseling and advice regarding adequate physical activity are integral components of antenatal care. Personalized coaching through the use of mobile health (mHealth) that supports behavior modification is an innovative approach that needs exploration.
Objective: Our primary aim is to assess the efficacy of an mHealth program in improving diet, supplement use, and physical activity during pregnancy. Secondary objectives include evaluation of the program's effect on maternal and offspring health outcomes and assessment of …


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 …


We Won't Go There: Barriers To Accessing Maternal And Newborn Care In District Thatta, Pakistan, Muhammad Asim, Sarah Saleem, Zarak Hussain Ahmed, Imran Naeem Abbasi, Farina Abrejo, Zafar Fatmi, Sameen Siddiqi Oct 2021

We Won't Go There: Barriers To Accessing Maternal And Newborn Care In District Thatta, Pakistan, Muhammad Asim, Sarah Saleem, Zarak Hussain Ahmed, Imran Naeem Abbasi, Farina Abrejo, Zafar Fatmi, Sameen Siddiqi

Community Health Sciences

Accessibility and utilization of healthcare plays a significant role in preventing complications during pregnancy, labor, and the early postnatal period. However, multiple barriers can prevent women from accessing services. The aim of this study was to explore the multifaceted barriers that inhibit women from seeking maternal and newborn health care in Thatta, Sindh, Pakistan. This study employed an interpretive research design using a purposive sampling approach. Pre-tested, semi-structured interview guides were used for data collection. The data were collected through eight focus group discussions with men and women, and six in-depth interviews with lady health workers and analyzed through thematic …


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 …


Frequency Of Primiparous Mother Initiated Breastfeeding Earlier After Birth And Factors Associated With It In Sindh, Pakistan: A Secondary Analysis, Asma A. Bham, Sucheta Sharma, Akash Sardool, Umer F. Mujahid, Amrat Ayaz, Komal Valliani, Nawaal Maredia Aug 2021

Frequency Of Primiparous Mother Initiated Breastfeeding Earlier After Birth And Factors Associated With It In Sindh, Pakistan: A Secondary Analysis, Asma A. Bham, Sucheta Sharma, Akash Sardool, Umer F. Mujahid, Amrat Ayaz, Komal Valliani, Nawaal Maredia

Community Health Sciences

Background: Initiation of breastfeeding within one hour after delivery plays a vital role in a newborns life by not only increasing their survival rate but also reducing many life-threatening diseases in the newborn. The aim of the study was to determine frequency of early initiation of breastfeeding among primiparous mothers in a rural district of Thatta, Pakistan.
Methods: This study was conducted using survey data extracted from a cross-sectional study conducted in 2019 on prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding and factors associated with it among women in Thatta. The outcome was early initiation of breastfeeding. To determine factors associated with it, …


Management Of Maternal Depression: Qualitative Exploration Of Perceptions Of Healthcare Professionals From A Public Tertiary Care Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, Makkiya Jawed, Nousheen Pradhan, Rozina Mistry, Amirah Nazir, Sualeha Shekhani, Tazeen Saeed Ali Jul 2021

Management Of Maternal Depression: Qualitative Exploration Of Perceptions Of Healthcare Professionals From A Public Tertiary Care Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, Makkiya Jawed, Nousheen Pradhan, Rozina Mistry, Amirah Nazir, Sualeha Shekhani, Tazeen Saeed Ali

Community Health Sciences

The lack of implementation and routine screening of management techniques at tertiary care hospitals leads to an increased burden of maternal depression. The consequences are borne emotionally, physically, and mentally by the mother, the child, the overall family, and society. Hence, it is vital to contextualize this mental disorder to design and implement effective healthcare interventions. The study is aimed to assess the knowledge and practices of healthcare professionals, in a tertiary care setting, who deal with depressive symptoms amongst mothers. It gauges whether a psychological screening criterion is being implemented by the clinical staff during prenatal and postnatal visits …


Cost Estimation Alongside A Multi-Regional, Multi-Country Randomized Trial Of Antenatal Ultrasound In Five Low-And-Middle-Income Countries, B W. Bresnahan, E Vodicka, J B. Babigumira, Ashar Muhammad Malik, F Yego, A Lokangaka, B M. Chitah, Z Bauer, H Chavez, Sarah Saleem May 2021

Cost Estimation Alongside A Multi-Regional, Multi-Country Randomized Trial Of Antenatal Ultrasound In Five Low-And-Middle-Income Countries, B W. Bresnahan, E Vodicka, J B. Babigumira, Ashar Muhammad Malik, F Yego, A Lokangaka, B M. Chitah, Z Bauer, H Chavez, Sarah Saleem

Community Health Sciences

Background: Improving maternal health has been a primary goal of international health agencies for many years, with the aim of reducing maternal and child deaths and improving access to antenatal care (ANC) services, particularly in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs). Health interventions with these aims have received more attention from a clinical effectiveness perspective than for cost impact and economic efficiency.
Methods: We collected data on resource use and costs as part of a large, multi-country study assessing the use of routine antenatal screening ultrasound (US) with the aim of considering the implications for economic efficiency. We assessed typical antenatal outpatient and …


Exploring Willingness To Pay For Health Insurance And Preferences For A Benefits Package From The Perspective Of Women From Low-Income Households Of Karachi, Pakistan, Shifa Salman Habib, Shehla Zaidi Apr 2021

Exploring Willingness To Pay For Health Insurance And Preferences For A Benefits Package From The Perspective Of Women From Low-Income Households Of Karachi, Pakistan, Shifa Salman Habib, Shehla Zaidi

Community Health Sciences

Background: Achieving universal health coverage (UHC) and reduction in out of pocket (OOP) expenditures on health, is a critical target of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). In low-middle income countries, micro-health insurance (MHI) schemes have emerged as a useful financing tool for laying grounds for Universal Health Coverage. The aim of this study was to provide evidence for designing a feasible health insurance scheme targeted at urban poor, by exploring preferences for an insurance benefits package and co-payments among women from low-income households in Karachi, Pakistan.
Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study, conducted using household surveys between July-August 2015. …


Gestational Weight Gain In 4 Low- And Middle-Income Countries And Associations With Birth Outcomes: A Secondary Analysis Of The Women First Trial, Melissa S. Bauserman, Carla M. Bann, K Michael Hambidge, Ana L. Garces, Lester Figueroa, Jamie L. Westcott, Jackie K. Patterson, Elizabeth M. Mcclure, Sumera Ali Aziz, Sarah Saleem Apr 2021

Gestational Weight Gain In 4 Low- And Middle-Income Countries And Associations With Birth Outcomes: A Secondary Analysis Of The Women First Trial, Melissa S. Bauserman, Carla M. Bann, K Michael Hambidge, Ana L. Garces, Lester Figueroa, Jamie L. Westcott, Jackie K. Patterson, Elizabeth M. Mcclure, Sumera Ali Aziz, Sarah Saleem

Community Health Sciences

Background: Adequate gestational weight gain (GWG) is essential for healthy fetal growth. However, in low- and middle-income countries, where malnutrition is prevalent, little information is available about GWG and how it might be modified by nutritional status and interventions.
Objective: We describe GWG and its associations with fetal growth and birth outcomes. We also examined the extent to which prepregnancy BMI, and preconception and early weight gain modify GWG, and its effects on fetal growth.
Methods: This was a secondary analysis of the Women First Trial, including 2331 women within the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Guatemala, India, and Pakistan, …


Are Underprivileged And Less Empowered Women Deprived Of Respectful Maternity Care: Inequities In Childbirth Experiences In Public Health Facilities In Pakistan, Waqas Hameed, Mudassir Uddin, Bilal Iqbal Avan Apr 2021

Are Underprivileged And Less Empowered Women Deprived Of Respectful Maternity Care: Inequities In Childbirth Experiences In Public Health Facilities In Pakistan, Waqas Hameed, Mudassir Uddin, Bilal Iqbal Avan

Community Health Sciences

Background: Attainment of healthcare in respectful and dignified manner is a fundamental right for every woman regardless of the individual status. However, social exclusion, poor psychosocial support, and demeaning care during childbirth at health facilities are common worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. We concurrently examined how women with varying socio-demographic characteristics are treated during childbirth, the effect of women's empowerment on mistreatment, and health services factors that contribute to mistreatment in secondary-level public health facilities in Pakistan.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted during August-November 2016 among 783 women who gave birth in six secondary-care public health facilities …


Fears And Barriers: Problems In Breast Cancer Diagnosis And Treatment In Pakistan, Sidra Saeed, Muhammad Asim, Malik Muhammad Sohail Apr 2021

Fears And Barriers: Problems In Breast Cancer Diagnosis And Treatment In Pakistan, Sidra Saeed, Muhammad Asim, Malik Muhammad Sohail

Community Health Sciences

Background: Women in Pakistan lack appropriate awareness about diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer due to a range of multifaceted barriers. There is a dearth of literature examining the socio-cultural factors that inhibit women from breast cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment in Punjab, Pakistan. Addressing this gap, this qualitative study sought to identify and explore the barriers that hinder women from seeking timely screening and treatment.
Methods: In this process 45 women (age = 18-50 years) with breast cancer were purposively sampled and interviewed from the Punjab Institute of Nuclear Medicine (PINUM) hospital, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Results: An inductive approach was …