Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Regarding First Aid against Domestic Injuries in Mothers of Children less than 5 Years of Age Attending Fauji Foundation Hospital Islamabad

Background: The objective is to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding first aid towards home related injuries among mothers of children less than 5 years of age at tertiary care hospital of Islamabad. Methods: A questionnaire based cross sectional study was conducted in Fauji Foundation Hospital Islamabad. 400 participants were selected using convenience sampling the mother of children under 5 years of age were included and mother of children with any major co morbidity, congenital abnormalities and who didn’t give consent were excluded from the study. A pretested, structured, self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection after obtaining permission from Institutional Ethical Committee. Statistical analysis was carried using SPSS version 20. Frequencies and percentages were computed, descriptive statistical analysis was done. Chi- Square was applied for association between socio demographic variables and knowledge of mothers regarding first aid. Results: About 44% of the mothers and 63% children fall in age group of 31 and 2-5 years respectively. Half of the mothers (48%) are below intermediate level of education. About 34% of the respondents stated bleeding as most urgent and important injury requiring first aid. Regarding attitudes, 50% of the mothers strongly agree towards necessity of first aid and lack of awareness about dealing with domestic injuries. Sixty-five (65%) of the mothers had given first aid to their child. About 33%, 75%, 44% and 39% of the mothers have faced a child with difficulty in breathing; bleeding, burning and insect/sibling bite respectively. Age of mother (p=0.041), education of mother (p=0.001) and total no of children (p=0.001) were significantly associated with knowledge of first aid. Conclusion: Although home accidents are a common problem, mother’s knowledge regarding home accidents was deficient although majority of the respondents have positive attitude.

Disparity in Populace Phenotype Impels Predisposition to Variations in Health Status

Background: The disparity in populace phenotype, embracing stature and pigmentation, drives of internal physiological constituent and adaptation to the external environment, impel variations in populace health status. The study tends to explore how significantly populaces phenotype influenced by internal or external exposures, and how effectually it prognosticates predisposition to variant health states. Methods: Ecological study encompassing twenty states residing on antipodes (North and South) endures distinct exposures, exhibit disparate phenotypes, execute different health status. Each State selected employing non-proportion quota sampling, standing extreme on either stature or pigmentation, residing in cold or hot region, contrasted on considered variables embracing UV-index, malnutrition, healthy life expectancy, fertility rate, natural increase, and top five causes of mortality. All computation, analysis, and interpretation perform employing MS-EXCEL. The complete compilation phase last from March to June 2019. Results: Findings reveal a strong association between exposures and phenotypes, UV-index and pigmentation (r = 0.96), malnutrition and stature (r = -0.81). Stature descends and pigmentation ascends along the latitude (North to South). Populace light pigmentation tall stature executes healthy prolong life span contrast to deep pigmentation standing short. Cardiac and cancer diseases significantly reported among statured nations. While high susceptibility to Influenza/ Pneumonia, and HIV/AIDS observe in pigmented nations. Conclusion: Decisively homo sapiens phenotypes inordinately servile to internal and external exposures effectually prognosticate predisposition to distinct health states. Enforcement of measures mitigating populace internal and external exposure can elicit desire output in phenotype and outcomes in health status.

Assessment of University Students for the Risk Factors and Diabetes Profile in University of Peshawar

Background: Among the non-communicable diseases diabetes is life-threatening condition whose long-time complication causes heart attack, blindness, stroke and kidney failure. The objective was to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding diabetes among the final year students of home economics, university of Peshawar. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out among final year university students of home economics, university of Peshawar from June to December 2019. Non-probability convenient sampling technique was used for the study. After taking written consent from individual participants a predesigned questionnaire was filled. Data was collected and analyzed by using SPSS version 16. Results: This study included a total of 120 female students of graduate and master level. Among these students 33 (27.5%) were undergraduate and 87 (72.5%) were master level students. It was found that 39 (32.5%) female students were either self-diabetics or one or more close blood related family member were suffering from diabetes. A significantly high proportion 59 (49.2%) and 15 (12.5%) female students were either overweight or obese respectively. About 59 (49.2%) students were with unsatisfactory diabetics practice score, 73 (60.8%) students never checked for sugar and 7 (5.8%) students were found with other chronic diseases status. Interestingly only 28 (23.3%) students know about diabetes and acquired knowledge about diabetes from nutritionists. Conclusion: The increased frequency of obesity & overweight, unsatisfactory diabetes score, unhealthy behavior and suboptimal attitude of female university students provided a threat of potential increase of diabetes among females in future.

Predictors of Knowledge Regarding Puberty and Menstruation among Females of Reproductive Age Visiting Public Health Care Institute of Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Background: In this questionnaire based cross sectional survey, the researchers aimed to identify the sociodemographic predictors of knowledge regarding puberty and menstruation among females of reproductive age visiting a public healthcare institute. Methods: Using non-probability sampling, a self-designed, pretested and validated interviewer administered questionnaire in Urdu language was used to collect data from females of reproductive age (18-55 years) visiting the Gynecology outpatient department of tertiary care hospital in Rawalpindi, Pakistan from November 2019 to March 2020. Results: Descriptive and inferential analysis using SPSS v. 21.0 revealed that 288 female participants with mean age 30.30±8.98 years participated in the study, out of which 48.6% of the participants had adequate knowledge regarding puberty and menstruation. The knowledge score was significantly higher among married females (67.7%), those living in urban areas (68.3%), having nuclear families (63.2%), and females with more than 12 years of education (69.9%), employed females (92.2%) and those with higher family income (83.3%). Binary logistic regression showed women living in urban setting were 4.01 times more likely to have good knowledge about puberty (OR 4.01, 95% CI 2.03-8.10, p<0.001) and menstruation and working women were 16.5 times more likely to have adequate knowledge (OR 16.5, 95% CI 1.5-181.7, p 0.022). Conclusion: The inadequate knowledge of females may be attributed to misconceptions regarding menstruation due to poor access to health-related education and a culture of silence around sexual and reproductive health issues. Systemic integration of adequate menstrual socialization at homes and in schools can change the discourse around sexual and reproductive health in the societal landscape. Future studies may explore health-information seeking practices of females from diverse socio-demographics to identify the sources and types of knowledge that they seek on female reproductive health issues.

School Health Services (SHS): A need in the context of Pakistan

School Health Services (SHS) are school health programs that promote health in school children. The value of SHS is recognized globally and practices around SHS vary with different regions. Its positive outcomes are already acknowledged by high-income countries, where education ministries are typically involved in cultivating comprehensive School Health Services. Low-income countries remain hesitant to implement SHS, due to various constraints. In Pakistan, SHS have been introduced and restructured several times, but never comprehensively executed. Private schools in Pakistan offer better health programs than public schools but none of the schools follow standardized school health guidelines. This paper aims to analyze the role of SHS in Pakistan and provide several recommendations regarding the establishment of SHS in local schools. The proposed suggestions revolve around establishing model clinics in schools, which would be central to subsequent school-based health programs in Pakistan. If properly designed and equipped, school clinics can support a wide range of health outcomes, from emergency first aid care, to immunizations, to health education. The involvement of ministries and national authorities is encouraged for smooth delivery of SHS and compliance with public health guidelines.

Increasing Trend of Substance Using among Females of Punjab

The article gives a detailed study of facts and figures of female substance users in Punjab as reported in different surveys. It discusses the major reasons of increasing trend of substance using among females of Punjab out of which the most prominent roots of this menace are discussed in this review as socio-economical pressure and the role of entertainment and social media. Common social factors were found to be peer pressure and relational substance use among females. Financially, most of the women started using substance as a result of transition from housewife to caretakers of family. Some students were addicted to substance using from friends already addicted to substance use while other students started abusing substance due to stress of hectic study routines. In some reported cases, young ones were encouraged to use substance by watching an elder substance user. Transition from chars to other substances of choice was also found in many female substance users. Case studies of some Female Substance Users expressed some awful and serious issues which need immediate attention. There is a large risk factor associated with this increasing trend of substance using in this region which needs to be tackled carefully by the government and certain other non-governmental bodies.

Indo-Pak Comparison and Forecasting of Covid-19 Epidemic: A Secondary Data Analysis

Background: The world has historically faced and recovered from many pandemics. The most recent global pandemic that the whole world is facing is Novel Coronavirus – Covid-19. The objective of current study is to compare and forecast COVID-19 trends for Pakistan and India. Methods: The data set for this research is obtained from the World Health Organization (WHO) online repository (https://covid19.who.int/). The time period we have considered since the first corona related case and death were observed in both countries. This research paper analyzes corona related cases and deaths in Pakistan and India till 28th February 2021, a total of 578,797 cases in Pakistan and 11,096,731 cases in India has been confirmed including 128,37 and 1,570,51 deaths respectively. The Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model is used to forecast the variables cumulative cases and deaths. It is simple to use and more predictive than any other regression model. Results: Based on the current trend, the forecast graph reveals that the number of cumulative corona cases could reach 999,767 in Pakistan and 16,481,122 in India up to 31st December 2021. Conclusion: This research found that corona related cumulative cases and deaths are on the rise in both countries. The pandemic situation in India is worse than in Pakistan nevertheless both countries are at high risk. There is a sudden increasing pattern in the number of corona related cases in both countries. Both governments must impose effective policies to control this pandemic.

Screen Time Related Musculoskeletal Symptoms among Adolescents: A Cross Sectional Survey in Twin Cities

Background: The objectives were to evaluate the frequency of musculoskeletal symptoms related to screen time and to determine the mostly affected body parts with musculoskeletal symptoms Methods: A Cross-sectional survey was conducted on 150 students from February to May 2018 selected via convenience sampling technique. Data was collected from students of twin cities having screen time more than 3 hour’s using validated questionnaires including The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) to assess musculoskeletal symptoms and self-structured questionnaire for screen time and demographics. Data was analyzed using SPSS v.21. Results: Mean age of the population was 15±2.7 years. Mean screen time score was computed as 6.45 hours with 10 hours highest screen time observed of 6 participants. Mean musculoskeletal involvement was computed as 85.3 % (n=128) in last 12 months of which 28.9% (n=66) had neck pain, 21.9% (n=50) had lower back pain whereas 14.9%, 11.4% had shoulder and upper back involvement. In last 7 days 25.7%, participants had pain in neck area and 18.3% in lower back. 83.5% participants didn’t visited physicians for their respective condition. significant relation of screen time was observed with the musculoskeletal symptoms. Conclusion: Screen time severely influence musculoskeletal symptoms especially neck and lower back muscle, presence of high number of musculoskeletal symptoms among adolescent is alarming and shows the need of adequate measures to address these problems

Retrospective Analysis of Periodontal Bone Loss from Orthopantogram X-Ray of Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Patients Visiting Punjab Dental Hospital Lahore

Background: Periodontitis is a dental public health issue evident by interdental bone loss which can be detected by periapical and Orthopantograph (OPG) radiograph. The objective of this retrospective study was to compare bone loss in diabetic and non-diabetic patients visiting Punjab Dental Hospital (PDH) Lahore. Methods: Bone loss was measured in mesial and distal sites of six teeth i.e. tooth numbers 16, 11, 26, 31, 36, and 46 and a mean score was assigned to each tooth. A score < 2 mm was taken as normal and > 2mm as bone loss from the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) to interdental bone (Alveolar bone crest). Data was entered into SPSS 22. Variables like age and bone loss were analyzed as mean and SD. A Chi-square test was applied between diabetic, non-diabetic, and independent variables. A p-value of equal to or less than 0.05 was taken as significant. Results: This study included 101 OPG X-ray, 39 (38.6%) diabetic and 62 (61.4) non-diabetics. The mean age in the diabetic group is 44.2821±6.1 and in non-diabetic individuals it is 31.7581±9.3. Bone loss in diabetics was as high as compared to non-diabetics. Such as in diabetics, tooth no.16’s mean value is 3.8462 as compared to non-diabetics 2.7258. Significant association between bone loss and status of diabetes was observed in all teeth except tooth no. 31. Conclusion: Radiographically, bone loss is more common in diabetic individuals than non-diabetic healthy people. First molars have more bone loss than incisors.

Consumption of Milk and Milk Products Among Young People of Pakistan; Cross Sectional Study

Background: Consumption of milk and milk products between 10-24 years of age is chief important; a crucial bone development age and during recent years consumption of milk and milk products had been decreased among young people. Current study was aimed to investigate the consumption of milk and milk products among young people of Pakistan. Methods: Study design was Cross-sectional; two hundred individuals aged 10-24 years were selected via convenient sampling. Self-structured questionnaire with a combination of closed and open ended questions was used for data collection. Results: Study provided that 152(76%) sample consumed milk once daily 298±234.90ml and 48(24%) did not consumed milk. Conclusion: Results concluded that the consumption of milk and milk products among young people was low as compared to the recommended dietary allowances; thus a need to provide knowledge regarding the importance of milk consumption to assist in reducing bone health disorders