Herpes Simplex Virus-2 infection amongst urban male population in Pakistan

To describe the prevalence of Herpes Simplex Virus-2 [HSV-2] infection among males in six major cities of Pakistan. A cross sectional behavioural and biological survey of urban male population aged 16-45 years was conducted in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Faisalabad, Peshawar and Quetta to measure the prevalence of five sexually transmitted infections and assess sexual behaviours. Respondents were selected through a multistage sampling technique. In each city 10 blocks demarcated by the Population Census Organization were selected based on probability proportional to socio-economic status. In each block 40 men were selected through systematic sampling with a random start. In total 2400 men were administered a behavioural questionnaire and 2396 provided biological specimens for laboratory testing. This paper discusses the overall and city wise prevalence of HSV-2 infection. The overall prevalence of HSV-2 infection in the six cities was 3.4 percent [95% Cl 2.8-4.3]. City wise the highest prevalence was reported in Karachi 6 percent [95% Cl 4.1-8.8], followed by Lahore and Quetta at 4.3 percent [95% Cl 2.7-6.7], and Faisalabad at 2.5 percent [95% Cl 1.4-4.5]. The lowest prevalence was in Rawalpindi at 1.8 percent [95% Cl 0.9-3.6]. Empirical evidence from this study suggests that there is city wise variation in the prevalence of HSV-2 infection across the major cities in Pakistan. Based on possible link between HSV-2 and HIV, future HIV control strategies must also focus on the better management of HSV-2 infections in Pakistan

study to assess the variations in the management of childhood diarrhoea in rural and urban settings of Rawalpindi district

The study looks at the variation in the management of childhood diarrhoea in an urban and rural community of Rawalpindi District. The study aims to assess if place of residence has a bearing on how people manage episodes of diarrhoea in their offsprings. The study found that use of oral rehydration salt [ORS] and recommended home fluid use was more in the urban areas. The method of preparation of ORS and the use of antidiarrhoeals was the same in both communities. The study showed that breast feeding was more commonly practiced in the rural areas