Knowledge, attitudes and practices [KAP] regarding sexuality, sexual behaviors and contraceptives among college/ university students in Karachi, Pakistan

To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding sexuality, high risk sexual behaviors and methods of contraception, among college/university students of Karachi, Pakistan. Cross-sectional observational study. Higher Education Commission-recognized government and private colleges/ universities in Karachi from 2005-2006. two colleges/universities were randomly selected from each category i.e. government medical, government non-medical and private medical and non-medical colleges/universities. Three stage cluster sampling was employed to draw a representative sample of students. A self administered questionnaire was used to elicit information on knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding high risk sexual behaviors, methods of contraception and sources to obtain information about sexual issues. A total of 957 students were interviewed. They comprised 542 [56.6%] males and 415 [43.4%] females with mean age of 21 +/- 1.8 years. Bivariate analysis showed that students enrolled in medical colleges/ universities were less likely to watch adult films [O.R. 0.7, CI; 0.5-0.9] to acquire sex related knowledge and go out on dates [O.R.0.6, CI; 0.4-0.8]. Similarly, medical students were less likely to consider contraception as being against Islamic teachings [O.R. 0.7, CI; 0.5-0.9]. the curricula of non-medical studies at undergraduate level should include education regarding sexual health and contraception

Disease pattern, health services utilization and cost of treatment in Pakistan

Population based data on disease patterns, health services utilization and cost incurred on treatment in Pakistan were collected through a nation-wide sample survey in 1982-83. The survey for the first time revealed, the burden of disease on the society. The analysis done here suggest, that about one-sixth of the population suffered from an illness during the past one month period. As expected, illness was more prevalent among children, women in reproductive ages and the elderly. Over two-thirds of those who fell ill, suffered from malaria and fever and one-fifth from diarrhoea and dysenteries. There was heavy reliance on private physicians for treatment of those who fell, about two- thirds in the urban and one-third in the rural areas, consulted private physicians. On the other hand in both the areas, less than one-sixth utilized the government health facilities. The cost of health care on an average, was 4% of the total income in the urban and 5% in the rural areas. In both the areas, this constituted over 7% of the monthly household income of the poorest. Suggestions are made to overcome the high cost of health care through broad based national health policy and implementation of primary health care programme