Women beliefs and practices regarding food during pregnancy- a hospital based study

The aim of the study was to assess the existing beliefs and practices regarding food during pregnancy. Cross-sectional study. The present study was conducted in Antenatal Clinic, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi. This study was conducted in four months time from September 1[st] to December 31[st], 2008. Sample size was 189 pregnant females who were attending the Antenatal Clinic, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi. This was calculated by computer software called Raosoft- a sample size calculator by keeping confidence level 95%, margin of error 5%, and response rate 86%. Simple Convenience Sampling technique was used. 89% believed that there is an effect of food on pregnancy and 11% did not. Despite of high literacy rate [93%] there are certain strong food beliefs regarding pregnancy which have been practiced by pregnant ladies, which were effecting their food intake like hot, cold, badi and having difficult labour. All available resources for creating awareness among the masses regarding the importance of diet during pregnancy should be used properly by using all means of communication [especially mass media]

Infant feeding; beliefs and practices of mothers

To evaluate the infant feeding beliefs and practices of methods in our setup. A cross-sectional study. Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi. From Jan 2007 to September 2007. 336 mothers of infants attending Fauji, Foundation Hospital were interviewed by using pre-tested questionnaire. Data was collected for Mothers beliefs and practices regarding infant feeding. Descriptive statistics like percentage, mean and range were obtained by using SPSS version 11. 366 mothers from rural and urban areas attending hospitals were interviewed. 63.9% mothers believed that breast milk should be given as first feed. Pre-lacteal feeds were given to 56% of infants. Major source of information for giving pre-lacteal feeds was relatives. At birth, 43.7% mothers discarded clostrum considering it harmful and useless for baby. Frequency of breast feeding was high initially at birth but decline rapidly by early supplementation with bottle feeding. Inadequate weaning in terms of timing, quality and quantity was observed. Cultural beliefs and taboos like hot and cold food influenced 61.5% of mothers due to which they restricted important food items. A targeted health education campaign should stress the main advantages of breast feeding. Messages should stress on protective benefits of clostrum and encourage mothers to start breast feeding immediately after birth. Potentially hazardous practices including pre lacteal feeding should be discarded. Local cultural and traditional practices and beliefs regarding different food items should be identified. This help to improve the food intake of infants by strengthening the useful beliefs and discontinuing harmful ones

Assessment of knowledge and practice of contraceptives in females of reproductive age group at a tertiary care hospital

To assess the knowledge and practice of contraceptives in females of reproductive age group. Cross sectional descriptive. OPD of Fauji Foundation Hospital from February 2008 - September 2008. 339 females of age b/w of 15-49 years attending OPD of Fauji Foundation Hospital were included in study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Eighty eight percent of the females in our study sample were familiar with one or more methods of contraception [72.7% were familiar with combined oral contraceptive pill [COCP], 60.7% were aware of intra uterine contraceptive device [IUCD] and 76% knew about condoms] whereas 12% showed ignorance. 64.4% of the study population was contraceptive users and 35.4% were not using any method of contraception. Regarding preferred method of contraception 34.6% of females said they are using COCP, about 21.8% females said their tubes had been liagated whereas 26.9% and 16.7% were using IUCD and condoms respectively. Almost 46% of our study population said that contraceptive method they were using was suggested by their husbands, 44% said by health professional. Only 10% of the study population were using a method of their own choice. The present study concludes that there is a gap between knowledge [88%] and use [64.6%] of contraceptives among females of reproductive age group. Another important inference drawn from the study is that men should be made equal targets of such programs in Pakistan since 46% females in our study population were using method of contraceptive suggested by their husband

Frequency of helmet use among motorcycle riders in Rawalpindi

To find the frequency of helmet use as a safety tool and to investigate how many of the motorcyclists are aware of the beneficial effects of using a helmet. A cross sectional study. In Community Medicine Department of Foundation University Medical College, Rawalpindi from March 2007 to September 2007. A total of 1000 questionnaires were randomly distributed among motorcyclists during visits to Lalkurti, Saddar and Karchi chowk in Rawalpindi. Inclusion criteria included those motor bike rider volunteering to participate in the study. 44 responses were invalid and the total valid responses were therefore 956. No incentive was offered for participation in the study and no individual follow- up was possible. From a total sample size of 956 riders 541 were putting on a helmet and 415 were without the helmet. The frequency of helmet use was therefore 56.6% and that the use non user is 43.4%. A bog majority i.e 80.7% of the respondent s left that use of helmet while riding a motorbike should be mandatory while only 19.3% left that it should be the discretion of the riders. 57.6% of the riders left that in case of pillion riding both the riders should put on the helmet while 42.4% did not support the idea. The study implies that we need to enact and enforce policy intervention for mandatory use of helmet, effective traffic law enforcement and imparting awareness among our masses especially the younger generation to reduce Road Traffic Accidents. Print and electronic media should be utilize extensively to disseminate basic traffic knowledge at all levels of the society

Crimean congo haemorrhagic fever: a hidden means of public health importance trends in Pakistan

Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever [CCHF] is one of the most severe human viral diseases, with mortality rate of up to 50%. Apart from Pakistan; CCHF is a public health problem in many regions of the world, including Africa, Middle East, Southern and Eastern Europe, and western Asia. The causative agent for CCHF is Crimean Congo haemorrhagic Fever Virus [CCHFV] which is a type species of the genus Nairovirus in the Bunyaviridae family. Laboratory studies have shown that the virus is related to Hazara virus isolated from ticks in Pakistan, and to Nairobi sheep disease virus. CCHFV is a spherical, enveloped virion 85-100 nm in diameter, like all members of the genus, is a single-stranded RNA virus. Lipid solvents and detergents inactivate it. CCHFV has a tripartite genome consisting of a small [S], a medium [M], and a large [L] segment. The S RNA segment codes for the nucleocapsid [N] protein, and the M RNA segment codes for the glycoprotein precursor, resulting in the two envelope glycoproteins G1 and G2, while the L segment encodes the putative RNA-dependent polymerase. Humans gain infection from tick bite or from contact with infected blood/tissues coming either from human patients [Nosocomial infections - needle sticks etc], or other animals, commonly sheep and cattle. Only humans and newborn mice readily succumb to disease; other animals including nonhuman primates are either refractory or undergo mild infection

Protein and plasma amino acid metabolism in cancer patients

Proteins present in the human body have numerous functions. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins used for structural and regulatory functions of body. In cancer cachexia the patients develop anorexia, diminished intake of calories with significant abnormalities in carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism and progressive tissue depletion accompanied by weight loss. The gradual loss of host protein stores is central to this process which leads to amino acid imbalance in the blood and some times decreased levels of certain amino acids. Increased urinary amino acids occur in patients of certain cancers. These changes in the amino acid result into altered host defence against cancer and also the therapeutic complications in these patients. Extra nutritional support through gut and total parenteral nutrition [TPN] can alter the tumour host nutrition balance and repletion occur

Chemical warfare-protective measures and first aid treatment

Ever since its employment in the First World War, chemical warfare has always aroused controversy. Government have responded by pursuing the policies of disarmament and deterrence in the hope of avoiding its recurrence. However, despite signing of the Geneva Protocol in 1925 which banned the use of poison gases, chemical weapons have been used in subsequent conflicts and most recently in the Gulf War between Iraq and Iran. The chemical agents are capable of brining radical change in modern warfare because of their devastation and crippling effects on the human beings and environments. The objectives to be attained by the medical services include the management of casualties to minimize the injuries of chemical exposure by prompt administration of first aid and specific treatment. Properties of chemical warfare agents and therapeutic approaches to the management of injuries induced by these agents are reviewed in this article