Prevalence and factors associated with sheesha smoking in a sample of medical students

Objective: to determine the prevalence of sheesha smokers among medical students and to examine the factors associated with sheesha smoking

Methodology: a total of 578 medical students from both public and private sector in Rawalpindi were selected by consecutive sampling technique. Preformed and pretested questionnaire was administered to them after assuring of confidentiality and taking their informed verbal consent

Results: five seventy eight medical students were administered questionnaire, 207 [36%] of them confessed that they smoke sheesha, 82[39.42%] out of them were regular sheesha smokers while 125[60.09%] said they smoke sheesha occasionally. Out of 207sheesha smokers 84[40.5%] started for fun sake, 39[19.5%] out of curiosity, 56 [27%] for style 28 [13.5%] started smoking sheesha because of peer pressure. Of smokers 123[59%] believed that sheesha smoking was less harmful than cigarette. 69 [33%] of sheesha smokers had no plans to quit sheesha smoking

Conclusion: lack of correct information and mistaken believe that sheesha smoking is less harmful than other methods of tobacco smoking is reason for its high use among youth. Moreover its easy availability at restaurants and cafés has made it a social activity that promises both pleasure and entertainment

comparative study on social and psychological consequences of obesity in working and non working women

Objective: To compare the social and psychological consequences of obesity and overweight on well being of working and non working women

Study Design: It was a community based descriptive study, conducted through cross-sectional approach with comparative characteristics

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in the Federal Government Schools and residential areas of Rawalpindi cantonment from 02nd April to 27th May, 2009

Subjects and Methods: The study population comprised 200 obese and overweight women of age group 30-45 years: 100 women working in Federal Government Schools and 100 obese non working women residing in Rawalpindi cantonment area. This study sample of 200 obese women was selected through purposive sampling technique. Data was collected through interview on structured and pretested questionnaire and anthropometric measurements [height, weight, waist and hip circumferences and forearm and wrist measurements] were taken by the researchers themselves for the purpose of working out Body Mass Index [BMI], Waist Hip Ratio [WHR] and Total Body Fat [TBF]. Chi squared test was employed to determine the association between different variables. P value

Results: The mean total family income of working women was Rs.80381 +/- 43.6' whereas that of non working women was Rs.52431 +/- 39.8. The mean number of children of working women was 2.8 +/- 1.4 and that of non working women was 4.14 6.9 +/- 1.4. The anthropometric data for BMI was 35.7 +/- 2.7 for non working women, while the same for working women was 33.4 +/- 2.8. Psychological data showed that 49% employed female never thought they have something to be proud of. 22% working women and 24% non working women were self conscious, 17% working women and 47% non working women were preoccupied with a desire to be thinner. 89% working women and 81% non working women did not go out on social occasion merely because they felt bad about their shape. 64% of working and 51% of non working women had a desire to have weight within normal limits

Conclusion: Significant differences in the prevalence of image dissatisfaction and self esteem were observed among the two groups. Employment status was found to be a protective factor for psychological wellbeing and especially body image in obese females. There is dire need for halting and reversing the upward trends of obesity

Wheat pill: clinical characterisitcs and outcome

To determine the clinical characteristics and outcome in patients presenting with wheat pill poisoning. Retrospective study. Department of medicine, Combined Military Hospital, Kharian from 1st July 2009 to 30 December 2010. Fifty two patients with wheat pill ingestion were included in the study. All patients' history, symptoms, signs and management data was collected on a pre-designed data collection form. Mean age was 25.10 +/- 5.35 years with 51.9% females. Time interval between ingestion of pills and presentation to hospital was 2.5 +/- 1.27 hours. Numbers of pills consumed were 2.73 +/- 20. Most common symptom seen in patients was vomiting seen in 88.5% of the patients. Other common symptoms were irritability in 63.5% and confusion in 55.8% patients. Most common clinical sign hypoxia in 75% patients. Overall mortality was 86.5 percent. Wheat pills are highly toxic with rapid and high mortality rate. These patients develop refractory hypotension and metabolic acidosis which progresses to death. More research is required to develop antidote and to minimize toxicity. Strict legislations are required to control sale of aluminium phosphide over the counter

Impact of socioeconomic factors on nutritional status in primary school children

Child malnutrition is a major public health and development concern in most of the poor communities leading to high morbidity and mortality. Various studies have highlighted the factors involved. The present study focuses on socioeconomic inequality resulting in malnutrition. Objectives of the Study were to find the Impact of socio-economic factors on nutritional status in primary school children. It was a cross sectional survey conducted at Lahore from February to August 2005 among primary schools from public and private sectors to assess the nutritional status of primary school going children age 5-11 years belonging to different socio economic classes of the society. Systematic random sampling technique was applied to collect the sample. Body Mass Index in relation to NHANES reference population was used for assessing nutritional status. The nutritional status of children from lower socio economic class was poor as compared to their counter parts in upper socio economic class. Children with BMI <5[th] percentile were 41% in lower class while in upper class it was 19.28%. Prevalence of malnutrition was 42.3% among children of illiterate mothers as compare to 20% in those of literate mothers. Poverty, low literacy rate, large families, food insecurity, food safety, women's education appears to be the important underlying factors responsible for poor health status of children from low socioeconomic class. It requires economic, political and social changes as well as changes for personal advancement mainly through educational opportunities to improve the nutritional status of the children

Montelukast as add-on therapy to inhaled beclomethasone in persistent bronchial asthma

To evaluate the efficacy of Montelukast as add-on therapy in moderate persistent asthma with inadequate control on high dose inhaled beclomethasone. A quasi experimental study. The study is carried out at the Combined Military Hospital Multan, from 1st Nov 2006 to 30th May 2007. One hundred nonsmoking symptomatic asthmatics with one year history of moderate persistent bronchial asthma being treated with high dose inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate for at least 6 weeks before the study were selected as per inclusion criteria. Group-I [47 cases] was given inhaled beclomethasone [1000 µg daily in two divided doses] alone for 12 weeks. While Group-II [48 cases] received both inhaled beclomethasone [1000ug daily in two divided doses] and Montelukast Sodium 10 mg at bed time for 12 weeks. Seven-point global evaluation score and Pulmonary function test [PFTs] were done at 0, 6 and 12 weeks; and the need for use of rescue 2-agonist was also calculated in both groups. Mean age of patients was 29.30 years [SD +/- 7.04] with 64.22% males. There was significant difference in episodes of dyspnea and wheeze among group I and group II at 6 weeks while all four parameters including cough and nocturnal awakenings were significantly less at 12 weeks in group II. Similar comparative improvement in mean FEV1 was seen at 12 weeks in group II. Combined therapy also reduced the use of rescue inhaled 2-agonist treatment. Montelukast sodium as add-on therapy to high dose inhaled beclomethasone provides significant complementary clinical benefits in symptomatic moderate persistent asthmatics

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