Knowledge and need of emergency contraception among married women attending a public sector university hospital in Sindh

Objectives: To assess knowledge and need for of emergency contraception among the women coming to Liaquat university hospital

Methods: A questionnaire based survey was conducted among 200 married women presenting at department of obstetrics and gynecology, Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad, Sindh during the period of September to December 2009. The administered questionnaire served to find the status of knowledge and need for emergency contraceptives among these women. Ethical consideration and confidentiality was ensured. The data entry, processing and analysis were done using SPSS version 11

Results: Out of 200 women 172 [84.3%] were aware of contraception but only 47 [23%] had knowledge about emergency contraception. Eighty-seven [42%] women were without any formal education. Lady health workers and doctors were source of contraceptive knowledge in 104 [52%] cases. Unplanned pregnancy was observed in 134 [65.7%] women but unwanted was only in 39 [19.1%] women. Drugs were used to get rid of pregnancy by 12 [5.9%], and 13 [6.4%] went for termination of pregnancy

Conclusion: Contraceptive knowledge among 84% women is partial; as knowledge regarding emergency contraception is seen in only 23% and this indicate lack on part of knowledge provider. Lady health worker have been the main source of contraceptive knowledge among the community according to our findings. A prevalence of 67% of unplanned pregnancies is liable to increase acceptance of emergency contraception. The unmet need for emergency contraception is demonstrated by 13% who tried termination. Quality training of community health care workers to ensure complete knowledge will be helpful in increasing use of emergency contraception

Cornell product index for left ventricular hypertrophy. Does it perform better?

To determine the sensitivity and specificity of Cornell product index for left ventricular hypertrophy with reference to echocardiography. Descriptive study. Medical Unit 111, Jinnah Post-graduate Medical Centre Karachi. June 1998- February 1999. 50 patients with echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy [LVH] and 25 normal healthy persons without echocardiographic LVH were included in this study. All patients and control subjects were examined clinically and their ECGs were taken on that same day. Echo LVH was defined if Left Ventricular Mass Index exceeded 118 g/m2 in males and 104 g/m2 in females. Data was preserved and now it is analyzed for Electrocardiographic LVH in view of Cornell voltage and Cornell product index. Sensitivity and specificity was calculated by standard formula and P value derived by chi square test. 50 patients which were included in the study, 21[42%] were male and 29 [58%] were females; while 25 healthy persons without LVH, 12 [48%] were males and 13 [52%] were females. Cornell voltage criterion was having sensitivity of 48% as over-all, 48% in males and also 48% in females. It was 96% specific. Cornell product index was the higher sensitive criteria by scoringing 57% in males, 62% in females and 60% in all patients. Although electrocardiography is less sensitive than echocardiography, but can perform better in certain groups and with improved criterion. Cornell product criterion has the highest sensitivity as compared to other criteria

Risk factors associated with childhood asthma

To identify the risk factors associated with childhood asthma, in children attending Isra University Hospital, Hyderabad. Case-control study. Isra University Hospital between September 2005 to August 2006. The study included 398 age-matched children [200 asthmatic and 198 non-asthmatic]. Information was collected concerning their familial history of atopy, birth weight, environment, breastfeeding, disease and treatment history. Odds ratio was calculated for determining the risk. The children were aged between 12 months and 8 years and 60% were male. The asthmatic children were hospitalized more frequently than the non-asthmatic children [p < 0.0001]. Most of the asthmatic children lived in the urban areas of Hyderabad [odd ratio [OR] = 16.7, 95% CI = 3.1-14.6, p < 0.0001], had a parental history of asthma [OR = 26.8, 95% CI = 10.8-68.2, p < 0.0001] or allergic rhinitis [OR = 4, 95% CI = 1.2-13.4, p= 0.01], 38.5% had at least one person who smoked, and were weaned earlier than the non-asthmatic children [OR =12.4, 95% CI = 1.3-4.4, p < 0.01]. Childhood asthma was strongly associated with a family history of asthma and allergic rhinitis, the urban place of residence, having smokers as parents and early weaning from maternal breast milk. The results highlight the need to educate the parents about the risk of smoking and early weaning in the development of asthma