ABSTRACT
Objective: To study the awareness of butchers regarding Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic fever [CCHF] in relation to their education level
Study Design: Cross sectional survey
Place and Duration of Study: Conducted from January to March 2015 in Qasaiee Chowk and Tench Bhatta markets of ward 5 of Rawalpindi cantt
Material and Methods: Sample size was calculated using G-Power sample size calculator at 95% confidence level with an effect size of 0.38. Ward 5 of Rawalpindi cantt was chosen through lottery method and all available professional butchers in the markets were interviewed with informed consent
A pre-tested 14 items closed ended questionnaire was used and interview was conducted by a well briefed team of medical students. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0
Results: Results showed that only 14 [9.33%] butchers knew the name of CCHF. Out of these 10 [71.4%] had some form of formal education
All 14 of these had heard about CCHF from television proving it to be an important medium of information. However none of the 150 respondents took any preventive measure against CCHF
Conclusion: Our study concluded that the level of awareness regarding CCHF in butchers is very low and no preventive measures are taken by them. Also the level of education has a significant effect on the awareness
ABSTRACT
To determine the frequency of microbiological contamination of water in different water filtration plants in Islamabad. Descriptive cross-sectional study. Water Filtration Plants [WFP] in different sectors of Islamabad, from April to September 2012. Water samples were collected in sterilized bottles according to the standard water sampling protocol fromsite and transported to Pakistan Council for Research in Water Resources [PCRWR] for analysis. Microbiological quality of water was determined in terms of total conforms [< 2.0 MPN/100 ml] and Escherichia coli [< 2.0 MPN/100 ml]. Microbiological contaminated water was defined the sample which had more than 2.0 MPN per 100 ml of either total coliforms or Escherichia [E.] coli. Thirty two WFP were analyzed for microbiological contamination. E. coli was present in 8 [25.0%] water samples, while 24 [75.0%] water samples were free from it. Total coliforms were present in 13 [40.6%] of the samples of WFP, while 19 [59.3%] samples were free from total coliform. Faecal coliforms were present in 8 [25.0%] and absent in 24 [75.0%] samples. Both E. coli and total coliform were present in 8 [25.0%] samples. Nine [59.3] WFP were free from E. coli, total coliform and faecal coliform. Statistically, no significant association was found [p > 0.05] between microbiological contamination and the sectors. Less than half of the water samples of the WFP were contaminated while certain sectors showed more frequent contamination than others
ABSTRACT
To explore various risk factors associated with childhood asthma in Rawalpindi garrison and city among children 1-12 years old. Case Control study. Pediatric departments of Military Hospital [MH] and Combined Military Hospital [CMH] Rawalpindi from 1st Aug to 30th Nov 2009. A total of 128 children with diagnosis of asthma presenting in outpatient and indoor pediatric departments of MH and CMH Rawalpindi between ages of 1-12 years were included. Age, gender and socioeconomically matched 112 children without diagnosis of asthma were included as controls. A predesigned questionnaire containing various factors associated with childhood asthma was filled by the researcher by detailed interview with either of parents. Data was analyzed by SPSS version 15 and chi-square test was applied to determine significance. p value <0.005 was considered significant. Out of 15 risk factors studied 8 were found significantly associated with childhood asthma. Significant factors were education of any of the parents more than matric, history of fever at least three times in last year, use of antibiotics, history of hay fever, raised IgE levels, exposure to passive smoking, living in urban areas and family history of asthma [p value<0.005]. Non significant factors were mode of delivery, exclusive breast feeding for more than 3 months, partial breastfeeding for more than 6 months, history of eczema, atopy, history of viral respiratory infections in infancy and less than three number of rooms at home. Male preponderance was noted amongst cases. Education of parents, fever, antibiotics, hay fever, raised IgE levels, exposure to passive smoking, living in urban areas and family history of asthma proved to be significant factors which are similar to those reported in other studies. However, difference was found in other factors. Recognition of these factors can help to optimize management of asthma in children in this area