Awareness and practices regarding sexually transmitted infections among currently married males and females in a rural district of Sindh

To determine the levels of awareness and practices regarding sexually transmitted infections [STIs] in a Rural District of Sindh - Pakistan. It was a cross - sectional survey conducted in Taluka Khipro, District Sanghar-Sindh during June 2004 in fifteen villages. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire by trained local male and female workers who interviewed door to door. A total of 116 currently married males and females were interviewed. Majority of males 34[29%] were in 25-29 years age group, while among females 32 [28%] fell in 20-24 years age group. Majority of males i.e. 79 [68%] and females 108[93%] was not educated. Only 36[31%] males or females knew symptoms of STIs like vaginal discharge, discharge from urethra and back pain. Twenty-five [22%] males and 12[10%] females reported that "only wife can have sexual disease". Two [2%] females shared that both [male and female] can have Sexually Transmitted Infections [STIs], AIDS and Hepatitis C. Male respondents [72%] knew different symptoms of STIs. Majority of males [78%] and females [51%] were aware about Hepatitis B and C infections. Majority of respondents had never heard about AIDS. Only 4% males were of the view that it spreads by inappropriate sexual relation. Sixty married females [52%] had knowledge about any contraceptive method. No subject [male or female] reported having ever used any contraceptive method. This study depicts poor picture of a rural population in awareness and practices regarding STIs in particular and reproductive health in general in the target area. This was a limited study and to further explore reproductive health issues in rural areas, studies with larger sample size and stronger statistical evidence are required

Pattern of pelvic mass among women attending a gynaecology department of university hospital in Sindh

To analyze patients with pelvic mass according to age, parity, clinical presentation, pathology and operative procedures according to the type of mass, at a tertiary care hospital of Sindh-Pakistan. Descriptive case series. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology [Unit I], Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad; from January to December 2007. All women of any age and parity presenting with pelvic mass, diagnosed on history, clinical examination and/or on ultrasound were included. Type of pelvic mass was confirmed at surgery and on histopathology. In total, 110 patients were studied. Sixty-one [55.45%] participants were aged between 30-50 years while only one patient was under 20 years and 2 over 70 years. The majority of women were parous. The main clinical presentation was lower abdominal pain in 42 [38.18%] patients, followed by menstrual disturbances in 38[34.54%] women. Eighty-four [76.36%] patients were diagnosed on first clinical examination, and confirmed further by ultrasound. Among all, 104 [94.54%] patients were diagnosed through ultrasound. Sixty-eight [61.82%] patients had genital tract tumors while 4 had non-gynaecological mass. In 10[9.1%] patients, size of mass was >20cm; however, malignant lesions were less common and under 10 cm in size. Every women presenting with pelvic mass irrespective of age and parity must be thoroughly investigated and treated. Non-gynaecological masses may also be diagnosed; therefore, surgeon must be competent enough to deal with these masses

Frequency of grand multiparity and its fetomaternal outcome at Liaquat university hospital, Hyderabad

To determine the frequency of grand multiparity and its effects on maternal and fetal outcome in our tertiary care facility. A descriptive study. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology [Unit I], Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad-Sindh, Pakistan; from 20 February to 20 July 2006. All unbooked and referred grandmultipara women were included in the study. Booked primipara women and women with preexisting medical disorders were excluded. All the information collected on a form by taking history, performing an examination and laboratory investigations was analyzed using SPSS version 10.0. During the study period, a total of 630 deliveries were conducted in our unit and among them 100 [15.9%] women were grand multipara. Most of these women belonged to age group 26-30 years [n=40]. A high frequency of anaemia [90%], followed by antepartum haemorrhage [28%], obstructed labor [21%], postpartum haemorrhage [19%] and hypertension [18%] was found in these cases. Fetal loss was observed in 25% of grand multiparas. Grand multiparity is still a high risk pregnancy in our facility. The causes are complex, multiple and interrelated but mostly preventable. In our study, grand multiparity was also associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Hence, there is a need for proper pregnancy evaluation and regular antenatal checkup, intrapartum care and postnatal follow up to improve the maternal care in women