Knowledge, attitude and practice of vitamin supplementation among patients visiting out-patient physicians in a teaching hospital in Karachi

To determine the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding the use of vitamin supplements among patients visiting Out-Patient clinics of a teaching hospital. Four hundred patients were interviewed during the period of July to September 2008, at the Out-patient clinics, Aga Khan University hospital, Karachi. A pre-tested and structured questionnaire was used to collect information. It consisted of questions regarding demographics, awareness of vitamin supplements and its consumption, reasons for usage and its effects. The purpose of the study was explained and assurance of confidentiality was given. After obtaining written consent, eligible individuals were interviewed. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 19.0 was used to analyze the data. The results revealed that 98% of the respondents were aware of vitamin supplements. The most known vitamin was found to be Vitamin C [16.9%] with Vitamin K being the least well-known [0.4%]; while 51.8% of the respondents were unaware of the harmful effects of vitamin supplements. The results also showed that 84.8% of the study population had taken vitamin supplements, and 79% of the participants considered that vitamin supplements to be helpful. Taking vitamin supplements as a compensation for the deficiencies in the body was the most frequently chosen answer [17.7%] as the reason for use of vitamin supplements. On the other hand, a majority of the population was unaware of the indications for use of vitamin supplements. This study highlights a very significant yet ignored issue of vitamin supplementation in Pakistan. A need exists to inform the general population about the use of vitamin supplementation. The media and the medical community are required to play their role in this regard. Short/ refresher training courses are needed for doctors to update and disseminate adequate knowledge of vitamin supplementation to their patients

Screening of hepatitis B and C among people visiting general practice clinics in a rural district of Sindh, Pakistan

Hepatitis B [HB], Hepatitis C [HC] and their risk factors are amongst the major health problems in developing countries including Pakistan. This study aimed to screen for HB and HC among people who visited General Practice clinics and also to identify the differences of screening positive cases by age and sex. This was a retrospective study conducted in Tando Muhammad Khan city, one of the rural districts of Sindh. All together we reviewed 5989 laboratory reports of people for hepatitis B and C on consecutive basis from two laboratories. A pre-designed and structured perform was used to collect the required information. Chi-squared test and univariate analysis was calculated to assess the difference in HB and HC proportion by age groups and sex. One-fourth of reports were positive for at least one entity whereas 8% and 17% of reviewed reports of adults [>18 years and above] were screened positive for HB and HC respectively. Positive screened tests were higher among older age group compared to young age group [HB: older age group=56.6% vs. younger age group=43.4%; OR=1.07] and [HC: older age group=58.3% vs. younger age group=41.7%; OR=1.08]. In the same way, positive screened tests were higher among men compared to women [HB: men=67.0% vs. women=33.0%; OR=1.2] and [HC: men=62.0% vs. women=38.0%; OR=1.3]. A large proportion of people were screened positive for HB and HC in this study. Prevention and screening are suggested at larger scale for urgent planning and implementation of intervention strategies in this regard. Further research is also recommended to explore this important health issue at large scale