ABSTRACT
Domestic violence against women is highly prevalent but under reported issue having social, legal, health and economic implications. It needs to be identified and addressed in order to decrease the sufferings of women. Our objective was to find out prevalence, instigating factors and help seeking behavior of physical domestic violence against married women. A total of 378 married women who were attending Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Liaquat University Hospital from January 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013 for different obstetrical and gynaecological problems were randomly selected and interviewed. After informed consent, required information was collected on predesigned performa including demographic details, prevalence, instigating factors, help seeking behavior for physical domestic violence. About 31%[120] of women reported lifetime physical domestic violence. Husbands and in-laws were perpetrators in 70% [84] and 30% [36] cases respectively. Wives being disobedient and making arguments were the most common instigating factors for violence followed by husband's drug addiction, extra marital relationship and infertility. It was severe enough to require medical care in 24%[29] cases. Only 2% [2] women sought social and legal aid. Domestic violence was quite common among married women, however help seeking was minimal. There is need to identify and address this menace effectively
ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: Pakistan is among the countries having high prevalence of HCV infection in the population but there is dearth of proper epidemiological data regarding acquisition of HCV infection in the pregnant population. Our objective was to determine the seroprevalence of HCV antibodies in healthy pregnant women and to assess the potential risk factors for HCV infection in HCV positive subjects and in the control group
Methodology: This cross sectional and comparative study was conducted from 1[st] January to 31[st] December 2010 in the Department of Obstetrics/Gynaecology Unit-I, Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad. Sera were collected from all admitted pregnant women and tested for HCV anti bodies using Elisa kits [Abbott, USA]. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0 statistical package
Results: The seroprevalence of HCV among pregnant population was found to be 4.7%. HCV positive women were more likely to have a history of blood transfusion [OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.26- 3.12], History of therapeutic injection use [OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.43-4.26], history of surgery [OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.12-2.66] and history of sharing household products [OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.14-2.87]
Conclusion: HCV seropositive pregnant women were more likely to have a history of blood transfusion, therapeutic injection use, surgery and sharing household items