Tuberculosis; patients knowledge, attitude and perceptions

Tuberculosis is one of the major public health problems in Pakistan. Pakistan ranks fifth amongst TB high-burden countries worldwide and accounts for 61% of the TB burden in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region. To describe knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions among the patients of pulmonary tuberculosis about their disease attending outpatient department at independent university hospital Faisalabad. A descriptive cross-sectional study. August to September 2014. Out patients department at Independent University Hospital Faisalabad. A total of 197 patients from OPD. Systematic random sampling technique. After an informed consent a pretested questionnaire were used to collect the information from the patient. SPSS-17were used to calculate the frequencies and percentages. Out of 197 respondents were 55.3% [109] male, 44.7% [88] female and 63% [125] were earning below 10000 rupees per month. As for as knowledge is concerned 50% of the patients viewed that TB is transmitted through contact with the patients having tuberculosis, 83%labelled cough of long duration as commonest sign, 60% viewed that it can be prevented by avoiding contact with patients, 57% labeled healthcare staff as their source of information, 65.9% perceived TB as an infectious disease, 55% stress as cause of disease, 85% as not curable disease. Poor knowledge and false perceptions are the main constrain in the control of TB in Pakistan

Factors affecting BMI assessment of the effect of sociodemographic factors on BMI in the population of Ghulam Mohammad Abad Faisalabad

To examine the effect of different sociodemographic factors on the BMI. Descriptive Cross Sectional Study. People of Ghulam Mohammadabad and Marzi Pura attending OPD at Independent University Hospital Ghulam Mohammadabad and Marzi Pura Faisalabad. One Month of duration extending from July to August 2012. 493 respondents were selected by convenient sampling. A semi structured questionnaire was used to collect the information from the sample. First of all, an informed consent was obtained from the respondents under study and secrecy of the information was ensured. By data analysis through SPSS Version 17, frequency tables were prepared. The result of this study shows that BMI is less than 18.5 in 25.4% of the males as compared to 11.5% in females. 22.9% married persons were having BMI above 30 as compared to 6.6 percent unmarried. This study also shows 21.1% of the smokers were having BMI above 30 as compared to 18.3% in non smokers. Similarly 18.2% of the respondents sleeping less than 10 hours per day were having BMI above 30 as compare to 15.4% sleeping more than 10 hours per day. Result also shows 25.8% diabetics having 18.5 to 24 BMI while 21.5% in non diabetics. There was family history of obesity in 22.4% only. Males are more underweight as compared to females and that females are always on higher side of BMI. Married persons were more obese as compared to unmarried. Per month income, background history of diabetes mellitus and family history of obesity found to have a profound effect on BMI

Dengue fever; assessment of knowledge, attitude and practices of community medicine of Aziz Bhatti town Lahore during recent epidemic

Dengue infection is one of the most common mosquito borne viral diseases of public health significance. It has been identified as a clinical entity since 1780. Dengue is caused by viruses that are small enveloped viruses and are members of the family Flaviviridae genus Flavivirus. It is a vector borne disease and is a global health threat. In Pakistan first epidemic was reported in 1994 and since then cases are reported every years. This year dengue infection raised the number of patients and increased the deaths. To assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of the people regarding Dengue fever. Cross Sectional Study. Aziz Bhatti Town, Lahore. One Month. Convenient sampling. The investigator himself collected the information from the sample under study. First of all, an informed consent was obtained from the respondent under study and secrecy of the information was ensured. Data was entered and cleaned using Epi Data version 3. Data was analyzed using Epi info version 3.5.1. Out of 41 respondent families only 2.4% did not hear about dengue fever while 97.6% respondents were well aware of the dengue fever. 80.5% were aware of high grade fever in dengue fever, 73.2% were aware of associated body aches. 92.7% were aware that dengue fever is preventable. 95.1% were using mats, coils and repellents while 2.4% were using smoke of wet wood.36.6% were covering the water containers. 75.6% were keeping environment dry and clean.68.3% were having opinion that they will consult GP in case of illness.85.4% told that TV/Radio were the source of above mentioned knowledge while 9.8% doctor and 4.9% got information through newspapers. Only 4.9% respondents were having opinion that government had sprayed for dengue fever.7.3% families experienced the patient of dengue fever in their family. In this study the results are the almost same with little variations as found in other studies. The knowledge, attitude and practice are the almost same in every studies with little variation. Majority of the families were well aware of dengue fever

Self medication practices

Obtaining and consuming drugs without the advice of physician either for diagnosis, prescription or surveillance is called Self medication. Self medication has been a natural tendency of mankind at all times to relief their discomfort. To assess the self medication practices and the factors influencing self medication practices among the people living in Gulam Mohammad Abad, Faisalabad. A descriptive Cross- Sectional Study. Population of Ghulam Mohammad Abad, largest colony of Faisalabad. By simple random technique a sample of 369 people living in Ghulam Mohammad Abad were selected. A pre-tested questionnaire was filled by interviewing each individual. Prevalence of self medication found in study group was 61.20%. An increase pattern of self medication practices were found in the younger age group [15-35 years] which were 64.8%. Self medication practice was found more in male [64.5%] as compared to female [58.5%]. The unmarried persons as compared to married were involved 8% more in self medication. Similarly 11% increase pattern of self medication was observed amongst the respondents belonging to nuclear family [66.9%] as compared to rural [50.6%] and self medication was observed in illiterate [50.4%] and in matric level education [62.3%] and persons having education above matric [74.4%]. The prevalence of self medication was more among skilled labor [75.9%] as compared to [54.9%] in unskilled labor. An increase pattern of self medication practices were found in the younger age group. As for as the gender is concerned it is more in the male as compared to female. Unmarried persons as compared to married persons were involved more in self medication. It is more in persons belonging to nuclear family status and also more in urban population as compare to rural population. Furthermore uneducated and respondents having education up to matric are more involve in self-medication practice. Advice of person selling medicine at medical store were having more affect on self medication. No reason for the use of drugs and un-affordability are also the determinants of increased self medication