ABSTRACT
Objectives: To assess the functional health literacy among adolescents of Model schools of Islamabad. To determine association between health literacy and health seeking behaviour of adolescents. Study Design: Cross sectional descriptive study
Material and Methods: Multi stage systematic sampling was done and a sample size of 350 using WHO sample size calculator. After taking informed consent from the students data were collected using the newest vital sign [NVS] for assessment of functional health literacy. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22. Place and duration of study: The study was conducted in Model schools of Islamabad, from Jan to Dec 2016
Results: The mean age of the respondents was 15 [SD +/- 0.6] years. There were 181 [52%] females and 169 [48%] males in the study. Out of 350 respondents 73 [20.9%] had very limited health literacy, while 187 [53.4%] had limited while 90 [25.7%] had adequate health literacy. In health seeking 30 students [8.6%] scored 1-2 on the health seeking behaviour score of 1-6 and therefore were categorized as having poor health seeking behaviour. While 164 students [46.9%] scored 3-4 and were categorized as having satisfactory health seeking. One hundred and fifty six students [44.6%] scored 4-5 and had good health seeking behavior
Conclusion: The health literacy among the adolescents was limited and had no association with health seeking behaviour
ABSTRACT
Objective: To assess level of awareness of expectant mothers about their birth preparedness and complication readiness [BPACR]
Study Design: Descriptive cross sectional study
Place and Duration of Study: It was a descriptive cross sectional study conducted at a Rural Health Center, Mandra over period of six months, from Sep 2016 to Feb 2017
Material and Methods: Three hundred and twenty pregnant women of rural area of residence in their third trimester [29-40 wks] were approached using non probability convenient sampling. They were interviewed by using a structured questionnaire after taking informed consent. SPSS version 20 was used for data entry and analysis. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant
Results: The mean age of the participants was 29.02 +/- 6.403 years. All the 320 participants were from rural area of residence. The knowledge of elements of BPACR was highest [7 out of 8] in only 26 [8.1%] women followed by 6 elements in 47 [14.7%], 5 elements in 78 [24.4%], 4 elements in 83 [25.9%]. There was significant number of females who had poor knowledge of only 3 elements 69 [21.6%]. Overall 45% of pregnant women knew 5 or more elements were well prepared while 55% were less prepared regarding birth and related complications. Participants' education and husbands' monthly income was found to be significantly associated with birth preparedness and complication readiness knowledge [p-value<0.05]
Conclusion: The majority of expectant mothers were well prepared for the birth and were also aware of the danger signs of pregnancy. Antenatal visits were taken by majority of the participants. However arrangements for transportation, financial support and blood donor identification were not satisfactory
ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the frequency of contraceptive use among illiterate employed females and to determine the frequency and causes of unmet need of family planning
Study Design: Descriptive cross sectional study
Place and Duration of Study: Rawalpindi city from Jun to Nov 2015
Material and Methods: Three hundred and sixty six illiterate and employed married women in the reproductive age group were approached using non probability purposive sampling. They were interviewed by the researchers through a pretested questionnaire. SPSS version 20 was used for data entry and analysis
Results: Frequency of respondents using contraception was found to be 56%, 48.9% for the modern and 7.1% for traditional methods. Unmet need of contraception was 17.6%. The main causes of unmet need were unwillingness of husband and fear of side effect. Un met need was found to be significantly lower in the couples where spouses mutually discussed the family planning, where females were high earners, or where women were having their own business while no significant association of unmet need was found with family type
Conclusion: Although there is high unmet need of family planning and low contraceptive prevalence rate [CPR] among illiterate working women, having a paid job seems to improve female's control on family planning issues when compared to CPR of illiterate women in general
ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the prevalence of post-traumatic growth [PTG] and its association with socio demographic factors among a cohort of troops in post deployment phase
Study Design: Descriptive cross sectional
Place and Duration of Study: A Military battalion in Lahore from Jan-April 2015, one year after deployment in the combat area
Material and Methods: A sample of 296 combat troops was selected using non-probability convenient sampling technique. After taking informed written consent the data was collected using Urdu version of psychometric tool Post Traumatic Growth Inventory [PTGI]. Data was entered and analyzed SPSS version 20
Results: The mean age of the respondents was 29 +/- 6.2 years. Married and unmarried were 214 [72.3%] and 82 [27.7%] respectively. The mean years of service of the troops were 11. In our study the majority of troops 279[94.3%] exhibited greater degree of positive growth [75] ,15 [5.1%] had moderate degree of positive growth [74-51] while only 2[0.7%] had no post traumatic growth[<50]. There was a significant negative correlation of PTG with the age [p < 0.01] and a significant association of Ethnicity with PTG [p=0.03]. However there was no significant association of PTG with marital status [p= 0.06], education [/7=0.52], income [p=0.71], rank [p= 0.96] and years of service [p= 0.49] at 95% confidence level
Conclusion: It was concluded that there was a high prevalence of resilience as PTG in majority of troops one year after deployment in a combat area
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adult , Middle Aged , Combat Disorders , Cross-Sectional Studies , Growth , PrevalenceABSTRACT
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
Exposure of passive smoking and second hand smoke [SHS] exposure in teenage group results in precipitation of several symptoms. Five hundred teenagers between ages of 13 - 19 studying in Army Public School and College Westridge, Rawalpindi, were selected for descriptive cross-sectional study from September 2012 till February 2013. Out of the total 500, 279 [55.8%] were exposed to passive smoking while 221 [44.2%] were not exposed to passive smoking. Out of the exposed 279 [55.8%] students, males were 132 [47.3%] and females were 147 [52.7%] with mean age of 15.06 +/- 1.805 years. After exposure to SHS, multiple responses were observed. Statistical significant association was found between symptoms precipitation and exposure to SHS. Nose irritation was present in 84, while 195 did not complain of it [p = 0.002]. Allergic symptoms were precipitated with SHS in 42, while not in 21 students [p < 0.001]. Asthma attack was precipitated in 38, while 241 did not experience precipitation of asthma attack [p < 0.001]. More cough was present in 168, while not in 111 students [p = 0.037]. Nausea was present in 41, while not in 238 [p < 0.001]. Nose irritation was seen in 84 and not in 195 students [p = 0.002]. More than half of the teenagers had exposure to passive smoking. Statistical significant association was found between passive smoking exposure and precipitation of symptoms
ABSTRACT
Hand washing can be regarded as one of the most effective and important hygiene promotion programmes for community as well as hospital based settings. A cross sectional survey was carried out at Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, over 03 months from September to November 2012. The survey was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude and self-reported hand washing practice among healthcare staff [nurses] working in family OPD and ward. Data was entered and analyzed in SPSS 16. Descriptive statistics was used in the form of numbers and percentages. It was believed by 95% of staff that handwashing can reduce infection rates in hospitals. Among the respondents, 24.2% expressed strong dissent on washing hands only with water, however, 22.5% considered it enough. Patients never [50%], sometimes [21.7%], seldom [19.2%], often [9.2%] asked health care staff about hand washing. Staff reported their practice of hand washing before touching patients as often [32.5%], sometimes [37.5%], seldom [20.8%] and never [9.2%]