ABSTRACT
The objective of the study was to evaluate the current frequency ratio of HBsAg seropositivity in a laboratory-based setting. It was a retrospective study, conducted during September 2009 and November 2010 at Dr. Essa's Diagnostic Laboratory and its branches in Karachi, Pakistan. Blood samples of 8,648 individuals were screened for HBsAg using the BioRad EVOLIS EIA method. Pertinent questionnaires filled in by 50 practicing physicians were also evaluated. The 551 subjects [6.4%] that tested positive for HBsAg included 360 males [65.3%] and 191 females [34.6%]. The highest frequency of HBsAg was noted in those aged 16-29 years [43.9%]. HBsAg rate in the studied population has steadily increased and is more common in the sexually active age group, with males tending to be more often seropositive than females
ABSTRACT
Sharp weapons are one of the most violent and abhorrent means of deaths. This study assesses the frequency of sharp weapon deaths in Karachi. This was a cross sectional study, and involves the deaths by sharp weapons autopsied in Karachi during Mar 2008-Feb 2009. This study reports that the frequency of sharp weapon deaths in Karachi is similar to some other studies conducted in different regions of Pakistan, yet it is very high as the population of Karachi is way more than any other metropolis of Pakistan. Our study reported that out of 2090 medico-legal deaths in Karachi during the study period, 91 deaths were due to sharp weapons, including 73 [80.2%] males and 18 [19.8%] females. 100% of the deaths were homicides, so none were suicides. Deaths were more frequent in age group ranging from 20-39 years [59.3%]. Sharp weapon deaths continue to be a means of quite a number of deaths in Karachi. Such violence depicts intolerant and frustrated nature of the citizens