Assessment of health services on relevant primary health care principles in internally displaced people of Pakistan

SPHERE based assessment of internally displaced persons camp was done to assess health services on relevant primary health care principles using a cross-sectional survey in Jalozai Camp, Pakistan. Most of the households [74%, n=87] had access to health education addressing issues to protect and promote their health which was provided at household level [83%, n=72], community level [44%, n=38] and health centre level [13%, n=11]. All the health facilities were culturally and socially acceptable in terms of language, separate waiting rooms, presence of female health providers and language translators. A referral system was in place which provided free transport in [67%, n=2] health facilities to tertiary care hospitals. Health services provided were culturally and socially acceptable and efforts on health education were also appreciable, except that no health education or intervention was done on HIV AIDS. Referral should be made to referral facilities within the districts instead of directly to tertiary care hospitals

Frequency of abnormal waist circumference and associated risk factors in healthy adults

To find out the frequency of central obesity and risk factors for obesity based on waist circumference [WC] in healthy volunteers. This descriptive cross-sectional study in terms of data collection and analysis was conducted at Hayatabad Medical Complex [HMC] and Welfare Clinics in Peshawar City, from November 2005 till April 2006 [6 months]. A convenient sample of 1031 healthy volunteers accompanying their patient to Out Patient Department [OPD], Ward at HMC and at welfare clinics in the city were included in the study. A structured interview questionnaire was administered to all participants and their anthropometric measurements taken in standardized way. Out of 1031 individuals [778 males, 253 females] with mean age of 35.75 +/- 13.45 years, the frequency of high waist circumference was 57%, significantly higher in females [89%] compared to males [47%]. It increased with age peaking at 49-58 year age group and declining thereafter. Married subjects [67%], illiterates [69%], housewives [96%], car-owners [61%] and hypertensive subjects had significantly higher frequencies of increased waist circumference. Ethnicity [p=0.45], smoking [p=0.36] and awareness of risks [p=0.91] did not show significant association with frequency of increased waist. There is a very high frequency of increased waist circumference particularly among females. There is progressive increase in waist with increasing age with a decline later in life. There is positive association of increased waist with occupation, educational status, use of cars and married marital status. There is no association of high waist with smoking, awareness or ethnicity