Well baby visits - an experience in a squatter settlement of karachi

To determine the profile of healthy children visiting to the well child clinic in relevance to their growth and development. A cross-sectional study. The Study was conducted at the Primary Health Care [PHC] center in a squatter settlement of Karachi from December 2003 to December 2004. A cross-sectional survey of children under 3 years attending the Primary Health Care [PHC] center in a squatter settlement situated near Ziauddin Medical University [ZMU], Clifton. Karachi. It is divided into five blocks with a population of approximately 20,000. It is a low socio-economic area with poor literacy rate. For convenience of follow-up, only those children were enrolled in the well child clinic living within a distance of 5 kms. from the center. The information was recorded on a structured proforma, which included the introduction of the child; natal and pre-natal history; immunization and feeding history; past medical and surgical history; complete general and systemic examination. The growth parameters were recorded on growth chart recommended by the WHO. A total of 62 children were enrolled from birth to 3 years with a mean age and standard deviation of 2.2+1.3 years. Almost half the mothers [34 out of 62] preferred ghutti as a pre-lacteal feed, 6 preferred honey while the rest were unable to remember giving any prelacteal feed. Almost half of the children [n=31] were given colostrum. Breastfeeding was initiated in 18 children while the rest were bottle fed. The weaning age ranged from 4 to 24 months. All the children were fully immunized according to the EPI schedule. Majority of the children were malnourished [82%] and only 18% had normal weight for age according to the growth chart and Gomez's classification. It iwas found in this study that the improved nutrition can lead to improvement in child growth

Morbidity pattern and utilization of a primary health care center in a low socioeconomic area of Karachi

To identify the morbidity pattern according to age, gender and seasonal variation using the ICD coding and the utilization of Primary Health Care [PHC] center services in a demographically defined community. The data collected from 2001-2003 was analyzed using the International Classification of Diseases - 10 [ICD-10] coding for identifying the morbidity patterns presenting at the PHC Center. The age and gender distribution of the patients and the seasonal variation of few diseases were noted. Only the residents of the area visiting the center for preventive or curative services were included. A structured performa was designed to enter the age, gender, disease and ICD codes. The faculty was trained for using the coding system. A total of 13,519 patients visited the PHC during three-year period. On an average, 376 patients were seen during a month with male to female ratio of 1:2. The most common diseases presented belong to the respiratory system, followed by infections or parasitic infestations and diseases of the reproductive system. The women presented for first visit of antenatal check up were 960 out of 4614 women of reproductive age group. Among the adult population, 391 [6%] presented with hypertension, 64 [1%] were Type 2 diabetics and 86 [1.3%] were asthmatics. The paediatric population analysis showed that 918 [13%] had upper respiratory infections and 1339 [19%] had diarrhoea. Problem oriented medical records from health centers, computerized in a uniform standardized way, can give extensive information about the content and burden of health problems in family practice and presumably public health

Knowledge of students regarding hepatitis and HIV/AIDS of a private medical university in Karachi

To determine and assess the level of awareness among students of a private medical college regarding HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B and C. A survey was conducted to assess the awareness of medical students on HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C. They were asked to fulfill a pre-tested structured questionnaire. The variables accessed were their knowledge of disease regarding etiology, mode of transmission, and prevention. A total of 267 students participated, with 117 [43.8%] students from pre-clinical years and 150 [56.2%] from the clinical years. The male female ratio was 1:2, mean age of respondents was 21 + 1.5 years. Majority of the students [98%] agreed that an infected person is a major source of transmitting these infections. Almost all [95%] students knew that blood transfusion was an important source of transmitting these infections. Wearing gloves [87%] and safe disposal of sharps waste [98%] were known by the students to be the ways to protect against these infections. A significant difference was noted on comparing the knowledge between preclinical and clinical students regarding medical / surgical procedures causing these infections [p<0.001] and also regarding the ways to protect against these diseases [p=0.001]. There is a lack of awareness among the medical students entering into the profession. It is the need of the hour to emphasize on practicing universal precautions. In addition, some preventive measures should be taken by the management of the universities and medical students to avoid the occurrence of these problems

Improving vaccination status of children under five through health education

To improve awareness and knowledge of mothers regarding vaccine preventable diseases and the immunization status of children under five through health education messages by medical students, at Gulshan-e-Sikanderabad, a squatter settlement adjacent to Ziauddin Medical University, Karachi. The undergraduate medical students' visit families in the squatter settlement. This study compared the effect of intervention by medical students on vaccination status of children under five in the intervention households versus those without intervention. A baseline study was done in 1998 and a follow-up study was done after four years to assess the differences in knowledge and practices of mothers regarding immunization. A total of 110 houses from block I and 207 houses from block V were selected. An increase of 22% [52% vs 30%] in block-I [p=0.003] and 19% [32% vs 13%] increase in block V was seen in the utilization of PHC Center for vaccination [p=0.001]. Mothers' knowledge regarding the age when first vaccine is administered to the child, increased in the follow-up from 60% to 76.5% [p<0.01] in block I and from 50% to 62% in block V. The immunization status increased significantly in block I from 46.5% to 75% after the intervention [p<0.005], no significant difference could be seen in block V [p=0.16]. In the follow-up survey a significant difference was seen in the vaccination status between the two blocks [p=0.001]. The health education messages significantly increased the vaccination status of children under 5 in the intervention area