Antenatal depression and its predictors in Lahore, Pakistan

Mental health is an important but neglected component of reproductive health. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors for antenatal depression among women attending for antenatal care at an urban tertiary care hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. In a cross-sectional study/ structured questionnaires were filled and screening for depression was done using the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale [EPDS]. Out of 506 antenatal attendees 126 [24.9%] had no depression [EPDS scores < 10], 53 [10.5%] scored 10-12 and 327 [64.6%] EPDS scores > 12. Depression scores [> 10] were more common in mothers aged < 20 years [93.7%] than those aged > 35 years [55.0%]. Fear of childbirth and separation from husband were identified as significant risk factors for development of antenatal depression, while family history of psychiatric illness was significant protective factor. Domestic violence, drug abuse, lack of support, previous miscarriage and personal history of previous psychiatric illness were not found to be significant risk factors

Comparison of body mass index and waist circumference in predicting incident diabetes

The objective of the present investigation is to confirm that central obesity which is measured by waist circumference [WC] is more informative than general obesity determined by body mass index [BMI] in the prediction of diabetes mellitus [DM]. The study was conducted at Khyber Medical College, Peshawar during 2008 to 2009. A total of 475 adult male and female volunteers were the subject of present research and were categorized in terms of their BMI. The BMI was determined from weight and height; the subjects were grouped as normal, overweight and obese. WC was determined by measuring the waist between the lower rib and iliac crest. The results show a consistence relation between BMI and WC with diabetes mellitus. The Chi-square test for 95% confidence interval showed 2-sided asymptomatic significance of diabetes mellitus with WC to be 0.016 and BMI 0.082. The results showed a higher trend of diabetes mellitus in males having WC greater then 40 inches [100 cm] and for female WC greater than 35 inches [87.5 cm] as compare to higher BMI

Relation of hypertension with body mass index and age in male and female population of Peshawar, Pakistan

Hypertension, a condition developed as a result of high blood pressure is strongly correlated with body mass index [BMI]. Obesity was noted to be a single best predictor of hypertension incidence, and was regarded as a major controllable contributor to hypertension. Overweight and obesity is conveniently determined from BMI. Present study was conducted in Khyber Medical College [KMC] Peshawar to investigate the relation of hypertension with BMI and age. The objective of the present investigation is to establish a relationship between hypertension and BMI in male and female population of Peshawar with consideration of age. This study was conducted at KMC, Peshawar during 2008-2009. A total of 1006 adult male and female volunteers were the subject of present research and were categorized in terms of their ages. BMI was determined from weight and height; the subjects were grouped as normal, overweight and obese. Hypertension was determined from the measure of blood pressure. The results show a consistence relation between BMI and hypertension within age groups in both male and females. The figures exhibited a relation of age with BMI and hypertension in both males and females subjects. The results showed a higher trend of hypertension with increasing BMI. In young females it was noted that with a shift from normal BMI the incidence of hypertension was very high

South Asian earthquake: psychiatric experience in a tertiary hospital

In October 2005, northern Pakistan was devastated by an earthquake killing 73 000 people. Some of the seriously injured were airlifted to a tertiary hospital in Rawalpindi, near Islamabad. This field report describes the psychiatric services delivered at that hospital. It explains how the needs were assessed and psychosocial interventions designed at different levels. The training needs of the medical staff were also identified and efforts were made to enhance their skills for psychosocial care. Finally, the report formulates some recommendations for improving such services

Infant feeding practices and impact of the method of feeding on growth and morbidity during first four months of life

Feeding histories were collected on 81 infants born to middle income families in a private hospital in University Town, Peshawar. For the comparison of growth and morbidity between breast-fed and bottle-fed babies, 67 of the above mentioned infants were followed from birth to 4 months of age. Fifty eight percent of the infants were breast-fed and 42% infants were bottle-fed [mixed fed: 27% and bottle fed exclusively: 15%]. A large percentage of mothers [62.5%] initiated breast-feeding with in first 6 hours postpartum. Eighty nine percent of mothers fed colostrum [first milk] to their babies; 53% of the mothers considered colostrum useful while 11% considered it harmful. Bottle feeding was introduced to 89% of the infants during first month of life; 64% of the bottle-fed infants received infant formula while 36% received animal milk. Forty five percent of the infants were introduced weaning foods by the age of four months. Popular weaning foods were cerelac, banana, farex, egg yolk and biscuits. Use of pacifier was common in both breast-fed and bottle-fed infants. Irrespective of feeding methods, the mean weights and mean head circumferences of boys were greater than girls at birth, 2 and 4 months of age [P<0.05]. From birth to 4 months of age, mean weight and mean weight gains of breast-fed boys and girls were not significantly different from those of partially breast-fed and bottle-fed boy and girls. Similarly mean head circumferences and mean increase in head circumference of breast-fed boys and girls were not significantly different from those of partial breast-fed and bottle-fed boys and girls. The morbidity data revealed that during the first four months of life breast-fed group had significantly less number of infants with diarrhoea and respiratory tract infections as compared to bottle-fed group infants [P< 0.05]