ABSTRACT
Background: Human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] is fifth leading cause of mortality and disability among infectious diseases worldwide. HIV burden is increasing annually and compliance with antiretroviral therapy [ART] is low among intravenous drug users, especially in developing countries.
Aim: To determine the adherence level to ART among HIV-positive intravenous drug users in Karachi Pakistan.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2015. A pretested questionnaire was administered to 375 of 3000 people who inject drugs, registered at the Civil Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.
Results: The mean age was 30 years, 181 were married, 179 were illiterate and 287 had income < 5000 rupees per month. Only 63 patients were adherent to ART and 343 were alcoholics. Nonadherence was greater in patients who were single and did not have children. The most common reason for missing ART was that they simply forgot to take the tablets.
Conclusion: We conclude that adherence to ART among intravenous drug users was low. Family cohesion and support were essential to maintain adherence to ART
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Adolescent , Adult , HIV Seropositivity , Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active , Anti-HIV Agents , Treatment Adherence and Compliance , Patient Compliance , Drug Users , Substance Abuse, Intravenous , Cross-Sectional Studies , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Objective: to determine the vaccination practices of mothers for children less than two years of age admitted with the complain of diarrhoea in the Zainab Panjwani Memorial Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
Methods: a Cross sectional hospital based study was conducted to determine the vaccination practices of mothers whose children were admitted with the complain of diarrhea in the paediatric ward of Zainab Panjwani Memorial Hospital, Karachi. Study was approved by the Ethical Review Board of Zainab Panjwani Memorial Hospital. After taking verbal consent from mothers or caregivers, the data was collected by using a semi-structured questionnaire. The study was conducted from 1st March to 30th April 2015. About 207 mothers were selected through consecutive sampling from paediatric units of Zainab Panjwani Memorial Hospital. Data was entered and analyzed by using SPSS V.21
Results: out of 207 children 51% were females, 89% of the children were under 1 year of age. About 90% of the children received BCG and OPV at birth, 82.1 % received Pentavalent1+Hib1+OPV1 at 6 weeks, 75.8% were vaccinated with Pentavalent 2 +Hib2+OPV 2 at 10 weeks. About 66.2% children received Pentavalent 3+Hib3+OPV3 at 14 weeks and 52% of the children were vaccinated with Measles vaccine at 9 months of age.The coverage rate was found low to be 30% at 15 months of age. More than 45% of the mothers reported difficulty in accessing vaccination center as the major reason for not getting their children immunized against EPI [Expanded Program of Immunization] vaccine preventable diseases
Conclusion: the practices of mothers for immunization at birth, 6 weeks and10 weeks interval were found more than 90% but at 9 months and 15 months the immunization rate for under 2 years of age child was found below 35%. The mothers should be encouraged through awareness campaign for EPI vaccination to completely immunize their children under two years of age
ABSTRACT
Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of smear positive malaria and sociodemographic factors of patients visiting the Microscopy center of Civil hospital Khairpur
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted January 2016 to April 2016 by using structured questionnaire to assess frequency of smear positive malaria among patients visiting Microscopy center of Civil Hospital Khairpur. About 138 patients who were prescribed Malaria Parasite [MP] Test by the doctors were selected by using consecutive sampling technique and interviewed regarding their socio-demographic characteristics. Data was entered and analyzed by using SPSS version 21
Results: Out of total 138 participants, 55.5% were males, Majority were less than forty years of age with highest range of 25-40 years. Malaria parasite test was found to be positive in 6.5 % participants and the most common identified species was Plasmodium Vivax
Conclusion: This study suggests that Malaria is endemic in certain areas of Khairpur District and Plasmodium Vivax is the most common species affecting the people who visited Microscopy centre for the Malaria Parasite [MP] test. Health education and community participation would be needed to eliminate the Malaria from community
ABSTRACT
The objective of this study is to determine the frequency of psychiatric illnesses among patients attending psychiatric outpatient department of tertiary care hospital Karachi. Cross sectional study. This study was conducted in Psychiatric Out - patient Department of a Tertiary Care Public Sector Hospital of Karachi from July 2014 to December 2014. About 560 psychiatric patients profile was determined during July -2014 toDecember 2014. The patients were diagnosed and classified on the basis of DSM -IV criteria by a consultant psychiatrist. The patient complete profile was obtained from the Hospital record. The Data obtained was entered and analyzed by using SPSS version 21. Among the total five hundred and sixty psychiatric patients, 51.5 % were males and 48.5% were females. Fifty percent of the patients had Depression, 30.9% patients had anxiety, 29% had psychosis and 24% patients had Schizophrenia. More than half of the patients belong to young age group 20 - 40 years. About ninety four percent patients were not referred and reached to the hospital in advance stages of diseases. This study concluded that the proportion of Psychiatric illnesses are high and majority of patients had depression, major victims of the psychiatric disorders are from most productive age group of our society which is an alarming situation and majority not referred by any physician seeking consultation on self- help basis