ABSTRACT
Background: Burns are a major source of morbidity and mortality and their incidence is high in the Easter Mediterranean region, including Pakistan. Appropriate measures to prevent burns require adequate knowledge of the epidemiological characteristics and associated risk factors, which may vary among communities
Objectives: To investigate the epidemiological features of patients of burns in Rahimyarkhan, and based on these findings appropriate measures will for prevention of burns
Study design and duration: This was a descriptive study conducted from Feb to Sep, 2010
Patients and Methods: This study was conducted in the Burn Unit of Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan. All the burn patients were included in the study. Data regarding age, sex, causative agents, body parts involved, geographical origin, mode and nature of injury and outcome were obtained from the hospital record. Analysis was done with SPSS version 14.0
Results: Total victims were 109 [56 males, 53 females]. Age ranged from 7 months to 70 years [mean 14.30+/- 4.31 years]. Children <10 years were 53[48.6%], 11-20 years were 19 [17.43%] and 21-70 years were 37 [33.9%]. 65 were from rural areas and 44 from urban. 67 [61.41%] cases were caused by flame, 31[28%] by hot liquids, 8 [7%] by electricity, 3 [2.7%] by chemicals. 107 were accidental and 2 suicidal. 85 healed completely, 16 had complications and 8 expired
Conclusion: By using safe kitchen appliances, majority of all burn accidents can be prevented. Measures should be taken to launch a public health education campaign that will reduce the incidence of these fatal casualties
ABSTRACT
Background: hepatitis B, C and [Human Immunodeficiency Virus] HIV viral infections are serious global public health Problems
Objectives: to assess the knowledge about causative agents, transmission and prevention of hepatitis B, C and HIV among blood donors
Patients and Method: this descriptive study was conducted at the blood bank of Lady Wellington Hospital, Lahore in the month of December 2008. 500 subjects were included in this study, after taking informed consent. A structured questionnaire was used for interviewing the blood donors
Result: the mean age of the participants was 32.4 +/- 4.2 years. Among 500 volunteer blood donors, 96.6% were males and 3.4% females. More people have heard about HIV [82 %] than HCV [74 %] and HBV [64 %]. About half of the study participants knew that hepatitis B and C mainly affect the liver. 62 % individuals correctly answered about the spread of HIV through unsafe sex. As compared to this, 39 % and 29 % of the individuals knew that hepatitis B and C respectively spread through unsterilized syringes used for injections. Many subjects [about 80 %] did not know that all these diseases are caused by viruses
Conclusion: knowledge about hepatitis B, C and HIV infections was inadequate among study population
ABSTRACT
Back ground: HIV/AIDS is a potentially fatal disease. However, vast majority of the world's youth are unaware about the modes of transmission and prevention
Objectives: the objective of this study was to assess the impact of health education on the knowledge and beliefs of college students toward HIV/AIDS in Pakistan
Patients and Methods: this was an interventional study conducted in the Government Khawaja Fareed Post Graduate Degree College, Rahim Yar Khan, during the year 2009. It was conducted in two phases. In first phase, baseline data was collected to assess level of knowledge and belief of students about HIV/ AIDS. 350 students of different classes participated in this study. Then a comprehensive lecture was delivered regarding transmission and prevention of HIV/AIDS. After a period of three months of this medical education intervention, the participants of first phase were asked to take part in second phase. A total of 314 students of previous group participated i.e 89.71% of the participants of the first phase. The data was collected and analyzed by SPSS version 14
Results: the mean age of the students was 17.44 +/- 1.28 years. The knowledge of the students of 13th and 14th years of education was better as compared to 11th and 12th years of education. In the second phase, 314 participants joined the study. There was significant improvement in the knowledge of students about HIV [p<0.000] and its modes of preventions [p < 0.000]
Conclusion: it is necessary that sufficient knowledge about transmission and prevention of HIV/AIDS should be given to adolescents especially college students. College students should be encouraged to discuss about HIV/AIDS sequelae and prevention
ABSTRACT
Background: most of the traumatic injuries to the tibia are caused by motor cycle or automobile accidents. Motor cycle related tibial injuries have high incidence of skin and soft tissues loss. To decrease the ensuing burden, a spectrum of activities is needed, including injury surveillance, injury prevention and improvement in care of the wound e.g. by use of fasciocutaneous flaps
Objective: to determine the efficacy of using fasciocutaneous flaps in covering soft tissue defects in open tibial fractures
Patients and Methods: this study was a descriptive study, conducted in the orthopaedic unit of Sheikh Zayed Medical College, Rahim Yar Khan, from July 2008 to June 2009. All those patients who had skin loss over the tibia with intact distal neurovascular status along with ample normal surrounding skin were included in the study. Data was collected regarding age, sex of patients, size of the wound, site of the wound, level of fracture, mode of injury and use of any preventive/ protective measures
Results: twenty cases had open tibial fractures that needed fasciocutaneous flaps; there were 19 [95%] males and one [5%] female. Twelve [60%] flaps were proximally based, two [10%] transversally based and six [30%] distally based. Eleven [55%] flaps were between 6cm to 8cm. All [20] the flaps survived [100%]. Complications were noted in 9 [45%] patients. Majority [95%] did not use any protective/ preventive measures for accidents
Conclusion: this study concluded the worthwhile efficacy of the fasciocutaneous flaps. The incidence of the injury can be reduced by observing traffic rules and improving road safety