Free medical camps in rural areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir

To describe the demographics, diagnoses and treatment offered to the people attending five free medical camps in various rural areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir [AJK] during 2012. Cross sectional descriptive study. Bhimber district of AJK from January 2012 to December 2012. Five free medical camps each of two days duration were established during this period in Nihala, Gola, Poona, Nalee and Barroh which are located in the Bhimber district. Camps were staffed by Army doctors and nursing assistants. The particulars of the attending patients were recorded at the reception and diagnoses along with the medicines dispensed noted at the dispensary. A total of 7320 patients attended the five medical camps. The age of the patients ranged from 05 days to 101 years, mean age being 35 years. Females constituted 59% [4319] of the patients. Majority of the patients were agricultural workers. The most frequent complamts were gastrointestinal [30.4%] musculoskeletel [25.5%] and visual acuity problems [15.1%]. Other common complaints were related with dermatology, ear, nose and throaf [ENT] and gynecology. A total of 5010 prescriptions were recorded and the commonest medicines prescribed were multivitamins [30.5%], analgesics [28.3%], antibiotics [22.3%] and antihelminthics [21.7%].Gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal ailments dominate in the rural population of AJK. Recruiting a pediatrician, gynecologist and ophthalmologist in rural medical camps would greatly improve the efficiency of such camps and increase patient satisfaction. Such camps are recommended until the indigenous healthcare system is developed enough

Prevention of post spinal hypotension; comparison between preloading with and without intramuscular ephedrine in elderly patients undergoing inguinal hernia surgery

Objective of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of intramuscular ephedrine along with preloading in prevention of post spinal hypotension in elderly patients undergoing inguinal hernia surgery. This is a quasi experimental study. The study was conducted at the department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Combined Military Hospital, Peshawar over a period of one year. In a double-blind, randomized study, 80 elderly patients undergoing inguinal hernia surgery under spinal anaesthesia divided into two equal groups of A and B. Forty patients received i/m inj of ephedrine 45mg deep in the paravertebral muscles immediately after injection of bupivacaine, and 40 received an equal volume of saline. Patients in both groups were given the same volumes of fluid before anaesthesia. The incidence of hypotension [Systolic arterial pressure <90mmHg or <80% of baseline] were recorded. and incidence of fall in the heart rate was recorded. Systolic arterial pressure during the first 60 min after anaesthesia remained significantly more stable in the ephedrine-treated group, and there was also a significantly smaller number of patients in this group who had decreases in pressure of more than 30% of pre-block levels and fewer required rescue i.v. Ephedrine. An increase in heart rate or systolic pressure of > 20% from baseline was found in two patients in the ephedrine group and in one patient in the placebo group. We conclude that ephedrine 45mg administered in the paravertebral muscles immediately after plain bupivacaine spinal anaesthesia is a simple and effective means of reducing the incidence of hypotensive episodes in the elderly patient

Perceived social support and depression among postnatal women in Pakistan

The Present study examines the predictive relationship of perceived social support with depression among postnatal women. After detailed review of literature it was hypothesized that perceived lack of social support would predict depression in postnatal women. Sample of current study, consisting of 90 married postnatal women, with the age range of 25-40 years, who were assessed within four weeks after delivery. Moreover, all three socioeconomic classes [low, middle and high] were considered. [Nonsupport] Subscale of Personality Assessment Inventory [PAI; Morey, 1991] and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale [EPDS; Cox, Holden, and Sagovsky, 1987] were administered to assess the variables, of perceived lack of social support and depression among postnatal women, respectively. Linear regression was also calculated to determine the predictive relationship of perceived lack of social support with depression among postnatal women. Analysis revealed highly significant relationship between variables [F = 11.008, df=l, 88, p<.01]

comparative study of marital adjustment and self esteem among husbands of working and non-working wives

The present study investigates the difference in the level of Marital Adjustment and Self-esteem between the husbands of working and non-working wives. After detailed literature review following hypotheses have been formulated, [1] husbands of working wives would have lower level of marital adjustment as compared to the husbands of nonworking wives [2] husbands of working wives would have low self esteem as compared to the husbands of nonworking wives. The sample of the present research consisted of 55 married males with an age range of 30-45 years and qualification of at least graduation. Marital Adjustment was measured by the Dyadic Adjustment Scale [DAS] [Spanier, 2001], and Self Esteem was measured using the Rosenberg Self esteem Scale [Rosenberg 1965]. [t test] was used to compute the difference and results showed that there is no significant difference in the level of marital adjustment [t = .944, df = 53, p>.05] and self esteem [t - 1.481, df = 53, p>.05] between the husbands of working and nonworking wives