Stress; a cross sectional study at islamic international medical college [IIMC], Rawalpin

To assess different level of stress and reaction to those stressors among undergraduate medical students and also observe an association between different academic years, if any exists. Cross-sectional study. Islamic International medical college- a private medical college in Rawalpindi. Period: From 2006 to 2007. Questionnaire used was a stress inventory called students life stress inventory. It was distributed to all registered MBBS students at IIMC in years 1- 5 who voluntarily participated. 403 out of 500 students completed the questionnaire with response rate 81.6%. Data was analyzed through SPSS by applying different statistical tests, which were ANOVA, and t test. Results reveal that 21.53% students were mildly stressed, 39.12% students were moderately stressed and 12.64% students were severely stressed. Significant gender differences were found on almost all the sub-scales. The findings reveal that females face more stressors especially conflicts, emotional and behavioral [p < .01], stress was more significant between boarders as compare to non-boarders. One Way Analyses of variance [ANOVA] was computed to check the significance of differences on mean scores. An analysis of variance on Student Life Stress Inventory is significant, F = [3.774], p <.01. Mean difference indicates that prevalence of stress is higher in first year and final year MBBS students. This study presents pragmatic evidence regarding the psychological health of students in our college. These findings suggest that high levels of stress exist in our students especially significant during first and final years of their course. It is important for us to know the prevalence and causes of student stress, which not only affects their health, but also their academic achievement. Information from this study can be used to develop appropriate intervention programs for medical students, in order to decrease their stress levels

Geographical patterns of access and utilization of basic health unit in district attock

To measure the distance of villages from the health facility in union council Gali Jagir, District Attock and to analyze the geographical location, pattern of access and health facility utilization. This was a cross sectional study. The study was carried out at union council Gali Jagir, Tehsil Fateh Jang, Distrct Attock from 15 November 2000 to 31 December 2000. Measurement of the distance from the villages to the health facility was done and the facility record was reviewed to assess the utilization pattern by the village population. Information about mode of travel, time for travel and cost of traveling was collected by the key informants. Twenty-two percent of villages and 23% of population was situated within 3 km distance [by foot] from the basic health unit [BHU]. Eleven percent of villages and 10% of population was situated within 3-5 km distance [by foot] from the BHU. Majority [67%] of villages and 70% of population was situated more than 5km [by foot] from the BHU. The overall health facility utilization of BHU Gali Jagir was 8.34%. It was found that a distance of 3 km was accessible distance and the health facility utilization decreased as the distance increased. There were also other causes [financial, cultural and functional] of inaccessibility. This study has identified the gaps in the geographical access patterns that an accessible distance is 3km instead of 5km [as accepted by World Health Organization]. Distance of 3km is accessible for seeking care from a public health care facility and overall health facility utilization was 8.32%, which is alarmingly low