Anemia and intestinal parasitic infestations in school children in Skardu

Anemia and intestinal parasitic infestations are major medical and public health problems in Pakistan. This study was carried out to determine the frequency of anemia, intestinal parasitic infestations and possible correlation between two in Skardu district of Northern Areas. This study included 978 school children in the villages of Alchori, Kharmang, Hamzigound and Dassu of district Skardu under school health care program 2004. Stool smears were prepared with normal saline and each sample was studied under light microscope using 10x and 40x objectives. Free flowing 20 ul capillary bloods by prick method was taken from each student and hemoglobin estimation was done by Cyanmethemoglobin method. Out of 978 specimens, 537 [54.91%] revealed the presence of either cysts or ova of the intestinal parasites. Out of 543 parasites isolated, the most common parasite isolated was Ascaris lumbricoides 193 [35.54%] followed by Giardia lamblia 168 [30.94%], Entamoeba histolytica 59 [10.87%], Trichuris trichura 46 [8.47%], Ankylostoma duodenale 32 [5.89%], Hymenolepsis nana 31 [5.71%], Entrobius vermicularis 11 [2.02%] and Taenia species 3 [0.55%]. Three hundred and sixty two students [37.01%] had anaemia out of 978 students. Out of the 362 children with anemia, 283 [78.18%] were positive for intestinal parasites. Out of these 978, 623 [63.70%] were males and 355 [36.30%] were females. They were further subdivided on the basis of age into two groups. Six hundred and thirty three [64.72%] students were in 5-10 years age group and 345 [35.28%] in 11-15 years age group. The present study revealed the high percentage of intestinal parasitic infestation associated with anemia in school children of district Skardu

Perceptions about blood donation among army personnel

There is little literature on the public attitudes towards blood safety and blood donation in Pakistan. The purpose of study was to identify the misconceptions, beliefs and fears about blood donation among army personnel so that appropriate strategies can be adopted for the recruitment of voluntary non-remunerated blood donors in future. This cross sectional descriptive study was carried out at 123 [I] Fd Amb from July 2004 to Dec 2004. A self-administered questionnaire and face-to-face interview on the various aspect of blood donation were used for data collection from each individual. A total of 200 army personnel participated in the study. Out of 200 individuals, 41 [20.5%] were donors and 159 [79.5%] were non-donors. One hundred and eighty nine [94.5%] including donors and non-donors replied that a person more than 45 years of age could not donate blood. Out of 159 non-donors, 137 [86.16%] were of the opinion that blood donor should be of >60 Kg of weight. One hundred and seven [67.30%] of the non-donors answered that one can donate blood once a year. One hundred and forty five [91.20%] non-donors did not know amount of blood extracted during each donation. Out of 159 non-donors, 78 [49.06%] replied that they were not approached by anybody for blood donation. Out of 200 donors and non-donors, 105 [52.5%] revealed that extra leave could be the major incentive for blood donation. This study revealed the misconceptions regarding blood donation among army personnel. This needs education and motivation through dissemination of information regarding blood donation particularly by medical staff

Evidence based medicine: medical practice in the third millennium

Evidence-based medicine [EBM] is a growing international movement in health care that aims to bring the best evidence from medical research to the bedside, clinic and community. Evidence-based medicine de-emphasizes intuition, unsystematic clinical experience and pathophysiologic rationale as sufficient grounds for clinical decisionmaking and stresses the examination of evidence from clinical research. The aim of this paper is to familiarize the readers with the basic concept, methodology, resources of evidence-based medicine and its applicability in Pakistan