Assessment of awareness and feeding practices among mothers of infants under six months of age in an urban slum near Quetta

To assess the attitude, knowledge and feeding practices of mothers of infants below six months of age, in Killi Mohammed Shahi, Quetta. Cross - sectional descriptive study. The study was carried out at Killi Mohammed Shahi, an urban slum near Quetta, over a period of 6 months from June - December 2007. A total of 100 mothers, with children of age groups birth to 6 months were randomly selected from among a total of 150 identified mothers. Their knowledge, attitude and practices regarding breast feeding and weaning were determined by interviewing and observing the mothers in the area of Killi Mohammed Shahi, Quetta. Their education and socio economic status were also recorded. Different myths and beliefs were also recorded. A total of 100 mothers were interviewed for feeding practices. 30% were house wives and 70% were working women. Only 10% were exclusively breast fed for 6 month, 25% were exclusively breast fed after 1[st] month. Prelacteal foods were given to 90% of the infants. Commercial formulae were used by 42% of the mothers and the rest used other breast milk substitutes. It was concluded that knowledge, attitude and practices of breast feeding were not adequate due to different reasons, including lack of knowledge, about when and how to initiate breast feeding, different myths and belief, demands for household shores and economic reasons

Menstrual abnormalities after tubal sterilization

To ascertain the menstrual abnormalities after tubal sterilization. Prospective cross-sectional study. All women aged 30 to 40 were selected from low income urban population at Quetta, with a body wt between 50 to 90 kg, who have undergone tubal ligation at Gynea unit III Sandeman Provincial Hospital, Quetta. This cross sectional prospective study has been carried out on 200 women at unit III Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Sandman Provincial Hospital, Quetta during 1[st] June 2006 - 31 July 2007, to assess the effect of tubal ligation [sterilization] on the menstrual cycle. Two hundred healthy women under the coverage of the hospital family planning centre were selected randomly and all were assessed for the menstrual irregularities after tubal ligation. The menstrual abnormalities were significantly different between two age groups [35-36 and 38-40]. Tubal sterilization does cause menstrual irregularities

Frequency of risk factors for hepatitis-B surface antigen positive patients in a hospital setting

Identification and relative significance of various risk factors for hepatitis-B infection. This prospective study was carried out in District Head Quarter Hospital Mastung, Periphery of Balochistan, from May 2004 to September 2005. Hundred patients were included in the study. They were screened for hepatitis-B surface antigen. A proforma along with its questionnaire was filled in for every patient who was found to be HBsAg Positive and at the end we came to conclusion regarding the modes of transmission of hepatitis-B. In these patients 78 were male and 22 were female, ranging from 14 to 70 years of age group. The pattern of various risk factors for hepatitis-B surface antigen was and; follows. Repeated use of un-sterilized razors and blades 62%, repeated use of disposable syringes 60%, blood transfusion 11%, sexual transmission 18%, Hemodialysis 5%, tattooing 3% surgical procedures 2%, accidental needle prick 2%. We concluded that there are; some additional risk factors for transmission of hepatitis B in this part of World. These include un-sterilized syringes and surgical instruments used by unskilled health workers and quacks in periphery, repeated use of un-sterilized razors and blades and Tattooing with contaminated needles