Determinants of severe acute malnutrition among children under five years in a rural remote setting: a hospital based study from district Tharparkar-Sindh, Pakistan

Objectives: To understand and catalogue the specific determinants of this alarming rate of malnutrition among children of Tharparkar district, Sindh Pakistan

Methods: This was a hospital based analytical survey. Data was collected through a semi-structured questionnaire by interviewing mothers of the children [age 6-59 months], admitted in the hospital. Following WHO guidelines, weight and length/ height of 105 children were recorded. Study was conducted in District Headquarters Hospital, Tharparkar district of Sindh province

Results: Almost 48% children admitted in the hospital were identified with severe acute malnutrition. More males [55%] were malnourished as compared to females [45%]. Maternal education, household income, family size, breastfeeding, vaccination status, and frequent infections were found to be significantly associated with the severe acute malnutrition

Conclusion: Specific interventions on promoting exclusive breastfeeding, vaccination, and timely health care seeking behaviors would definitely improve the outcomes. Nevertheless, sector wide approaches would be needed on girls' education, poverty, and food security in the district in order to address the issue of malnutrition

Capacity building on health diplomacy: a training experience from Pakistan

Modern-day globalization means that many health issues cannot be resolved by the affected country alone, and this necessitates political consultations, diplomatic negotiations and cross-border solutions. A few examples that require health diplomacy efforts are: halting resentment towards immunization, addressing the burden of noncommunicable diseases, enabling access to drugs and technology, and liberalizing trade to reduce the cost of drugs. The agenda of Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs] demands a concerted effort to achieve the ambitious targets. This article reports the experience of health diplomacy training imparted to mid-level and senior officials in the public as well as private sector in Pakistan. Training was geared to inculcate an understanding of global health diplomacy and governance, and to develop an appreciation of the relationship of global health with other disciplines such as foreign affairs, economics, trade, climate change and human rights. Participants included health professionals, experts from departments other than health, government officials and diplomats. This training was expected to enhance their knowledge of health systems dynamics that are influenced by foreign policy and diplomatic discourses