U-turns and road safety - perspective from Karachi

U-turn is a complex driving manoeuvre entailing 180-degree turn to change the direction of travel towards the opposite direction. A cross-sectional survey based on convenience sampling was conducted at 120 U-turns in Karachi from February to October 2013. Shopkeepers operating in the close vicinity of U-turns were interviewed. Out of the 120 U-turns studied, 87[72.5%] were without median and 33[27.5%] were with median. Weekly average number of people getting injured or dying as a result of roadside traffic accidents was statistically significant [p<0.05] between the two types of U-turns; with U-turns having median having more injured and dead roadside traffic accident victims. Results from our preliminary study indicate that U-turns with medians are more likely to contribute towards road traffic accident morbidity and mortality and hence compromise road safety. Public health and transportation professionals in the country need to work in concert for ensuring that roads are safe for travelling

Opinions on age of marriage - perspective from university students in Islamabad and Rawalpindi

Child marriages are more common in developing countries, including Pakistan. This study was conducted to determine the perspective of university students on marriageable age in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Cumulatively, 1039 students participated in this cross-sectional survey based on convenience sampling. There were statistically significant differences between male and female students pertaining to opinions about what should be the legal age for women and men. Male respondents were more likely to accept 16 years of legal age at marriage for both males as well as females. Female respondents rejected 16 years as the legal age of marriage for girls on physical and emotional health grounds as well as on having negative impact on girl's education. Results stress the need for better understanding of socio-cultural norms in the country to more effectively address and discourage the practice of child marriage in the country

Over dental anxiety problems among university students: perspective from Pakistan

Oral health seeking behavior is compromised by dental anxiety, and affects quality of life. This preliminary study using convenience sampling was conducted among university students in the cities of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Multan, Pakistan, using standardized, valid and reliable scales to determine the prevalence and correlates of dental anxiety. Cumulatively 503 students including 278 males and 225 females completed the questionnaire. High to severe anxiety on Dental Anxiety Scale-Revised was reported by 60 [21.6%] males and 54 [24%] females. Seventy-five [27%] males and 62 [27.6%] females reported being quite afraid to very afraid on Dental Anxiety Question. Results underline the need for population-based representative studies to determine the prevalence and correlates of dental anxiety for better dental health in Pakistan

Internet access and utilization for health information among university students in Islamabad

Internet has changed the way we live and work. Advent of this technology has fundamentally transformed our lives the way invention of automobile changed how our lives and cities looked and worked before. Practically no information is available on the use of internet for health by the people of Pakistan. The Objectives of the study were to assess the access and utilization pattern of internet by university students in Islamabad, with emphasis on the healthcare information seeking. An anonymous, self-administered, and pre-tested questionnaire with questions on the access, and usage pattern of internet, seeking health care information online, and belief about reliability of such information; was distributed to only those students who were enrolled in masters or higher degree programs. A total of 600 students were approached and 598 [99.7%] completed the questionnaires. The mean age of students was 23.5 years [range 19-40]. The majority of students [423] were enrolled in masters program. Four hundred and sixty eight students [78.26%] students had access to the computer either at home or at their university hostel. While 304 [50.84%] students had internet access at home or in their university hostel. Out of 304 students who reported having access to internet in the past three months, one hundred and thirty-nine [43.4%] students replied affirmatively to the question of having used internet for seeking health care information. And 109 [78.4%] thought that such information was reliable. Out of 139 students who had used internet for seeking health information, 35 [25.2%] students replied affirmatively to the question of having discussed health information obtained from internet with their doctor/physician whom they visited for any illness/treatment. Majority of Islamabad university students in this study had access to computer and internet. Young and healthy state of this educated age group perhaps accounts for limited use of internet for seeking healthcare related information. However, high reliability of internet obtained health information needs to be further studied in terms of websites utilized for seeking such information

Injury profile in young female adolescents - A case study from Islamabad

Injuries are an under recognized public health problem globally. We assessed the prevalence and correlates of injuries in adolescent school girls. A cross-sectional survey with convenience sampling was conducted among the two girl's middle schools in Islamabad, using structured, self-administered, anonymous and pre-tested questionnaire. All the class seven and eight students attending the school on the day of study were distributed questionnaires in the classrooms, who handed-over the completed questionnaires to their designated teacher. Data was analyzed for frequencies and counts with STATA 8. One hundred eighty-two questionnaires were completed; average age of respondents was 12 years [range 11-14]. Cumulatively, 78 [42.8%] students reported sustaining 93 medically attended unintentional injuries in the past year; among these 11 [14.1%] reported two injuries and 2 [2.6%] reported three injuries. For 43 [46.2%] injuries, respondents consulted a general practitioner [Doctor practicing near home], while for the rest of injuries, students were taken to the hospital for treatment. Medically attended unintentional injuries in the preceding one year were common in the school girls, with home being the most frequent place of injuries. Falls with injuries on hands and arms was the most common site of injuries

Career Satisfaction among female nurses

To study the personal characteristics, measurement of psychological well-being, work environment and its impact as determinants of career satisfaction among nurses. Design: Descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: One public and private hospital in Islamabad and Rawalpindi each, from 12th February to 30th March 2001. Subjects and Nurses currently working in inpatient hospitals, for atleast one year, were given a structured, self-administered, anonymous and pre-tested questionnaire with both closed and open-ended questions. Out of 261 nurses participating in this study, 210 [80.4%] responded as always or almost always, satisfied with their career as a nurse. Almost all nurses reported their work related stress as either severe or moderate. Over two-third of them reported as always or almost always being in control of work life. An overwhelming number of nurses in these settings are satisfied with their career; however, links between working conditions and levels of satisfaction among them are elusive

Prevalence and pattern of smoking in university students - perspective from Islamabad

A cross-sectional survey based on sample of convenience was conducted in university students of Islamabad, from January 15th to June 30th 2001. With 95% confidence level and assuming a hypothetical difference between two population proportions of smoking at 5% in students, with an absolute precision of 5%, on either side of proportion, 5 sample size of 216 for each gender group was calculated. Four hundred and seventy students 249 female and 221 male were selected by convenience sampling and interviewed. Most students, 380 [80.9%], were enrolled in the masters program, 192 [77.1%] females and 188 [85.1%] males, while the rest were either M.Phil or doctoral students. Cumulatively, 72 [15.3%] reported ever having smoked cigarettes, 11 [4.4%] females and 61 [27.6%] males. While 59 [12.6%] students, 9 females and 50 males were currently smoking cigarettes every day. These 59 students were asked further questions regarding their pattern and use of smoking cigarettes and their beliefs about its effects on their health

Is domestic violence endemic in Pakistan: Perspective from Pakistani wives

Domestic violence is an important public health problem. This study assessed the magnitude and type of domestic violence inflicted on women by their husbands. Design: A cross-sectional survey based on a sample of convenience was conducted by two trained health interviewers, using a pre-tested questionnaire. Setting: The study was conducted in three public sector hospitals in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, among women who were either themselves visiting or accompanying others who were visiting the Obstetrics and Gynecology Departments. Main outcome measure: Assessment of domestic violence in marital setting. Only 7 [3.2%] out of the 216 women did not report enduring any type of domestic violence ever. Rest of the women reported enduring multiple types of violence. Being shouted or yelled at was the most frequent, while use of a weapon e.g. gun or knife was the least common type of violence reported. Among the 193 women who had been pregnant in the past, 48 [24.9%] reported that violence in general increased during pregnancy, 98 [50.8%] reported a decrease and the remaining 47[24.3%] reported no change in the violence level. Nonconsensual sex was reported by 98 [46.9%] of the women interviewed. No statistically significant association was noted between domestic violence and either living arrangements [nuclear or extended] educational and income levels of the respondents or their husband's, and pregnancy status. Population based epidemiological studies are needed to study the type, frequency and perpetuating factors of domestic violence in the country, for informed public health policy formulation

Injuries in the agricultural workers - perspective from Pakistan

Agricultural sector is an important part of Pakistan's economy. This study assessed the prevalence and type of injuries in the past two weeks and three months in the agricultural workers. A cross-sectional survey of male agricultural workers, based on a sample of convenience, was conducted by two trained male health interviewers using a pre-tested questionnaire. Questions about injuries in men and their family members [women and children] working on the land were asked. The study was conducted in the suburbs of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, comprising of agricultural land. Cumulatively 247 male agricultural workers were approached, out of which 216 [87.5%] agreed to take part in this study. Proportionally women and children were more likely to sustain injuries, both in the past two weeks as well as in the past three months, compared to men. Population based studies are needed to assess the type, frequency and causes of injuries, so as to effectively reduce the overall burden of injuries in the agricultural sector in Pakistan

Career satisfaction in the women nurses-perspective from Pakistan

To understand personal characteristics, work environment and its impact as determinants of job satisfaction and a desire to work in their career of choice by the nurses. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among the nurses working in two public sector hospitals in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, using a self-administered and anonymous questionnaire. Ninety-one filled questionnaires were returned out of the 125 distributed, i.e. a response rate of 72.8%. 73 [80.2%] nurses responded as always or almost always satisfied with their career. While 49 [53.8%] said that they are either always or almost always in control of their work life, and the rest described it as either rarely or never. But 68 [74.7%] nurses described their work stress level as either moderate or severe. Despite all the stresses experienced by the nurses surveyed, career satisfaction was reported to be substantially high