RESUMO
To determine the existing knowledge, attitude and behavior about reproductive and sexual health in adolescents of Karachi and seek their opinion about reproductive health education. Study type, settings and duration: A cross sectional study was conducted on adolescents [17-19 years] of both gender studying in colleges of Karachi during 2010. Subjects and Methods: Using stratified sampling procedure, a cross sectional study was carried out. After informed consent and ensuring confidentiality an anonymous quantitative questionnaire was completed to ascertain the knowledge of adolescents on reproductive health. A total of 912 adolescents [470 males and 442 females] of 12 public and private sector colleges of Karachi participated in the study. Acquaintance to reproductive health was present in 75% males and 71% females and most participants confirmed discussing reproductive health issues with friends. About 81% males and 91% females affirmed for a need for enhanced reproductive health education and awareness while over 50% of the respondents were of the opinion that the right age for reproductive health education was 16 to 18 years. Confining sexual activity to one partner and avoiding exposure to blood and needles for the prevention of AIDS was known to 38% males and 44% females but the prevention of sexually transmitted infections using condoms, was known to only 1/3 rd of the respondents. Although 70% of the respondents of both genders knew that pregnancy can be avoided but only 20% knew about contraceptives. Most adolescents' knew about the reproductive cycle but were not well aware of how to avoid exposures to sexually transmitted infections and pregnancies. Policy message: Reproductive health education is insufficient in adolescents should be gender specific and socio culturally sensitive
RESUMO
To determine the frequency of smokers among employees at National Institute of Child Health, [NICH] Karachi. Total no. of 150 employees from NICH [including doctors, paramedics, administration staff, security staff, account staff, house keeping staff and others] participated in the study after giving verbal consent. A self-administered pre-coded proforma was used as an instrument to collect the information. A total no. of 150 health care professionals and others participated in the study. There were 111[74%] males, 39[26%] were females. The male to female ratio was 1:2.8. No female was found to be a smoker in our setting. 14.6% of smokers were in between 25-36 years of age. Frequency of smoking was found to be high in both Matric and MDBS categories i.e. 7.3% and 6.7% respectively. The frequency of smoking was found to be much higher [17%] in married males as compared to un-married employees [06%]. More than seventy percent [24] had started smoking in between 12-24 years of age. Around 44% of smokers used more than ten cigarettes per day. More than 97% of the participants were aware of potential health hazards of smoking. In our setting, overall frequency of smoking is still high [22.7%] in health care workers indicated it is that in spite of awareness regarding injurious effects of smoking, the health care professionals do not realize that smoking is one of the major causes of increase in morbidity and mortality due to respiratory and cardiac ailments