HIV/AIDS awareness; long distance truck drivers

Objectives: to examine the awareness regarding HIV/AID and sexual behavior among long distance truck drivers [LDTDs] in Bahawalpur division

Study design: a cross sectional population study

Setting: three districts [Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and RYK]

Data: sample of size of 120 LDTDs is taken by using convenient sampling technique

Methods: descriptive and inferential analysis carried out

Results: every 6 out of 10 LDTDs have heard aboutHIV/AIDS and believed that sexual intercourse is a major mode of its transmission. The use of condom before sex is seldom among truckers. Exactly half of LDTDs have only one sexual partner while nearly quarter [23.3%] of the respondents currently having two sexual partners. Over half [54.2%] of truckers made payment for sex with commercial sex workers [CSWs] and only 3.3% did so with their helper/conductor. Two models are executed separately to explore the association of trucker's knowledge about HIV/AIDS [Model 1] and those who paid for sex [Model 2]. Pearson chi-square analysis exhibits that respondents having age group 25-30 year, those with native of Punjabi language, those who manage to earn more than 15,000 Pakistani rupees per month, those having secondary level of schooling and those watching TV has higher knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS. LDTDs with age thirty years and over, Saraiki speaking, monthly income less than 10,000, illiterate, unmarried, watching TV and remain away from home during current trip a week are found to be more prone to pay for sex to CSW

Conclusions: the awareness of HIV/AIDS and knowledge of its transmission through sexual contact is high among LDTDs but still public health strategies are needed to promote the knowledge of all possible transmission modes of HIV/AIDS and use of condom before sex, ultimately to improve health outcomes

Demographic profile, vaccination status and outcome of measles patients at civil hospital, Bahawalpur during measles epidemic

Background: Measles is a vaccine preventable disease of childhood. It occurs in epidemics in developing world like Pakistan. It has significant morbidity and mortality due to its complications

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the demographic factors, immunization status, complications and outcome in measles patients, admitted at Civil Hospital, Bahawalpur during measles epidemic

Material and Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted at Civil Hospital, Bahawalpur from 4[th] March, to 15[th] August, 2013. A total of 166 patients were admitted who presented with signs and symptoms of measles according to WHO criteria. Demographic profile including age, gender, residential status, immunization status and nutritional status of these patients was observed. They were evaluated for complications like pneumonia, gastroenteritis, encephalitis, otitis media, post measles state, dysentery and myocarditis. The outcome of these admitted patients was seen in terms of discharge, leave against medical advice, referral and death. The data was entered and analyzed by using SPSS 15

Results: In the patients, 93 [56%] were males and 73 [44%] were females. Mean age was 3.72 + 2.7 years. One hundred and fifty seven [94.6%] patients were unvaccinated and 9 [5.4%] were partially vaccinated for measles. One hundred and seven [64.5%] were from rural area and 59 [35.5%] to urban area. Fifty nine [35.5%] were well nourished and 107 [64.5%] undernourished. Seventy two [43.4%] patients were having pneumonia. Thirty seven [22.3%] patients were having gastroenteritis. Nine [5.4%] patients were having encephalitis. Post measles state was found in 11[6.6%]. Majority of patients [88.6%] were discharged in a satisfactory condition while 9 patients [5.4%] expired

Conclusion: Measles was mainly found in unvaccinated children aged 1-5 years. Malnutrition was a major risk factor for mortality in our study. So we recommend two doses measles vaccine schedule and > 90% routine coverage in order to minimize the chances of measles outbreak

Neonatal resuscitation impact of neonatal resuscitation programmes on birth asphyxia, the actual situation

Each Year Billions of dollars have been spent on the various programmes for Maternal and child health services in collaboration with international organizations and hundreds of doctors and thousands of skilled [SBAs] birth attendants and lady heal workers have been trained. To evaluate the impact of neonatal resuscitation programs on the prevalence of birth asphyxia in a hospital which drains a large population of Punjab. Cross sectional. Department of Paediatric Medicine, Nishtar Medical College and Hospital, Multan from January 2008-December 2008. All newborns with a H/o failure to initiate or sustain respiration at birth or H/o associated convulsions who were admitted [referred or hospital based] with the diagnosis of Birth Asphyxia and a weight > 1.5 kg were included, still born and those with lethal congenital malformations were excluded. A questionnaire was designed after extensive review of literature and data recorded. The data of past 10 years for Birth Asphyxia was also collected from the hospital record and compared with the present results. In year 1998 a total of 722 Newborns were admitted our neonatal unit out of which 210 [29.0%] were diagnosed as Asphyxia Neonatorum. This number has progressively increased over the past 10 years with a total of 846 out of total 2079 newborns [40.78%] admitted in 2008 with a diagnosis of asphyxia. Out of the total 8461 patients, there were 69% Male and 31% Female with a M:F ratio of 2.2:1.46% were delivered by SVD [17.39% in Nishtar Hospital 15.21% by dais, 32.6% by Private doctors and 34.78% by LHV] and 54% were delivered by caesarian section, out of which 46.29% were delivered in Private hospitals and 54% in Nishtar Hospital. Overall 65% deliveries were in the private sector or at home and 35% in the government hospitals 60% babies had come from Multan and 40% from other town or cities. A H/o one or more antenatal visits was present in 68% of others. Out of total cases of B.A. 26% were in B.A Grade-159% in Birth Asphyxia Grade-II 15% in B.A Grade-lll. Out of this total 45% expired. As we are moving towards the 4[th] MDG and Pakistan strives to improve its health indicators and we claim to decrease the infant mortality, neonatal and perinatal mortality rate. The incidence of birth asphyxia rises with increased burden of, morbidity. Even though the principles of NRPs are recommended for international application, this program widely used in the developed world has not been properly disseminated in communities in the developing countries, especially Pakistan

Status of hepatitis c virus [HCV] infection; children admitted in paediatric ward of Bahawal Victoria hospital Bahawalpur

To know the status of hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection in children admitted in Pediatric ward of Bahawal Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur. Cross-sectional descriptive study. Pediatric unit-1 Bahawal Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur over a period of 2 months and 15 days. This study was conducted over 500 children admitted in children ward-1 of Bahawal Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur. Children of 1-15 years of age were included in the study. The blood samples of these children were taken at the time of admission and serum was tested for HCV with ICT method and later on confirmed by ELISA. Children having HCV infection were tested for SGPT level. Different risk factors for transmission of HCV infection were also studied. Out of 500 children 43 were HCV positive by ICT method. Out of these 43 ICT positive children 38 were confirmed by ELISA. In this way 7.6% children were found positive for HCV. In 23 cases [60.5%] SGPT was raised [>40]. Statistically significant risk factors for transmission of HCV infection found in this study were past history of blood transfusion and history of injections in past. HCV infection is quite common in children. Safe blood transfusions and use of disposable and sterilized syringes is important for prevention of this infection

Helicobacter pylori detection in chronic gastritis: a comparison of staining methods

Background: Helicobacter pylori is an important cause of chronic gastritis, gastric ulceration and gastric malignancies as gastric carcinoma and MALT lymphoma. Its definitive diagnosis is based on histopathology. Routine H and E stain is not very effective in its detection, immune-stains and fluorescent stains are costly. Need for simple cheap and sensitive stain has always been a topic of hot debate and extensive research. Method: paraffin embedded blocks of all adult patients diagnosed as chronic gastritis/gastric ulceration with no accompanying gastric pathology as hypertrophic gastropathys, and neoplasias were taken into study. Three sections of 4 micron were cut and stained with routine H and E, Giemsa, and Cresyl fast violet. Results: Total number of patients was 50. Out of these 37 [74%] were males and 13 [26%] were females. Mean age of the patients was 50.4 years. Thirty-four percent [34%] were positive in normal H and E stain, 68% were positive in Giemsa and 76% were positive in Cresyl fast violet. Conclusion: Cresyl fast violet is a good stain for diagnosis of H. pylori gastritis. Keywords: H pylori, chronic gastritis, H pylori staining methods

Modified kenneth jones criteria for diagnosing tuberculous meningitis in children

To evaluate accuracy of modified Kenneth Jones scoring criteria [MKJSC] as a screening tool to diagnose tuberculous meningitis in children. Cross-sectional study. Paediatric Medicine, Unit-1, Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur, from May 2006 to March 2007. A total of 100 children admitted through emergency in Paediatric Medicine, Unit-l, were included who were having fever and features suggestive of central nervous system [CNS] infection. Lumbar puncture was done in all patients after written consent. Findings of lumbar puncture were taken as gold standard for the diagnosis of IBM. MKJSC was applied on each patient and accuracy determined against the gold standard. Out of 100 children, 47 were diagnosed as IBM on the basis of CSF results. All children had scored 0-7 or above according to MKJSC. A score 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 and 7 or more was obtained in 23, 25, 30 and 22 children respectively. Children who had scored 5 or more received ATT. Accuracy of MKJSC was calculated to be 91%. MKJSC is a simple and accurate tool to improve tuberculous meningitis case detection rate in children