Assessment of utilization of antenatal services and its determinants in rural areas of district Hafizabad: a community survey

To assess the utilization of antenatal services and to establish an association between the utilization of these services and its determinants in rural areas. A cross sectional descriptive study. The study was carried out in the areas within Union Council, Thatta Khairu Mumtal, Tehsil Pindi Bhattian District Hafizabad from 1[st] July to 31[st] July 2005. The study area was essentially a rural entity. A study sample of 190 antenatal cases [pregnant women] was selected by Simple Random Sampling: 40 met exclusion criteria, 05 skipped the interview, thus a total of 145 cases were studied. A semi structured non-clinical interview was conducted at the homes of respondents, which included demographic information, behavioral aspects and other variables. Data was cleaned and entered on epi-info-6 for analysis. Over one month study period, out of 145 antenatal cases, 75 [52%] were found having visited health facilities for antenatal services: 141 [97%] had received tetanus toxoid vaccination: 101[70%] were using iron supplementation: 32[22%] had delivered at health facilities while 113[78%] at home for their past pregnancy/ies: in 113[78%] deliveries were attended at home by Dais/TBAs, while in 27[19%]by LHVs and in 05[03%] by Lady Doctors at health facilities. An inverse association was found between the parity [reproductive status] of clients and number antenatal visits undertaken by them. A direct association established between the utilization of antenatal services and education level of clients and their spouses. No association between the family's monthly income of clients and utilization of these services could be ascertained. There is appreciable awareness among the rural pregnant women regarding the utilization of antenatal services and a positive of determinants like education on the utilization of these services

study on prevalence of obesity among housewives in the areas of Gulberg, Lahore

The objectives of the study were to find out the prevalence of the obesity in housewives, its relation with socio-economic variables, the most probable causes of this disorder with emphasis on the impact of genetics, socio-economic status, lifestyle and dietary pattern/food habits on it. The study area was essentially an urban entity. The houses were visited by Simple Random Sampling. Keeping in view the exclusion criteria, 144 housewives were included in the study. Their heights, weights and wrist radius were taken to calculate BMI and frame size, hence to divide them in different groups: underweight, acceptable, overweight and obese housewives. They were stratified into three groups according to their socio-economic status: family's monthly income, education and marital status. The causes of obesity determined in the study group were categorized for each of three [03] age groups i.e. <21-30 years, 31-40 years and 41->50 years. Findings were tabulated, frequency distribution and relative frequencies calculated. Chi-squared test and, where applicable, Fisher's exact test was applied to study the impact of different independent variables on obesity and determine relationship between them. Out of the sample size of 144, 47 were obese and 97 non-obese. The prevalence of obesity, therefore, was 33%. There was inverse relationship between obesity and socio-economic variables. The prevalence of the obese housewives was greater in the lower socio-economic group. Hereditary, lack of exercise/ activity and lack of nutritional knowledge were the causes and predisposing factors of obesity in the study sample. No relation between energy intake and obesity could be ascertained due to underestimated food diaries, reported by the respondents under their hand. Despite strict adherence to the exclusion criteria, certain disorders like hypertension, diabetes mellitus and CA uterus etc. were incidentally detected in obese and non-obese housewives. The medical and gynecological complications were more prevalent in the obese housewives than in non-obese. Hypertension and gynecological complications were prevalent in age group III i.e. 41->50 years. Arthralgia was more common in Group -II i.e. between 31-40 years. Infertility was also more common in the same group

Histopathological correlation of endometrial curettage with abnormal uterine bleeding pattern

Objective: To determine the histopathological pattern of lesions associated with abnormal uterine bleeding in different age groups

Design: A cross sectional study of 500 randomly selected specimens

Place: Department of Pathology, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Center, Karachi

Duration: January 2002 to December 2003

Methods: 500 formalin fixed paraffin embedded blocks were retrieved and 5mm thick sections were cut and stained with haemotoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-schiff, trichrome and reticulin. The other additional information collected was age, pattern of bleeding, and clinical findings

Results: Of 500 specimens' examined, endometrial pathology was detected in 164 cases. The most frequent histopathological change was endometrial hyperplasia observed in 103 patients [62.8%]. 26 [15.8%] out of 164 were associated with malignant changes and the maximum number of cases Le. 64 were found in 31-40 years age group

Conclusion: The current study emphasizes the necessity ofD and C before the age of 40 years in patients presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding