RESUMO
Objective: to assess the presence of Postnatal Depression in middle class Pakistani women
Material and Methods: this observational study was conducted in department of Gynecology and Obstetrics Hameed Latif Hospital, Lahore from 1st November 2009 to 31st October, 2010.Women between the age of 20 to 40 presenting to the obstetrical unit for simple vaginal delivery and caesarian section were included and were observed for 40 post-natal days. Any woman with co-morbid factors such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension were excluded from the study. The Edinburgh post-natal depression scale was used to assess and identify postnatal depression
Results: 250 women belonging to middle or upper social class were studied. 94 [38%] were identified with post-natal depression. 5 needed referral to a psychiatrist; the rest responded to counseling and support. Educational level had a direct bearing on the condition. Most women had never heard of post-natal depression
Conclusion: post-natal depression affects a significant number of Pakistani women but is not recognized; there needs to be better education of women in general and obstetricians in particular to manage this condition
RESUMO
Hepatitis B and C have become major public health problems worldwide. Estimates of prevalence of these diseases in Pakistan range from 5-15% . This places a huge financial burden on the available health resources. Currently available drugs for the treatment of hepatitis are very expensive and achieve eradication of the disease in around 50% of patients. The best strategy for controlling the menace of hepatitis and its complications lies in prevention. Any such plan should focus on public education. Considerable myths and misconceptions abound in the general public about hepatitis especially about the mode of spread and preventive measures
Aims and Objectives: the present study was undertaken to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding hepatitis in a group of pregnant females attending an ante natal clinic
Results: results of this study have demonstrated that the knowledge about hepatitis is not adequate. Almost half of the subjects believed that hepatitis B and C could spread through food and water. Forty percent of the respondents never insisted on sterilization of dental or barber instruments even when they knew that these were important sources of spread of hepatitis. 55% of the respondents were of the opinion that hepatitis B and C was an absolute contraindication to breast feeding. 77% knew that hepatitis B could be prevented by vaccination but only 67% were actually vaccinated. Almost 50% of the respondents believed that vaccination against hepatitis B also prevented hepatitis C. Hepatitis was considered a social stigma by 40% of the respondents
Conclusions: over all the results of this study suggest that more attention needs to be given to providing correct health education to the public. Misconceptions and myths about hepatitis can only be dispelled by adopting a rational health education strategy