ABSTRACT
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a vital strategy for promoting firms' sustainable development goals, encompassing social, environmental, and economic factors. In emerging economies, manufacturing firms face mounting challenges in ensuring their sustainability. This study aims to identify the key drivers of CSR and examine their impact on CSR adoption in the manufacturing industry of Pakistan. The study employs the survey method to collect data, utilizing a one-to-one interview approach with a matrix-style questionnaire administered to a panel of experts selected through purposive sampling technique. Interpretive structural modeling (ISM) combined with Matrices' Impacts Cruise's Multiplication Appliquée a UN Classement (MICMAC) and structural equation model (SEM) are used for data assessment, modeling, and analysis. The findings indicate that compliance with government regulations and stakeholders' pressure are the essential drivers of CSR adoption and positively influence CSR adoption. Consequently, firms should consider adopting CSR strategies to enhance their sustainability based on the outcomes of this analysis.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and tolerability of quinine-doxycycline combination therapy in uncomplicated falciparum malaria in terms of malarial parasite clearance from peripheral blood. METHODS: One hundred adult males were included in the study. Malarial parasite counts in peripheral blood films were determined at the time of admission and then 12 hourly until clearance and thereafter weekly for 28 days (4 weeks). Treatment was started with quinine sulphate 10 mg of salt/kg body weight 8 hourly orally for a minimum period of 3 days and maximum of 7 days along with doxycycline 100 mg 12 hourly orally for 7 days. Primary efficacy outcome measure was early treatment failure, whereas secondary efficacy outcome measure was late treatment failure. Tolerability outcome measure was the development of treatment related adverse effects resulting in discontinuation from the study. RESULTS: The primary efficacy outcome measure of the study i.e. malarial parasite index declined from a mean of 6.34 (SD +/- 2.83) before treatment to zero at day 7 of treatment. Parasite clearance time was 1-7 days (mean 3.58, SD +/- 1.28). Mean duration of quinine treatment till clearance of malarial parasites was 4.63 days (SD +/- 1.38). Mean duration of fever was 2.96 days (range 1 to 6 days). There was no early or late treatment failure. There was no relapse during the 28 days follow up period. Drug related side effects were mild and did not warrant discontinuation of treatment in any patient. CONCLUSION: Quinine-doxycycline combination is effective in southern Pakistan. Randomized controlled trials are needed to further validate the claim.
