ABSTRACT
Background: The taboo of menstruation, lack of discussion on puberty, misinformation and poor awareness on menstrual hygiene management and limited access to safe menstrual products can negatively impact the physical and mental health of women and girls residing in low middle income countries. Aim: The aim of the study was to explore the experiences, awareness, perceptions and attitudes of women and girls towards menstrual hygiene management in Pakistan. Moreover, the study also assessed consumer satisfaction towards locally manufactured organic menstrual products. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used with a sample of 400 women and girls selected through convenience sampling from high schools, universities, outpatient department and gynaecological clinics located in 2 cities, i.e., Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan. A pre-structured questionnaire was used to explore experiences, awareness, perceptions and attitudes of women and girls towards menstrual hygiene management. Moreover, each respondent was provided with sample of locally designed and manufactured organic menstrual hygiene & wellness kit by a group of women researchers named "FemPure" including organic sanitary pads, feminine wellness mist and feminine wellness wash. The respondents were asked to use the products and a telephonic follow-up was conducted to assess consumer satisfaction for the products after a period of 1 month. Data was analyzed statistically using SPSS 21. Results: The results of the study reported that 86.2% (n = 345) of the respondents had normal periods. Out of 400 respondents, 58.5% (n = 234) knew about any health conditions related to abnormal menstrual cycle while 88.3% (n = 353) were aware of female menstrual hygiene. Majority of the respondents 78.7% (n = 315) felt ashamed while buying sanitary pads. Out of 400 respondents, 5.4% (n = 22) were interested in getting awareness regarding menstrual hygiene. The results of the study showed that all the respondents (100%, n = 400) were satisfied with FemPure organic menstrual products. Conclusion: The study concluded that majority of women and girls faced menstrual hygiene issues during and after the cycle and were eager to receive information on MHM and use organic rash free menstrual wellness products which could be ordered via mobile app. The respondents were satisfied after the use of FemPure organic menstrual products.
ABSTRACT
Background: Antimicrobial resistance is one of the biggest challenges to healthcare resulting in increased morbidity and mortality, and associated with drug resistant infections. Community pharmacists (CPs) can play a key role in antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs to aid the prudent use of antibiotics, and in infection prevention and control. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess perceptions of CPs regarding their role, awareness, collaboration, facilitators and barriers towards effective AMS practices in Pakistan. Method: ology: A descriptive, cross-sectional study design was adopted, where convenience and snowball sampling methods were applied to enroll respondents (pharmacists working at these community pharmacies in different cities of Pakistan) of the study. After sample size determination, n = 386 CPs were enrolled. A pre-validated questionnaire was used regarding CPs roles and perceptions in association with AMS. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v. 21. Results: The results of the study reported that 57.3% (n = 221) of CPs had strong familiarity with term AMS. 52.1% (n = 201) of CPs agreed that they require adequate training to undertake activities in AMS programmes in their setting. The results of the study showed that 92.7% (n = 358) of the pharmacists thought real time feedback would be helpful. Significant association was observed in AMS awareness, approach, collaboration and barriers with regards to the respondents' gender, age groups and levels of experience in a community pharmacy. Conclusions: The study concluded that CPs were aware of AMS programmes, their relevance and necessity of AMS in their everyday practice, but had inadequate training and resources to implement it in Pakistan.
ABSTRACT
Background: The effective management of patients diagnosed with both Diabetes as well as Hypertension is linked with administration of efficacious pharmacological therapy as well as improvement in adherence through counseling and other strategies. Being a part of primary healthcare team, community pharmacists can effectively provide patient care for chronic disease management. The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of pharmacist counseling on blood pressure and blood glucose control among patients having both hypertension and diabetes attending community pharmacies in Pakistan. Method: A randomized, controlled, single-blind, pre-post-intervention study design was used. The respondents included patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (Type I or II) and hypertension visiting community pharmacies to purchase their regular medicine. A simple random sampling technique using the lottery method was used to select community pharmacies in groups A (intervention, n = 4) and group B (control, n = 4). The total number of patients was 40 in each group, while estimating a dropout rate of 25%. The patients in the intervention group received special counseling. Blood pressure and blood glucose were checked after every 15 days for 6 months. Prevalidated tools such as the hypertension knowledge level scale, the diabetes knowledge questionnaire 24, and a brief medication questionnaire was used. Data were coded and analyzed using SPSS 21. Wilcoxon test (p < 0.05) was used to compare pre-post intervention knowledge regarding the disease, while the Mann-Whitney test (p < 0.05) was used to find differences in medication adherence among control and intervention groups. Results: A significant improvement in mean knowledge scores of patients with diabetes (16.02 ±2.93 vs. 19.97 ±2.66) and hypertension (15.60 ±3.33 vs. 18.35 ±2.31) in the intervention group receiving counseling for 6 months than control group (p < 0.05) was noted. Furthermore, the fasting blood glucose levels (8.25 ±1.45) and systolic BP (130.10 ±6.89) were significantly controlled after 6 months in the intervention group. Conclusion: The current study results concluded that community pharmacists' counselling has a positive impact on blood glucose and blood pressure management among patients suffering with both diabetes and hypertension.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Gender inequity in healthcare academia is rising. Female healthcare professionals are struggling to balance their work and family leading to reduced productivity and disparity in three main areas of academic evaluation including teaching, service and research. Objective: The objective of the current study was to explore perceptions of healthcare academicians regarding gender equity and its associated barriers in healthcare academia in Pakistan. Methodology: A qualitative study design was used. Study site for this research included medical colleges, pharmacy schools and healthcare educational institutes. Study respondents included healthcare professionals including doctors and pharmacists working as faculty members. Snow ball sampling was used and interviews were conducted till saturation point was achieved. All interviews recorded were transcribed verbatim. Transcribed interviews were then subject to thematic analysis and were analyzed for relevant content. Results: Thematic analysis of the study yielded many themes and sub themes. The main themes include: Gender equity an issue for healthcare academicians; Barriers toward promoting gender equity among healthcare academicians; Perceived teaching effectiveness among female healthcare academicians; Professional relationship of female healthcare academicians; Representation of female healthcare academicians at leadership positions; Research opportunities for female healthcare academicians; impact of academia as profession on married life and Strategies for improving gender equity disparities in academia of healthcare profession. The results showed that almost all the females as well as male healthcare academicians were of the view that female academicians are competent, hardworking and committed with their jobs. Mixed responses were observed regarding teaching effectiveness of female academicians. Half of the females as well male healthcare academicians thought that female were more effective teachers while other half was of the view that teaching effectiveness is based on individual trait irrespective of gender. Conclusion: The results of the present study concluded that majority of the male as well as female healthcare professionals perceived gender equity as an issue in academia in Pakistan, especially in underprivileged areas. Non-conducive work environment, harassment at workplace and cultural issues were the main barriers identified toward gender equity in healthcare academia in Pakistan.
Subject(s)
Gender Equity , Physicians , Humans , Male , Female , Pakistan , Delivery of Health Care , PharmacistsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Access to maternal healthcare services is an essential pre-requisite for improving women's health. However, due to poor access and underutilization, women in developing countries remain vulnerable to various complications. Evaluation of quality maternal healthcare services in any country must include the opinions of the women being as a key stakeholder utilizing maternal healthcare services. AIM: The present study was designed to evaluate the experiences, perceptions and expectations of pre-birth and post-birth women regarding utilization and delivery of maternal healthcare services in Pakistan. METHODOLOGY: A qualitative study design was used. Snow ball sampling technique was adopted to identify the respondents. Interviews were conducted using semi-structures interview guide till saturation point was achieved. The sample size at saturation point for different respondents was: pre-birth women (n = 9) and post-birth women (n = 9). All interviews were recorded after getting permission from the respondents. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and were then subjected to thematic analysis. RESULTS: The age group for the pre-birth respondents was 23-43 years while for post-birth group it was 23-32 years. Most of the respondents from both groups were from urban setting. Most of them were either first time pregnant or were having experience of one pregnancy. Thematic analysis of the interviews yielded different themes and sub-themes including birth experience, maternal treatment pathway, identified barriers for quality maternal care, involvement in healthcare decision-making, impact of Covid 19, payment dynamics, role of digital health and recommendations for improving maternal care services. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study concluded that the overall quality of the maternal care services provided in Pakistan was not up to the mark. High rate of caesarian section was prevalent. Majority of the women were not involved in the decision-making process or provided with any birth plan or counselling regarding birth signs, family planning, danger and birth signs. The cost of maternal care was quite high and not affordable for all.
ABSTRACT
Asthma is considered as one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. As a result of serious physical, social, and psychological complications, asthma can reduce health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The present study was designed to assess the HRQoL including physical health, general health perception, emotional health, psychological health, and social functioning of asthmatic patients in Pakistan. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. Setting was public and private healthcare facilities. SF-36 was self-administered to a sample of 382 asthmatic patients. After data collection, data were clean coded and entered in SPSS version 21.0. Skewness test was performed and histograms with normal curves were used to check the normal distribution of data. Descriptive statistics comprising of frequency and percentages was calculated. The non-parametric tests including Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Walis (P ≥ 0.05) were performed to find out the difference among different variables. The results of the current study highlighted a significant impact on several domains of HRQoL for asthmatic patients. Lowest scores for HRQoL were observed in the domain of general health (27.74 ± 18.29) followed by domain of mental health (38.26 ± 20.76) whereas highest scores were observed in the domain of social functioning (45.64 ± 25.89). The results of the study concluded that asthmatic patients in Pakistan had poor HRQoL. Well-structured pharmaceutical care delivery in the healthcare facilities can contribute toward better patient knowledge and management and can ultimately improve the HRQoL of asthma patients.