Factors influencing birth preparedness and complication readiness among childbearing age women in Thatta district, Sindh.

INTRODUCTION: Birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR) is a broad system to increase the practice of trained health provision at the time of childbirth and the key interventions to decrease mothers' and newborns' death. However, its status and influencing factors have not been well studied at different levels in the study area. The current study aimed to assess the BPCR status and explore its associated factors influencing BPCR among childbearing age women in Thatta, District of Sindh. METHODS: This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 770 recently delivered mothers from October 2016 -September 2017, recruited using a multistage cluster sampling technique. A structured validated close-ended questionnaire measuring BPCR knowledge and practices was used for the interviews. The results were analyzed by means of the Chi-square test, and a binary logistic regression model was used to determine the factors influencing BPCR. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 94.6%, with a low BPCR status. Out of 770 participants, only 163 (21.2%) were well prepared, while 607 (78.8%) were not prepared for safe childbirth and its complications. A small proportion of women knew about the serious warning signs of pregnancy, labour, childbirth and the postpartum period (16.2%), (15.3%) and (22.7%) respectively. Antenatal care (ANC) checkup (P < 0.001), cost of ANC checkup (p = 0.016), place of birth (p = 0.014), awareness of serious warning signs during pregnancy (p = 0.001) and awareness of serious warning signs during the postpartum period (p < 0.001) were found to be significant predictors of BPCR. CONCLUSION: The proportion of women who were well prepared for birth and its complications was low. It is recommended to organize community-based education campaigns and improve the quality of MNCH services at every level to increase BPCR among women in Sindh.

Drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) situation in primary schools of Pakistan: the impact of WASH-related interventions and policy on children school performance.

The United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals include the target of ensuring access to water and sanitation and hygiene (WASH) for all; however, very few studies have assessed comprehensive school WASH service in Pakistan. The purpose of this study was to identify WASH services in primary schools of Pakistan, and to assess how recent WASH interventions and policies are associated with the school's academic performance. A representative cross-sectional study was conducted in primary schools in the Sindh province of Pakistan. Structured observations and interviews were done to ascertain the schools' WASH conditions. The primary exposures of interest were the implementation of previous WASH interventions and National WASH policy in the school and the WASH coverage. Outcomes of interest included WASH conditions and school performance. The structural equation modeling (SEM) using a bootstrap resampling procedure was employed to characterize how WASH exposures were associated with WASH conditions and school performance. Data were collected from 425 schools. The Basic WASH facilities coverage in the primary schools of Sindh remains overall low according to WHO WASH service ladder criteria. Also, inconsistency in all three inclusive domains of WASH (availability, accessibility, and functionality) facilities were found. The school performance was significantly associated (P<0.001) with the presence of WASH interventions and/or WASH policy, while WASH policy and/or recent WASH intervention at the school were not associated with overall water quality. Our assessment unveiled several WASH gaps that exist, including high heavy metal and fecal contamination. Adoption of national WASH policy and financing of evidence-based WASH interventions are recommended in primary schools to improve educational outcomes.

Assessing learning styles of medical students using Kolb's learning style inventory and their association with preferred teaching methodologies.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of learning styles of medical students and their association with preferred teaching methodologies. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted at Baqai Medical College, Gadap, Karachi, form July to October 2019, and comprised medical students regardless of age, gender and academic year. David Kolb's learning style questionnaire, along with another questionnaire, was used to collect data. Data was analysed using SPSS 23. RESULTS: Of the 523 students, 213(40.7%) were males and 310(59.3%) were females. The overall mean age was 21.5±1.69 years. Of the total, 268(51.7%) students were divergers, 118(22.8%) assimilators, 86(16.6%) accomodators and 46(8.9%) were convergers. There was a significant association between learning styles and selected teaching methodologies (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Majority students were found to be divergers and assimilators. Aligning instructional strategies with learning styles will improve learning and academic performance.

Kolb's Learning Style Inventory 4.0 and its association with traditional and problem based learning teaching methodologies in medical students.

OBJECTIVES: To assess learning styles and the association of various teaching methodologies of medical students. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out amongst 523 medical students of Baqai Medical College, Baqai Medical University, Karachi, from July 2019 to October 2019. All students from first to final year, who attended the undergraduate MBBS program were included. The study instrument was a questionnaire containing students' demographic details, David Kolb's Learning Style Inventory 4.0 and traditional and PBL teaching methodologies were asked. The association of various learning styles and preferred teaching methodologies with year of study was also assessed by using Pearson's chi-square test. RESULTS: Out of 523 students, 518 returned the completed questionnaire. A majority of the students had either imagining or experiencing learning style. No change in learning style was observed between years of study. A significant association between the teaching methodologies and year of study was found in the imagining (p=0.033) and experiencing (p=0.044) learning style groups. CONCLUSION: Students from different years of study at medical school did not have significantly different learning styles though the student's preferences to teaching methodologies seem to change over time in the respective learning style groups. Longitudinal studies are necessary to identify the factors influencing such change and explore the association between learning styles over time on teaching methodologies in medical education.

Antibiotic prescription patterns for treating dental infections in children among general and pediatric dentists in teaching institutions of Karachi, Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotics are regularly prescribed by dental professionals in their practice, for the purpose of dental treatment as well as for the prevention of infection. The inappropriate use of antibiotics is a significant factor in the rise of antibiotic resistance. There is an immediate need for the advancement of prescribing guidelines and instructive polices to encourage the rational and appropriate utilization of medications especially antibiotics in dentistry. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the frequency of antibiotic prescription for treating dental infections in children among dentists in teaching institutions of Karachi, Pakistan and whether they are adhering to the prescribed international guidelines. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in three private and two public colleges of Karachi. After taking written informed consent and checking the inclusion criteria, a total of 380 participants were interviewed using a pre-designed validated questionnaire which included demographic profile and clinical case scenarios. Data were entered and analyzed on SPSS version 20. Inferential analysis was performed using chi-square test. The significance level was set at 0.05. RESULTS: Of the 380 subjects, a majority (71.3%) treated 15 or less children per month (n = 271) while 28.7% of dentists (n = 109) treated more than 15 children per month. Overall adherence to American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry guidelines was low from 26.1% to 44.2%. The difference between adherence of dentists with low and high volume of pediatric patients was significantly different for case scenarios 1, 3, 4 and 5 (p<0.001 for all) where dentists who treated 15 or less children per month were more likely to be adherent to standard antibiotic prescription guidelines than those who treated more than 15 children per month. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that majority of dentists, particularly dentists with high volume of pediatric patients lacked adherence to professional guidelines for prescribing antibiotics for treating dental infection in children. There seem to be a lack of harmony between the recommended professional guidelines and the antibiotic prescribing pattern of dentists. Regular updates and continuing medical education for the health professionals regarding comprehensible and specific professional guidelines may lead to improved adherence of antibiotics prescription amongst dentists.

Challenges faced by marginalized communities such as transgenders in Pakistan.

INTRODUCTION: Stigmatization, social exclusion and consequent banishment from the society makes transgender's life even tougher; isolating, pushing and forcing them into inappropriate conducts/habits like selling sex. This study investigates the association of social exclusion/victimization with high-risk behaviors among transgender community of Rawalpindi and Islamabad (Pakistan). METHODS: Through a cross-sectional study design, a sample of 189 transgender community living in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad was selected using snowball sampling technique. A validated close ended questionnaire was used to estimate the high-risk behaviors. Multivariate logistic regression was used to explore the competing outcomes associated with suicidal risk, selling sex and substance abuse. RESULTS: Majority study participants 77.8% experienced physical attacks with institutional discrimination even higher (91.5%). Commercial sex work and drug abuse was reported in 39.2% and 37.6% respectively. The prevalence of suicide ideation was high (38.6%) however, suicide attempted rate was less (18.5%). In the multivariate logistic regression, compared to those with no risk, being physically attacked increased the odds of both attempting (OR=2.18) and contemplating suicide and selling sex (OR=4.10). Nevertheless, the relative impact of institutional victimization on suicidal behavior was higher among those who were targeted on the basis of their gender identity or expression (AOR = 6.20, CI = 1.58-24.29, p=0.009). CONCLUSION: The transgender community is socially excluded by the Pakistani society where they experience high levels of physical abuse and face discriminatory behavior in daily life. Such attitudes make them vulnerable for risky behaviors; forcing them to become commercial sex workers, begging, drugs use and even suicidal ideation.

Primary outcomes reporting in trials of paediatric type 1 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to systematically review randomised clinical trials (RCTs) of paediatric type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) to assess reporting of (1) primary outcome, (2) outcome measurement properties and (3) presence or absence of adverse events. METHODS: Electronic searches in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane SR and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases were undertaken. The search period was between 2001 and 2017. English-language RCTs on children younger than 21 years with T1DM were selected. We excluded studies of diagnostic or screening tools, multiple phase studies, protocols, and follow-up or secondary analysis of data. RESULTS: Of 11 816 unique references, 231 T1DM RCTs were included. Of total 231 included studies, 117 (50.6%) trials failed to report what their primary outcome was. Of 114 (49.4%) studies that reported primary outcome, 88 (77.2%) reported one and 26 (22.8%) more than one primary outcomes. Of 114 studies that clearly stated their primary outcome, 101 (88.6%) used biological/physiological measurements and 13 (11.4%) used instruments (eg, questionnaires, scales, etc) to measure their primary outcome; of these, 12 (92.3%) provided measurement properties or related citation. Of the 231 included studies, 105 (45.5%) reported that adverse events occurred, 39 (16.9%) reported that no adverse events were identified and 87 (37.7%) did not report on the presence or absence of adverse events. CONCLUSION: Despite tremendous efforts to improve reporting of clinical trials, clear reporting of primary outcomes of RCTs for paediatric T1DM is still lacking. Adverse events due to DM interventions were often not reported in the included trials. Transparent reporting of primary outcome, validity of measurement tools and adverse events need to be improved in paediatric T1DM trials.

Framingham risk score in impaired glucose tolerant population: A sub analysis of Diabetes Prevention and Awareness Program of Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the 10-year risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) using Framingham risk score. METHODS: Data for this study was collected from Diabetes Prevention and Awareness Program. Primary prevention team visited different primary health care centers, factories, service organizations and offices within Karachi, Pakistan. IGT was diagnosed according to World Health Organization criteria after taking informed consent. Information regarding social-demography, dietary habits and physical activities were obtained by a designed questionnaire on one-to-one based interview. Framingham risk score (FRS) was used to assess risk of developing CAD. RESULTS: A total of 315 subjects with IGT were recruited for the study. Mean age of subjects was 44.1 ± 9.8 years and mean BMI was 27.3 ± 5.0 kg/m2. Overall, 31.4% of the participants were at risk of having CAD. Males were 6.4 times and hypertensive subjects were 2.44 times more likely to have CAD in next 10 years. CONCLUSION: According to the findings of the study, male and hypertensive IGT subjects were more likely to develop CAD in next 10 years. Community based awareness programs are needed to educate people regarding healthy lifestyle in order to reduce the risk of IGT and CAD.

Corrigendum to "Effect of Intervention in Subjects with High Risk of Diabetes Mellitus in Pakistan".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2012/867604.].

Effect of intervention in subjects with high risk of diabetes mellitus in pakistan.

Aims. To observe the rate of conversion from impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) to diabetes following lifestyle modification (LSM) or a combination of lifestyle and metformin compared to a control population with 18-month followup. Methods. Forty screening camps were organized, which 5000 people attended. Around 2300 persons filled the questionnaire and 1825 subjects were identified as high risk. Of 1739 subjects who took the oral glucose tolerance test, 317 subjects were identified as IGT. The 317 IGT subjects were randomized into three groups: control group was given standard medical advice, LSM group was given intensive lifestyle modification advice, while LSM + drug group was given intensive lifestyle advice and metformin 500 mg twice daily. Results. At the end, 273 subjects completed the study, giving a compliance rate of 86%. Total of 47 incident cases of diabetes were diagnosed (overall incidence was 4 cases per 1000 person-months with the incidence of 8.6 cases in control group, 2.5 cases in the LSM, and 2.3 cases in the LSM + drug groups). Conclusions. Study showed that lifestyle intervention had a major impact in preventing diabetes among IGT subjects in this region. Adding drug did not show any improved results. We recommend lifestyle advice and followup should be incorporated in primary health care.

Risk assessment of Pakistani individuals for diabetes (RAPID).

OBJECTIVE: To develop and evaluate a risk score to predict people at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes in Pakistan. METHODOLOGY: Cross sectional data regarding primary prevention of diabetes in Pakistan. Diabetes risk score was developed by using simple parameters namely age, waist circumference, and family history of diabetes. Odds ratios of the model were used to assign a score value for each variable and the diabetes risk score was calculated as the sum of those scores. RESULTS: We externally validated the score using two data from 1264 subjects and 856 subjects aged 25 years and above from two separate studies respectively. Validating this score using the first data from the second screening study gave an area under the receive operator characteristics curve [AROC] of 0.758. A cut point of 4 had a sensitivity of 47.0% and specificity of 88% and in the second data AROC is 0.7 with 44% sensitivity and 89% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: A simple diabetes risk score, based on a set of variables can be used for the identification of high risk individuals for early intervention to delay or prevent type 2 diabetes in Pakistani population.

Prevalence of microalbuminuria in type 2 diabetic patients in Karachi: Pakistan: a multi-center study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of microalbuminuria and its associations in type-2 diabetic subjects attending diabetes centers/clinics across Karachi, Pakistan. METHODS: Two thousand one hundred subjects with type-2 diabetes were screened for microalbuminuria using Micral test strip II. A single screening test was performed in 25 diabetes centers/units in different districts of Karachi from January 2003 to December 2003. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of microalbuminuria was 34%. Mean age of subjects was 53.1 years +/- 11.9 years, mean BMI was 25.8 +/- 4.1 and mean duration of diabetes was 8.8 +/- 5.21 years. Fifty seven percent were males and 43% females. Sixty two percent of the subjects had a systolic blood pressure > or = 130 mmHg. Forty five percent had a family history of diabetes and 5% had a family history of hypertension. Univariate analyses demonstrated significant associations between microalbuminuria and age, duration of diabetes, male gender, smoking status, microvascular and macrovascular complications, hypertension, high triglycerides, high serum LDL, low serum HDL, and high fasting and random blood sugars. When adjusted for the effects of other variables in the model, age, diastolic blood pressure, serum LDL and retinopathy were found to be significantly associated with microalbuminuria. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of microalbuminuria in type 2 diabetic subjects in this cross-sectional multicentre study across Karachi was 34% and this was significantly related to age, diastolic blood pressure, serum LDL and retinopathy.

Glycemic control, hypertension and chronic complications in type 2 diabetic subjects attending a tertiary care centre.

BACKGROUND: This study was carried out to assess the association of glycemic control and hypertension with chronic complications in type 2 diabetic subjects attending a tertiary care centre in Karachi, Pakistan. METHODS: This was a cross sectional analytical study. First visit of type 2 diabetic subjects to the outpatient department of Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology, from September 1996 to December 2001, were analyzed for this study. Sociodemographic attributes and clinical profiles were obtained from the computerized records of these patients retrospectively. Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval were reported for independent variables associated with outcome variables. RESULTS: Records of 2199 subjects (48.5% males, 51.5% females) were analyzed. Mean age of the male and female subjects was 52.2 and 50.6 years respectively. Hypertriglyceridemia [OR: 1.74; 95% CI (1.18-2.57)] and diabetic foot ulcers [OR: 2.32; 95% CI (1.14-4.01)] were significantly associated with poor glycemic control according to HbA1c. Whereas hypertriglyceridemia [OR: 2.39; 95% CI (1.42-4.03)] and hypertension [OR: 1.65; 95% CI (1.13-2.41)] were significantly associated with poor glycemic control according to FPG. Obesity [OR: 1.44; 95% CI (1.18-1.75)], Retinopathy [OR: 1.95; 95% CI (1.49-2.53)], nephropathy [OR: 1.99; 95% CI (1.45-2.75)], neuropathy [OR:1.40; 95% CI (1.15-1.71)] and presence of coronary arterial disease [OR: 1.33; 95% CI (1.02-1.72)] were found to be significantly associated with systolic blood pressure. Obesity [OR:2.07; 95% CI (1.69-2.54)], hyperglycemia [OR: 1.40; 95% CI (1.04-1.90)] and nephropathy [OR: 1.92; 95% CI (1.39-2.64)] had significant association with high diastolic blood pressure. CONCLUSION: In conclusion this study shows the association of chronic complications with glycemic control and hypertension amongst type 2 diabetics in Karachi. This information needs to be verified by multicentred large scale studies in order to be helpful in planning healthcare and treatment strategies.

Comparison of risk factors for diabetes in children of different socioeconomic status.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the risk factors for diabetes in children of two different socioeconomic status. DESIGN: A cross-sectional analytical study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Visits to one government (low income) and two private (middle income) schools of Karachi in 1999 and 2000. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 260 children; 157 children (mean age 12.10 +/- 4 years) from low-income group and 103 children (mean age 10.6 +/- 0.9 years) from middle-income group were surveyed. Data of physical fitness score (PFS) and BMI was calculated. Dietary records were taken by 24 hours self-reported diet recall charts of two weekdays. Knowledge about health was obtained by a questionnaire given to children and mothers. RESULTS: A significant difference was found in the mean age of low-income and middle-income groups (p-value < 0.001). Significant association was seen in low-income group compared to middle-income group on the basis of TV viewing (p-value = 0.04). BMI (p-value = 0.011) and positive family history of diabetes (p-value < 0.001). Forty-seven percent (n=74) of children from low-income group while 51% (n=53) of middle-income group had poor knowledge about health. The children in both the groups also consumed inadequate amount of calories, the diet being poor in fruit, vegetables and milk and high in the fat content. CONCLUSION: Although children in both the groups had increased risk factors for diabetes the difference between the two socioeconomic groups was significant in terms of middle-income children having more risk. Thus, changes in lifestyle and behaviour including diet is needed in this high risk group to prevent future generations from developing diabetes.

Frequency of chronic complications of type II diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency of chronic complications of type II diabetes in subjects attending a tertiary care unit in Karachi, Pakistan. DESIGN: A cross-sectional analytical study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: First visit of all type II diabetic subjects attending the outpatient department of Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology from September 1996 to December 2001. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Computerized clinical records of 2199 type II diabetic subjects were analyzed for this study. The clinical and laboratory variables were statistically evaluated with significance at p. RESULTS: Means of glycosylated hemoglobin HbA1c, fasting and random plasma glucose levels, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides and high density lipoproteins (HDL) were higher than the risk indicator value for both genders (p <0.005). Mean body mass index and total blood cholesterol was higher for females only. Hyperglycemia was present in 88%, high HbA1c in 81%, low HDL in 81%, obesity in 66% and hypertriglyceridemia in 54%, neuropathy in 36%, proteinuria in 28% and hypertension in 50% of the subjects. Frequency of obesity, low HDL and hypertension was higher among females (p < 0.001 in each case). Retinopathy (p<0.05), nephropathy (p<0.005), neuropathy (p<0.005) and foot ulcers (p<0.001) were higher among males. Frequency of obesity was significantly higher among those with shorter duration and in younger group while frequency of other complications was higher among those with longer duration and in the older groups. CONCLUSION: Higher rates of complications were observed compared to previous studies. Certain variables showed significant association with gender and age as described above.