ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of hand-hygiene training on handwashing practices among schoolchildren. METHODS: The quasi-experimental study was conducted from 1st August- 2018 to 5th October- 2018 in four secondary schools in Peshawar and Kohat districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, and comprised male students grades 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10. They were given a live demonstration about the standard steps of hand-hygiene as per the World Health Organisation checklist, and they were shown the steps in pictorial form as well to reinforce the message. Pre- and post-intervention scores were recorded on the 14- point checklist. Data was analysed by using SPSS 23. RESULTS: There were 200 boys with a mean age of 13.23±0.92 years (range: 11-16 years); 87(43.5%) of them being from grade 7. Post-intervention score increased significantly compared to the baseline (p<0.01). Significant differences were identified with respect to geographical location, type of school, grade in school and mothers' education (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Hand-hygiene training significantly increased students' hand-washing practices and behaviours.
Subject(s)
Hand Hygiene , Adolescent , Child , Female , Hand Disinfection , Humans , Male , Mothers , Schools , StudentsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine blood lead level in young children visiting tertiary care hospitals. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from February to April 2015 at Khyber Teaching Hospital, Kuwait Teaching Hospital and Siffat Ghayoor Memorial Children's Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan, and comprised children aged1-10 years. Purposive sampling technique (non-probability) was used. SPSS 17 was used for data analysis. Charts were made in Microsoft Excel 2007. RESULTS: Of the 100 children in the study, 79(79%) had lead present in their blood, while 21(21%) had no traces whatsoever. Of those who had lead in their blood, 5(6%) showed blood lead level of above 1 mg/dL. The overall mean blood lead level was 0.344± 0.05 mg/dL. There was significance association between lead level and the residential areas of participants (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Lead was found in the blood of children aged 1-10 years and was significantly related to the place of residence. Age and gender had no relation with blood lead levels.
Subject(s)
Environmental Exposure , Lead/blood , Child , Child, Preschool , Cross-Sectional Studies , Humans , Infant , Kuwait , Pakistan , Pilot Projects , Prevalence , Tertiary Care CentersABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To find out the frequency of neonatal mortality in tertiary care hospitals to determine the common causes. METHODS: The descriptive retrospective study was conducted in the Paediatric wards of Kuwait Teaching Hospital and Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan, and comprised data from hospital registers from January, 2009 to December, 2011. A structured proforma was used as the data collection tool. RESULTS: There were 4497 neonatal admissions in both hospitals; 4067(90.4%) at Khyber and 430(9.5%) at Kuwait. Overall neonatal deaths were 726(16%); 703(17.2%) in Khyber and 22(5.1%) in Kuwait. Major causes of neonatal deaths were Multiple 341(48.50%), General 99(14%) and Infections 81(11.52%) at Khyber Teaching Hospital, whereas at Kuwait Teaching Hospital, they were Central Nervous System 8(36.30%), General 5(22.72%), and Infections 4(18.10%). CONCLUSIONS: Increased awareness regarding timely referral to tertiary care hospitals is essential for the health workers who conduct deliveries at home, maternity homes, private hospitals and clinics.
