RESUMO
Objective: To investigate the effects of long working hours on pregnancy complications and obstetric outcomes among female doctors working in tertiary care hospitals of Karachi. Study design: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 149 female MBBS graduates (mean age: 33.5 ± 7.3 years) who had conceived at least once, currently working in two tertiary-care hospitals of Karachi. Data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire containing questions regarding demography and course of 1st pregnancy of the participants including working hours, antenatal and natal complications. Means and standard deviations were calculated for continuous variables with frequencies and percentages for categorical variables. The association between long working hours and different antenatal and natal complications was investigated using Chi-square test and T-test. Results: Out of 149 participants included in final analysis, 85.9 % doctors gave birth to alive babies while 12.8 % had miscarriages and 1.3 % had stillbirth. Mean working hours during the three trimesters were found to be 53.76, 53.66 and 48.7, respectively. 43 % doctors experienced at least one antenatal complication during their pregnancy. Women who worked more than or equal to 55 h per week during 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimester of their pregnancy experienced more antenatal complications than women who worked less than 55 h (p-value=0.042, 0.021 and 0.018 respectively). 61.7 % females experienced at least one natal complication, most common of which was induction of Labour (39.1 %). Natal complications were significantly associated with increased workload during 2nd trimester (mean 58 vs 46 h, p-value 0.040). Doctors belonging to surgical specialty had 2.7 times higher risk of developing at least one natal complication than doctors of medical specialty (95 % Cl: 1.235-5.870). Conclusion: Long working hours during pregnancy are associated with antenatal complications among female doctors. Natal complications were only significantly related to long working hours during 2nd trimester of pregnancy, however, female surgeons are more prone to develop natal complications than doctors belonging to medical specialties.
RESUMO
Background Along with reducing the global burden of diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus, the DPT3 (diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus) vaccine protects health care professionals (HCPs) as well as vulnerable patients in their care. This study evaluates awareness, knowledge and coverage of DPT3 vaccine and boosters among medical students of public university in Karachi, Pakistan. Methods A cross-sectional study consisting of 281 participants selected through convenience sampling was conducted from July 2017 to July 2018 using a self-administered questionnaire. Results While 93% participants received childhood doses of DPT3, only 39.2% received adult boosters. Students with positive immunization history in childhood and family vaccination routines were more likely to get adult boosters. Eighty-six percent of the students were unaware that their university had a recommended vaccination program as a part of the admission process. The assessment of awareness and knowledge revealed that only 10.5% individuals could be regarded as well-aware, 20.3% (n = 58) students as unaware, and 69.2% (n = 198) participants as moderately aware. Conclusion The level of awareness, knowledge and coverage of DPT3 vaccine is insufficient among medical students of a public university of Karachi; universities are recommended to take measures to enhance knowledge and ensure strict adherence of students to appropriate vaccination programs.
