Pakistan Journal of Public Health最新文献

{"title":"Effects of Pictorial Health Warnings (PHWs) on Smoking Behavior of Educated Adult Urban Population of Islamabad","authors":"Gull Bibi, S. Naz, Rashid Aftaab, M. Saqib","doi":"10.32413/pjph.v11i4.826","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32413/pjph.v11i4.826","url":null,"abstract":"Background: This study was conducted to determine the impact of pictorial health warnings (PHWs) on smoking behavior among the adult urban population of Islamabad.\u0000Methods: A total of 384 participants were enrolled including students and general public who were interviewed using a pre designed questionnaire. The respondents were approached at their study/work places and enrolled using non-probability convenient sampling technique. The collected data were entered, cleaned and analyzed by using statistical software IBM SPSS Statistics 23.0.\u0000Results: Of the total 384, n=241(62.8%) were male while n=143(37.2%) were female and majority of them were aged between 18 to 33 years. The ratio of smokers and non-smokers were n=310 (80.7%) and n= 74 (19.3%) respectively. Of the 310 smokers, 42% had made an attempt to quit smoking after seeing the pictorial health warning on cigarettes’ packs and among them 23% were successful in quitting smoking. Of the total 384, n=293 (76.3%) responded that family environment influence children towards smoking. Similarly, n=126 (32.98%) reported the role of peer pressure in smoking while n=330 (85.98%) participants believed that media have significant role in modifying cultural norms.\u0000Conclusion: Over all positive response of pictorial health warnings on cigarettes ’packs was seen for quitting smoking.","PeriodicalId":256876,"journal":{"name":"Pakistan Journal of Public Health","volume":"2 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124937500","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Acceptance of E-Learning during Covid-19 Pandemic amongst Dental Students of Islamabad","authors":"Sheza Haroon, Saba Masoud, Rabia Tassaduq","doi":"10.32413/pjph.v11i4.791","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32413/pjph.v11i4.791","url":null,"abstract":"Background: The worldwide COVID 19 pandemic coerced all organizations including educational facilities to embrace online teaching methodologies. The present study was done to assess the acceptance of e-learning during COVID 19 among dental students in the metropolitan city of Islamabad using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) \u0000Methods: This was a cross sectional study involving all dental colleges of Islamabad, was conducted between August 2020 – October 2020. The complete enumeration technique was employed for sampling. A structured self-reported questionnaire of the Technology acceptance model (TAM) was used for data collection. It consisted of four constructs, perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU), attitude towards use (ATT) and intention to use (INT). The questionnaire was shared online with 600 dental undergraduate students in Islamabad. To analyze the data SPSS (version 22) was used. \u0000Results: The total number of complete responses received were 274 (RR 45%).The overall mean scores for PEOU, INT, PU and ATT were 3.38, 3.21, 3.1 and 2.92 respectively. Lower mean value showed that the respondents disagreed/strongly disagreed, whereas higher mean value showed that they were inclined to agree/strongly agree with the idea of e-learning. Based on TAM model, six hypotheses were formulated and tested for significance based on the regression statistics. Larger beta and t values and P value of 0.05 using regression analysis showed existence of significant relationship between all the factors. \u0000Conclusion: The present study explored the acceptance of e-learning by dental students and concluded that in order to motivate students to use technology for educational purposes it is necessary for them to perceive technology to be useful and easy to use. This in turn would help them develop a positive attitude towards using it and consequently motivate greater participation. \u0000 ","PeriodicalId":256876,"journal":{"name":"Pakistan Journal of Public Health","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130437544","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pandemic Situation in Pakistan: Recoveries and Mortalities Rate of COVID-19 during First and Second Waves of Pandemic in Pakistan - Data from Feb to Dec 2020","authors":"A. Kalam, A. Sadiqa, Javeria Samad, M. Usman, S. Yahya","doi":"10.32413/pjph.v11i4.905","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32413/pjph.v11i4.905","url":null,"abstract":"The novel coronavirus disease COVID-19 outbreak has caused significant global issues and challenged healthcare systems across the globe and in Pakistan as well. This infectious disease is found to be a pandemic and has massively impacted countries across the world. The disease is still rapidly spreading and has caused many deaths in Pakistan, according to the world health organization; early in the year of 2020, Pakistan was ranked among the top 10 countries in the world reporting the highest number of new cases of COVID-19 per day during the first wave of the outbreak. The second wave of COVID-19 was relatively high on the first wave of disease in the current scenario of the pandemic. In the all over Pakistan, the real-time PCR is being applied for the qualitative detection of COVID-19 in the human nasopharyngeal swab specimen. From Feb to Dec.2020, in Pakistan there were a total of 416,499 cases registered across the country there have been (2%) deaths, with (85.2%) total recoveries. Sindh and Punjab were the most affected provinces; however, Balochistan, KPK, and other regions of Pakistan were less affected comparatively. This short communication is carried out to shed light on the coronavirus outbreak in the country; it will help to highlight the recoveries and mortalities rate of first and second waves of the disease.","PeriodicalId":256876,"journal":{"name":"Pakistan Journal of Public Health","volume":"95 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128324836","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An Assessment of Frequency of Deficiency of Vitamin D among HIV/AIDS Patients","authors":"M. Sajid, Noorabadi Zahra, M. Kaleem Ullah, S. Qazi, Rabia Mahmood, N. Badar","doi":"10.32413/pjph.v11i4.910","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32413/pjph.v11i4.910","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Literature showed that HIV +ve individuals were deficient for vitamin D as well. Vitamin D deficiency is one of the top most commonly observed abnormality and an independent prognostic marker of HIV disease. The scientific groups’ emphases on the likely impact of its dearth on HIV infested populace. One of most communal comorbidities in HIV-1 patients is insufficiency of Vitamin D (Vit D), which is estimated by measuring 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) concentrations. Patients having vitamin D levels < 20ng/ml (50nmol/l) were considered as having vitamin D deficiency. HIV infection & ART (antiretroviral therapy) may create risk factors for insufficiency of vitamin D, it also has a role in slowing down HIV ailment progression. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Medicine Department in Services Hospital Lahore from June 22, 2017 to December 22, 2017. 160 Patients with HIV confirmed by ELISA method were selected by non-Probability Consecutive sampling technique. Data was entered in SPSS v23.0 & Chi square test was applied. Results: Out of 160, Frequency of Vitamin D deficiency was 111(69.4%). Results demonstrated that majority of patients 74(46.25%) are having disease for 1-3 years. While 54(33.75%) patients are having the disease for <1 year and 32(20.0%) are having the disease for >3 years. There were no significant differences between Vitamin D deficiency with age, gender and duration of HIV/AIDS (p-values 0.123, 0.136 & 0.634 respectively). Conclusion: Frequency of vitamin D deficiency is very high. This recommends that all HIV positive individuals should be considered for routine screening. Low serum calcium should prompt investigation of 25-OHD levels.","PeriodicalId":256876,"journal":{"name":"Pakistan Journal of Public Health","volume":"51 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128349684","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Strategies by National Health Systems in the Northern Hemisphere during First Wave of COVID-19: Evaluation and the Way Forward","authors":"Aysha Zahidie, Meesha Iqbal","doi":"10.32413/pjph.v11i4.678","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32413/pjph.v11i4.678","url":null,"abstract":"This paper aims to assess the effectiveness of strategies adopted by national health systems across the globe in different ‘geographical regions’ in the Northern Hemisphere to combat COVID-19 pandemic. Data is included since the first case was reported in November 2019 till mid-April 2020. Sources of information are COVID-19 case repositories, official country websites, university research teams’ perspectives, official briefings, and available published research articles to date. We triangulated all data to formulate a comprehensive illustration of COVID-19 situation in each country included. It has been found that the 2002-2004 SARS outbreak experienced in China, Taiwan, and South Korea saw better strategies adopted by leadership to combat COVID-19 pandemic containment as compared to Iran, Italy, and the United States of America. Saudi Arabia has so far been successful in the implementation of containment strategies as there is no large outbreak in major cities or confined areas as prisons. The situation has yet to unfold in India and Pakistan, which exhibit their own weaknesses in policy formulation or implementation in response to health crises. This review provides conclusive evidence that timely travel bans, early detection of COVID-19 spread through exhaustive and reliable testing, and the establishment of a central, fully authorized body to foresee health trends and implement appropriate containment measures are essential to contain the spread of the virus.","PeriodicalId":256876,"journal":{"name":"Pakistan Journal of Public Health","volume":"13 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126872012","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Educational and Professional Differences in Working Women Marriages and their Effects on Life Satisfaction in Gujranwala City, Pakistan","authors":"Kauser Aftab Khan, S. Anwar, Z. Qureshi, Y. Fatima","doi":"10.32413/pjph.v11i4.887","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32413/pjph.v11i4.887","url":null,"abstract":"Background: A high level of marital contentment is a measure of marital success. The objectives of this study were to determine whether there is a relationship between marital contentment and independent variables of education and the profession of couples.\u0000Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 113 participants in 2019. All participants included in this study were working women’s and married for at least six months belonging to the northern part of the city, Gujranwala. Data was entered and analyzed in SPSS version 21.\u0000Results: The majority of the couples i.e., 63.7% had the same level of education in terms of years and equivalence, while 49.6% are in the same profession. About 59.3% of women were satisfied in terms of their marital life. There was no statistically significant relationship between marital contentment, education level, and profession.\u0000Conclusion: Most of the couples had the same level of education in terms of years and equivalence, while about half are in the same profession.  Most of them were satisfied in their life.","PeriodicalId":256876,"journal":{"name":"Pakistan Journal of Public Health","volume":"516 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123088864","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Omicron-The Variant of Concern Knocks the Door of Pakistan","authors":"M. Javaid, Mawra Hyder, Ayesha Fazal, F. Chaudhary, Fariha Farooq","doi":"10.32413/pjph.v11i4.941","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32413/pjph.v11i4.941","url":null,"abstract":"merging variants of SARS-CoV-2 are being identified across the world leaving continuous challenges for the scientists, vaccine and drug inventors, general populace and the entire international public health fraternity. World Health Organization (WHO) has labelled some variants “Variants of Interests (VOIs)” or “Variants of Concerns (VOCs)” due to their ability to change and alter the virus’ properties significantly (1). It was 24 November 2021, when “B.1.1.529” variant was reported to WHO from Republic of South Africa (2). The scientists of South Africa and Botswana alerted the entire world about this fast-spreading newly reported variant (3). The first confirmed B.1.1.529 infection was from a specimen collected on 9 November 2021. (2). It was 26 November 2021, when WHO called and labelled this variant as “Omicron”, on the recommendation of “Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution” (TAG-VE) for WHO (4). So far it has been reported in 38 nations (5). Researchers from all over the world are now racing to understand about the threat this variant has been imposing (3). The major concerns regarding omicron include whether or not it is more contagious or severe than other VOC’s and whether it can circumvent the vaccine protection. Clinical and immunological data are not available up till now. So far more than 30 mutations of Omicron have been recorded (6). These mutations lead to increased transmissible, higher antibody escape and enhanced viral binding affinity. COVID-19 vaccines manufacturers are thinking about the adjustment of their products in order to protect against this newly detected variant (7, 5,8). On the basis of available data from previously reported VOCs, individuals who are jabbed are expected to have a lower threat of severe ailment from omicron infection. Extrapolations based on preliminary observations and already known mutations, indicate that omicron might possibly spread faster and might also escape antibodies more readily than previously reported variants, thus increasing cases of re-infection and cases of minor breakthrough infections in vaccinated individuals. Approach of getting vaccination at a national level and public health preventive measures (mask wearing, avoidance of enclosed spaces, physical distancing, and maintenance of hand hygiene and preference of outdoor gathering) are expected to be an effective strategy (9). According to the National Command and Operation center (NCOC), it will be almost impossible to halt it from entering our nation as the entire world is very much inter-connected in this era. The minister also told that we had already banned air travels from Omicron affected nations and Government is also planning to administer the booster dose to the citizens of fifty years and above as well as the Healthcare workers (10). E Omicron-The Variant of Concern Knocks the Door of Pakistan","PeriodicalId":256876,"journal":{"name":"Pakistan Journal of Public Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115390791","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Should Children in Pakistan be vaccinated? Is there any Evidence?","authors":"S. A. A. Zaidi, Q. Baig, Shahida Maqsood","doi":"10.32413/pjph.v11i4.848","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32413/pjph.v11i4.848","url":null,"abstract":"In Pakistan, where the vaccination rate is dismally low and where the huge population remains unvaccinated, vaccination in children might be considered a privilege and a luxury. But with several countries such as Canada, United States, China, Indonesia, and Israel forging ahead with vaccinating children and the United Kingdom slowly following their footsteps and with mounting evidence, it might not be prudent to keep children side-lined from vaccination in Pakistan. This paper presents some evidence for vaccination in children and highlights the need and urgency for vaccinating children in Pakistan. Clinical trials of Pfizer/NBiotech, Moderna and SinoVac’s CoronaVac has shown promising results and higher antibody titres in children as compared to adults. For herd immunity to be effective and to curb this pandemic, it is prudent to initiate vaccination in children in Pakistan at the earliest.","PeriodicalId":256876,"journal":{"name":"Pakistan Journal of Public Health","volume":"84 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116734188","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Increasing Trend of Substance Using among Females of Punjab","authors":"Mariam Ali, Naheed S. Goraya","doi":"10.32413/pjph.v11i3.759","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32413/pjph.v11i3.759","url":null,"abstract":"The article gives a detailed study of facts and figures of female substance users in Punjab as reported in different surveys. It discusses the major reasons of increasing trend of substance using among females of Punjab out of which the most prominent roots of this menace are discussed in this review as socio-economical pressure and the role of entertainment and social media. Common social factors were found to be peer pressure and relational substance use among females. Financially, most of the women started using substance as a result of transition from housewife to caretakers of family. Some students were addicted to substance using from friends already addicted to substance use while other students started abusing substance due to stress of hectic study routines. In some reported cases, young ones were encouraged to use substance by watching an elder substance user. Transition from chars to other substances of choice was also found in many female substance users. Case studies of some Female Substance Users expressed some awful and serious issues which need immediate attention. There is a large risk factor associated with this increasing trend of substance using in this region which needs to be tackled carefully by the government and certain other non-governmental bodies.","PeriodicalId":256876,"journal":{"name":"Pakistan Journal of Public Health","volume":"11 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116939093","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Consumption of Milk and Milk Products Among Young People of Pakistan; Cross Sectional Study","authors":"Zoha Sohail","doi":"10.32413/pjph.v11i3.789","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32413/pjph.v11i3.789","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Consumption of milk and milk products between 10-24 years of age is chief important; a crucial bone development age and during recent years consumption of milk and milk products had been decreased among young people. Current study was aimed to investigate the consumption of milk and milk products among young people of Pakistan.\u0000Methods: Study design was Cross-sectional; two hundred individuals aged 10-24 years were selected via convenient sampling. Self-structured questionnaire with a combination of closed and open ended questions was used for data collection.\u0000Results: Study provided that 152(76%) sample consumed milk once daily 298±234.90ml and 48(24%) did not consumed milk.\u0000Conclusion: Results concluded that the consumption of milk and milk products among young people was low as compared to the recommended dietary allowances; thus a need to provide knowledge regarding the importance of milk consumption to assist in reducing bone health disorders","PeriodicalId":256876,"journal":{"name":"Pakistan Journal of Public Health","volume":"31 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123960250","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}