Strengthening supportive supervision: A case study of the Expanded Programme on Immunization in Sindh, Pakistan.

Background: Sindh, one of the provinces of Pakistan, has been showing a consistently low coverage of immunization. Evidence supports the independent role of supportive supervision in improving the performance of immunization services. However, there is a dearth of evidence regarding the implementation of supportive supervision by the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) Sindh and factors affecting its implementation in the local context.

Immune response to 1 and 2 dose regimens of measles vaccine in Pakistani children.

Measles is a significant problem in Pakistan despite vaccine coverage rates reported at 80%. The purpose of this study was to determine the serologic response in children after one dose of measles vaccine at 9 mo versus two doses at 9 and 15 mo of age. From March through December 2006, children were enrolled from immunization clinics and squatter settlements in Karachi.

Determinants of suboptimal breast-feeding practices in Pakistan.

Objective: Exclusive breast-feeding is estimated to reduce infant mortality in low-income countries by up to 13 %. The aim of the present study was to determine the risk factors associated with suboptimal breast-feeding practices in Pakistan.

Design: A cross-sectional study using data extracted from the multistage cluster sample survey of the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2006-2007.

Determinants of inappropriate timing of introducing solid, semi-solid or soft food to infants in Pakistan: secondary data analysis of Demographic and Health Survey 2006-2007.

Inappropriate timing of introducing complementary food deprives the infant of optimum nutrition, leading to undernutrition, and increased mortality and morbidity. The aim of this analysis was to identify determinants of inappropriate timing of introduction of solid, semi-solid and soft foods in Pakistan. Data on 941 infants 3.

Dengue fever outbreak in Karachi 2006--a study of profile and outcome of children under 15 years of age.

Objective: To evaluate children with serologically confirmed Dengue fever in order to identify common clinical features, progress of disease, grades of severity and outcome of cases during the outbreak in 2006.

Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted on serologically positive children with Dengue fever (DF) admitted in Civil Hospital Karachi and Liaquat National Hospital between October and November 2006. Various clinical features and laboratory parameters were analyzed for frequencies.

Immunogenicity of a recombinant, yeast-derived, anti-hepatitis-B vaccine after alternative dosage and schedule vaccination in Pakistani children.

A controlled, randomized trial was conducted in urban areas of Karachi and Lahore with the aim to look for ways to improve the cost-effectiveness of hepatitis B vaccination. Children under 15 years old (including neonates) were selected and screened for immunization by three regimens according to the frequency and doses of the recombinant vaccine used (Heberbiovac HB, Heber Biotec, Havana). Group A received 10 microg at 0, 1 months; group B (control) received 10 microg at 0, 1 and 2 months (standard regime), and group C received 5 microg at 0, 1 and 2 months.

Ponderal index of low birth weight babies--a hospital based study.

Objective: To determine the ratio of disproportionate versus proportionate Intra uterine growth retardation among low birth weight babies using the Ponderal index.

Methods: This was a retrospective study. Medical records of babies with weight < 2.