Determining critical gaps in implementation of WHO and UNICEF's 7-point plan in diarrhoea control and prevention strategy: A cross sectional study in District Swabi, Pakistan.

Objective: To determine the critical gaps in knowledge and practices of mothers/caregivers in the management of diarrhoea in children at home.

Methods: The descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2019 to August 2020 at primary health centres across Swabi district of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, and comprised mothers/caregivers presenting with children aged <5 years suffering from diarrhoea. Barriers to childhood diarrhoea prevention and control were identified in accordance with the 7-point plan adopted by the federal government in 2009.

Availability and readiness of primary healthcare facilities for the management of non-communicable diseases in different districts of Punjab, Pakistan.

Introduction: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and their effects are rising quickly. NCDs such as cardiovascular illnesses, diabetes, cancer, and chronic lung diseases cause 60% of global deaths; of which, 80% occur in developing countries. In established health systems, primary healthcare handles most of the NCD care.

A technique for measuring the frictional torque of articular cartilage and replacement biomaterials.

Understanding the tribological behaviour of articular cartilage enables the development of effective replacement biomaterials. This study presents a technique for the investigation of the frictional torque of articular cartilage, for the assessment of replacement biomaterials. A calcium alginate hydrogel was used as the biomaterial for this study.

A method for the assessment of the coefficient of friction of articular cartilage and a replacement biomaterial.

Replacement biomaterials for articular cartilage should encourage a coefficient of friction similar to the natural joint. Whilst the literature has assessed the coefficient of friction of articular cartilage against that of a potential biomaterial, it is unknown what the friction of articular cartilage in sliding against a surface defect, repaired with a biomaterial is. This evaluation is crucial to allow for the development of effective biomaterials to closely have the behaviour of articular cartilage.

Effectiveness of a mobile health intervention on infant and young child feeding among children ≤ 24 months of age in rural Islamabad over six months duration.

Childhood development is highly influenced by feeding practices at infancy and young age of the children. Unfortunately, according to the National Nutrition Survey (2011), the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in Pakistan was 21% at four months, and 13% at six months of age with 51.3% of mothers initiating semisolid foods to their children at the recommended 6-8 months of age.

Surface damage of bovine articular cartilage-off-bone: the effect of variations in underlying substrate and frequency.

Background: Changes in bone mineral density have been implicated with the onset of osteoarthritis, but its role in inducing failure of articular cartilage mechanically is unclear. This study aimed to determine the effect of substrate density, as the underlying bone, on the surface damage of cartilage-off-bone, at frequencies associated with gait, and above.

Methods: Bovine articular cartilage samples were tested off-bone to assess induced damage with an indenter under a compressive sinusoidal load range of 5-50 N at frequencies of 1, 10 and 50 Hz, corresponding to normal and above normal gait respectively, for up to 10,000 cycles.

OBSERVANCE OF WHO TEN STEPS TOWARDS SUCCESSFUL BREASTFEEDING; A SURVEY FROM POSTPARTUM MOTHERS.

Background: Breastfeeding is a physiological phenomenon; nonetheless, this act is a learned behaviour that requires continuous active support to make it successful. This study determines the frequency of mothers practicing successful breastfeeding according to the WHO ten steps at tertiary care hospital.

Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in the Obstetrics department of Military Hospital, Rawalpindi over six month duration from July to December 2014.

Effects of male literacy on family size: A cross sectional study conducted in Chakwal city.

Objective: To determine the effects of male education on family size, the desired family size, knowledge and use of contraception and opinion about female education.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was carried out in Chakwal city, Punjab, Pakistan, from June to October 2009. A pre-tested questionnaire was used for data collection.