A qualitative study assessing acceptability and appropriateness of a technology-assisted mental health intervention by community frontline workers: mPareshan implementation research in rural Pakistan.

Background: With a shortage of mental health specialists and a significant rural population in Pakistan, leveraging community-based healthcare workers becomes crucial to address mental health needs. Equipping the healthcare workers with digital tools such as mobile applications have the potential to increase access to mental health support in low-resource areas. This study examines the acceptability, appropriateness, barriers, and facilitators to implementing a technology-assisted mental health intervention (mPareshan) delivered by Lady Health Workers (LHWs) in rural Pakistan.

Technology-Assisted Mental Health Intervention Delivered by Frontline Workers at Community Doorsteps for Reducing Anxiety and Depression in Rural Pakistan: Protocol for the mPareshan Mixed Methods Implementation Trial.

Background: There is a dearth of specialized mental health workforce in low- and middle-income countries. Use of mobile technology by frontline community health workers (CHWs) is gaining momentum in Pakistan and needs to be explored as an alternate strategy to improve mental well-being.

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and usefulness of an app-based counseling intervention delivered by government lady health workers (LHWs) to reduce anxiety and depression in rural Pakistan.

Addition of mental health to the lady health worker curriculum in Pakistan: now or never.

The technical advisory group of the World Health Organization (Geneva, Switzerland) has suggested person-centered and community-based mental health services in response to the long-term and far-reaching mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Task shifting is a pragmatic approach to tackle the mental health treatment gap in low- and middle-income countries. Pakistan is dismally resourced to address the mental health challenges.

Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin as a Predictor of Acute Kidney Injury in Children With Shock: A Prospective Study.

Background: The current definition of acute kidney injury (AKI) is based on serum creatinine (SrCr) and urine output, limited by delayed identification of such patients. Plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is considered an early diagnostic and highly predictive biomarker of AKI.

Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of NGAL for AKI compared with creatinine clearance for early detection of AKI in children with shock receiving inotropic support.