Uterine fibroid: clinical presentation and relative morbidity of abdominal myomectomy and total abdominal hysterectomy, in a teaching hospital of Karachi, Pakistan.

Objective: To compare clinical presentation and morbidity of abdominal myomectomy and hysterectomy.

Methods: We reviewed medical records of 441 patients with symptomatic fibroid, treated by myomectomy (135) or hysterectomy (306) at The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 1991 to December 1995. Z-test and risk estimates with 95% confidence intervals were calculated.

Management trend and safety of vaginal delivery for term breech fetuses in a tertiary care hospital of Karachi, Pakistan.

Aim: To investigate the safety of vaginal delivery for term breech fetuses in a tertiary-care hospital of Pakistan.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of all live singleton breech deliveries at or beyond 37 weeks of gestation, at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 1988 to December 1995.

Results: Rate of cesarean section increased from 48% (1988) to 74% (1995).

Does use of a government service depend on distance from the health facility?

To reduce mortality from common childhood illnesses such as diarrhoea and upper respiratory infections, it is important that health services are available and used appropriately. Physical accessibility to a health facility may influence its use, particularly in rural areas. We assessed whether use of government services for treatment of the three most common acute childhood illnesses (fever, diarrhoea and upper respiratory infections) was influenced by the physical accessibility of the government primary health care centres.