Coverage and predictors of COVID-19 vaccination in rural districts of Pakistan.

Background: One of the keys to preventing a re-emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic is the attainment and maintenance of high vaccination coverage in urban and rural areas.

Aims: To estimate the coverage of COVID-19 vaccination in a rural population and identify the determinants of vaccination.

Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in April 2023 in 5 rural districts of Sindh Province, Pakistan.

Exploring the gaps between training and expected job skills of public health graduates to identify: A way forward.

Objectives: To explore the non-alignment between what is taught in academic programmes for public health and what is actually needed or expected in the field.

Methods: The qualitative phenomenological study was conducted from October 2020 to April 2021 in Karachi after approval from the institutional ethics review board of Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi. The sample comprised major stakeholders including representatives of public health institutions and organisations involved in the implementation of public health programmes.

Compliance with smoke-free legislation and smoking behaviour: an observational field study in Karachi, Pakistan.

Objective: To observe compliance with smoke-free law at different public places in an urban setting.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from January to June 2022 after approval from the ethics review board of Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, at public places, including public and private offices, health institutions, education institutions, malls, markets and eateries, in 5 districts of Karachi. Boundary, entrance, waiting areas/corridors, toilet areas and eating areas were assessed using a checklist for smoke-free law compliance.

Understanding ethics of reporting health related events in media: A qualitative phenomenological study in Karachi and Peshawar.

Objective: The specific objectives of this study were to identify the ethical issues in reporting of health-related events in media and suggest ways to improve it.

Method: This was a qualitative phenomenological study conducted by APPNA Institute of Public Health, Jinnah Sindh Medical University in collaboration with Institute of Public Health, Khyber Medical University from January to April 2022. A total of 38 focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were conducted either face to face at place of convenience of interviewees or online.

Association between residential green spaces and pregnancy outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Residential exposure to greenness has shown positive influences on pregnancy outcomes like birth weight, preterm births, and small to gestational age (SGA) deliveries. We aimed to comprehensively review and investigate these associations by conducting a systematic review with meta-analysis. Relevant studies were retrieved from PubMed, EMBASE, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar databases before June 2023.

Changes in caloric consumption, physical activity, body mass index and sleeping pattern during holy month of Ramadan among doctors of a public sector University.

Objectives: To determine the change in caloric intake, physical activity, body mass index and sleeping pattern during Ramadan among doctors.

Methods: The longitudinal study was conducted at a public-sector medical university in Karachi from April to May 2020, and comprised healthy doctors of either gender who planned to fast during Ramadan. Data was collected using a multitude of validated structured tools by trained data collectors.

Frequency and risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders in high risk occupation workers in Urban, Karachi.

Objective: To determine the frequency and risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders in high-risk occupation workers in an urban setting.

Methods: The analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in Karachi from July to December 2020, and comprised office workers, operation theatre technicians and coolies. The presence of musculoskeletal disorders was assessed using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire to determine factors associated with moderate to severe condition.

Violence against health care workers in rural areas of Sindh, Pakistan.

Objective: To determine the magnitude of violence against healthcare workers in a rural setting, and the consequences of this violence on their personal and professional lives.

Methods: The descriptive, quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted in 4 rural districts of the Sindh province of Pakistan from February to December 2019, and comprised healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, support staff and field workers. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire.

Psychological impact of COVID-19 Pandemic and associated factors on college students.

Objective: To determine the psychological impact of coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic on college students, and to explore factors influencing their anxiety and depression levels.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2020 to January 2021 at the Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, and comprised medical students of either gender in the first to third year of the academic programme. Data was collected using a pretested online structured questionnaire comprising demographic information, academic problems, daily life difficulties and the 25-item Aga Khan University Anxiety and Depression Scale.

Nicotine dependence and intention to quit among electronic, conventional and dual cigarette users in Karachi.

Objective: To compare nicotine dependence and intention to quit among different types of smokers.

Methods: The comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2018 to October 2019 in Karachi after approval from the ethics review committee of the Jinnah Sindh Medical University, and comprised conventional, electronic and dual cigarette users. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire regarding socio-demographics, usage characteristics, and intention to quit.

Enhancing satisfaction and respect for health care personnel: a mixed-methods case study of a community-based intervention.

Health care personnel (HCP) face violence as a result of lack of satisfaction and respect among community members. It is imperative for HCP to engage in social work by involving communities for enhancing satisfaction and respect for them. This study attempted to provide insight on this phenomenon by using a mixed-methods concurrent embedded approach.

Effect of low-cost interventions to reduce the incidence of violent events in two public sector tertiary-care emergency departments, Pakistan.

Background: Violence against health care workers has been widely reported in Pakistan.

Aims: This study, from September 2019 to April 2020, aimed to determine the effect of low-cost interventions to reduce violent events in two tertiary-care emergency departments in Karachi and Peshawar, Pakistan.

Methods: In phase one, a surveillance system was established in each department and information on violent events was recorded for three months.

How frequent is burnout among informal caregivers of disabled children? Findings from a cross-sectional study in Karachi, Pakistan.

Background: Informal caregivers are those who care for children without getting paid. They are often more prone to stress due to their extra daily tasks which leads to burnout. This study aimed to determine the frequency and associated risk factors of burnout among informal caregivers of children with disabilities in Karachi.

Ethnic differences in the receptors status of estrogen, progesterone and Her2/Neu among breast cancer women: A single institution experience.

Objective: To evaluate the Ethnic Differences in Estrogen (ER), Progesterone (PR) and Her 2/neu receptors among Women with Breast Cancer at JPMC, the largest public sector tertiary care hospital in Karachi.

Methods: The study was conducted at the oncology ward, JPMC Karachi from 1st July 2017 to 31st December 2018. During this period, more than 500 women with breast cancer of different ethnicities visited the oncology ward, however 450 patients were included in the study, as only they had the complete reports on the receptors status and tumour histology.

Assessment of a mass media campaign on giving way to ambulances in five cities of Pakistan.

Objective: To determine the contribution of a mass media campaign towards encouraging more vehicles to give way to ambulances, and to identify the factors associated with higher likelihood of giving way to ambulances.

Methods: The three-phase observational study was conducted from December 2017 to March 2018 in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Peshawar cities of Pakistan. Six road sites in different areas of each city were selected for observation.

Frequency and determinants of timely arrival among patients of acute myocardial infarction at a public sector tertiary care hospital in Karachi.

Objective: To determine the time from onset of symptoms to start of fibrinolysis and treatment in acute ST elevated myocardial infarction patients and identify the factors which cause delay in treatment.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted at National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Karachi on 360 conveniently selected patients of ST elevated myocardial infarction from July to September in the year 2017. Structured questionnaire was used to obtain detailed information on socio-demographics, factors which cause delay and timing of onset of symptoms to arrival of patient in emergency ward.

The magnitude and determinants of violence against healthcare workers in Pakistan.

Objectives: To determine the magnitude and determinants of violence against healthcare workers (HCWs) and to identify the predominant types and causes of violence experienced by them.

Methodology: A cross-sectional survey based on structured questionnaire adopted from previous surveys and qualitative data was conducted in 4 large cities and 12 districts in 3 provinces of Pakistan. The survey covered 8579 from all cadres of HCWs, including doctors, nurses, technicians, support staff, ambulance workers, vaccinators, lady health visitors, midwives and lady health workers (LHWs).

Working Conditions and Work-Related Health Issues of Female Domestic Workers in Four Districts of Karachi.

Objectives: To determine the working conditions and work-related health issues of female domestic workers (FDWs) in four districts of Karachi.

Methods: Population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in four squatter settlements of Karachi with sample size of 406 FDWs in 2018. Pretested questionnaire was administered to collect data through snowball technique.

Out of pocket payment for diabetes mellitus in a public hospital of Karachi.

Objective: To estimate the out-of-pocket payment on routine management of type 2 diabetes in patients attending a public-sector facility.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2016 to May 2017 at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, and comprised of persons with type 2 diabeties. A pretested questionnaire was administered to collect data from the patients.

Mixed method survey to assess the problems and propose solutions for implementation of CME/CPD in Sindh, Pakistan.

Objectives: To determine the type of CME/CPD sessions attended by doctors, identify the problems with implementation of CME/CPD program and propose possible solutions for successful implementation of CME/CPD Program.

Methods: This was a concurrent triangulation mixed method study. Quantitative questionnaires were filled by faculty and physicians from different specialties.

Breaking Bad News: A contextual model for Pakistan.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to identify the sequence of violence that ensues after breaking bad news and develop a contextual model of breaking bad news and develop a model contextual for Pakistan.

Methods: A qualitative exploratory study was conducted using Six FGDs and 14 IDIs with healthcare providers working in the emergency and the obstetrics and gynecology departments of tertiary care hospitals of Karachi, Pakistan. Data was transcribed and analyzed to identify emerging themes and subthemes using thematic content analysis.

Aneurysmal Bone Cyst of 3rd Metacarpal, Management and Follow-up: A Case Report.

Introduction: Aneurysmal bone cysts of the hand are rare, and only few cases are reported in scientific literature. We report a case of aneurysmal bone cyst of 3rd metacarpal treated at our tertiary care hospital, Mumbai.

Case Report: A 13-year-old young female presented with pain and progressive increase in swelling over the dorsum of the right hand for 7-months.