Publications by authors named "Sumera Saeed Akhtar"

Introduction Globally, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a common cause of death. The highest CVD rate is among South Asian populations and South Asian immigrants have a higher risk of developing CVD than other ethnic groups. While treatment of established CVD risk factors is recommended, medication adherence may be poor.

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Article Synopsis
  • There's a growing concern about diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among South Asians in high-income countries, especially in New Zealand.
  • This study gathered input from South Asian immigrants through focus groups and interviews to identify community-driven strategies that address unhealthy eating and physical activity habits.
  • The findings highlighted key solutions like sharing recipes, educating on nutrition labels, promoting community sports, and enhancing peer support to foster healthier lifestyles and reduce diet-related health risks.
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Background: A high proportion of unwanted or unplanned pregnancies may be alcohol-exposed due to contraception failure or non-use. Nevertheless, data on contraception and alcohol use in the context of the risk of alcohol-exposed pregnancies are sparse.

Objectives: To describe contraception use and alcohol consumption in sexually active non-pregnant women and investigate the factors associated with less effective contraception methods.

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Introduction Recently immigrated Pakistani women need knowledge about their new country's healthcare system to better access appropriate care. Aim This study explores the knowledge of Pakistani immigrant women about New Zealand's healthcare system. Methods An online questionnaire was developed and administered using Qualtrics© software.

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Worldwide, there is limited literature on Pakistani immigrants' challenges and experiences accessing healthcare services for their children and themselves. In this article, we present a case study of Pakistani immigrant mothers in New Zealand to explore their experiences and perspectives on navigating the healthcare system of a new country. Data was collected from 23 mothers in Wellington through in-depth semi-structured interviews, which each lasted 60 to 80 min.

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Worldwide migration leads to people bringing beliefs and practices from one country into another, including those related to self-medication. This study explores the self-medication practices of Pakistani mothers for their children and their reasons for self-medication. We interviewed 23 immigrants.

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