Biofortification and fortification of wheat flour: Qualitative analysis for implementation and acceptance.

This paper comprehensively investigates various aspects of dietary behaviors relating to the usage of wheat flour and sociocultural preferences embedded within rural communities and aims to bridge health gaps resulting from zinc deficiency by introducing zinc bio-fortified and fortified flour in Pakistan. A household and a market study was conducted in Ghotki and Tando Muhammad Khan districts in Sindh, Pakistan. Various stakeholders involved in the wheat-flour industry including farmers, seed suppliers, owners of atta-chakkis and flour mills, grocers and flour merchants, bakers and hoteliers, consumers, and agronomists were interviewed to gauge their knowledge of bio-fortified and fortified wheat-flour.

Deployment and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines for refugees and migrants in regular and irregular situations: a mixed-method multicountry study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has widened inequities, affecting migrant and refugee populations in vulnerable situations, who may face elevated risks of infection, constrained healthcare access and discrimination. Inclusive vaccination campaigns are recommended, but barriers persist. This study aimed to identify barriers and facilitators and estimate vaccination coverage among refugees and migrants in low- and middle-income countries, emphasising inclusive policies for effective rollout.

Preconception care interventions among adolescents and young adults to prevent adverse maternal, perinatal and child health outcomes: An evidence gap map.

Objective: To identify gaps in existing evidence on preconception health interventions to improve the health outcomes of adolescents, young adults, and their offspring.

Study Design: Evidence gap map (EGM) METHODS: Following the Campbell guidelines, we included reviews and interventional studies identified through searches on Medline and other electronic databases from 2010 to July 18th, 2023. Dual screening of titles/abstracts and full texts was conducted on Covidence software, followed by quality assessment and development of 2D-EGM using the EPPI-Reviewer and Mapper software.

An innovative Community Mobilisation and Community Incentivisation for child health in rural Pakistan (CoMIC): a cluster-randomised, controlled trial.

Background: Infectious diseases remain the leading cause of death among children younger than 5 years due to disparities in access and acceptance of essential interventions. The Community Mobilisation and Community Incentivisation (CoMIC) trial was designed to evaluate a customised community mobilisation and incentivisation strategy for improving coverage of evidence-based interventions for child health in Pakistan.

Methods: CoMIC was a three-arm cluster-randomised, controlled trial in rural areas of Pakistan.

Addressing inequities in research for early to mid-career women scientists in low- and middle-income countries: "Supporting Women in Science" programme.

Introduction: The gender disparities and inequities faced by women in academia are widespread, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The scholarly output of women scientists remains significantly lower than that of men due to limited opportunities. This widening gap has significant implications for policy-making and prioritizing agendas.

Impact of ambient heat exposure on pregnancy outcomes in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review.

Increasing global temperatures due to climate change have raised serious concerns regarding its potential impact on health outcomes. Pregnant women and their fetuses are among the most vulnerable groups being affected by these dramatic changes resulting in adverse outcomes for both the mother and the developing fetus. Evidence regarding heat-related pregnancy adversities in high-income countries is conclusive, however, such evidence is rare in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Common pediatric surgical conditions and associated health-seeking behaviors in Pakistan: An urban and rural comparative assessment.

Approximately five billion people do not have access to necessary surgical treatment globally and up to 85% of children in LMICs are affected with conditions requiring surgical care by the age of 15 years. It is crucial to identify common surgical conditions in children in Pakistan to inform healthcare professionals and policymakers for effective resource allocation. This representative cross-sectional household survey conducted on children aged 5-10 years assessed existing surgical diseases and healthcare-seeking behaviors in the two largest provinces (Sindh and Punjab) of Pakistan.

Prevalence and risk factors of perinatal depression among mothers and fathers in Pakistan: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Perinatal mental health issues affect approximately 10% of women in high-income countries and 30% in low- or middle-income countries. This review aims to determine the prevalence of perinatal depression among mothers and fathers in Pakistan and identify associated risk factors.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines.

Efficacy of Zinc Fortified and Fermented Wheat Flour (EZAFFAW): A randomized controlled trial protocol.

Background: Zinc deficiency poses significant health risks, particularly in low-income settings. This study aims to evaluate the impact of agronomically zinc biofortified (fermented and non-fermented) and post-harvest wheat flour flatbread on zinc status and metabolic health in adolescents and adult women in rural Pakistan.

Methods: A four-arm triple-blind randomized controlled trial will be conducted in a rural district of Pakistan.

Clinical presentation, diagnosis and management of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C): a systematic review.

Background: Knowledge about multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is evolving, and evidence-based standardised diagnostic and management protocols are lacking. Our review aims to summarise the clinical and diagnostic features, management strategies and outcomes of MIS-C and evaluate the variances in disease parameters and outcomes between high-income countries (HIC) and middle-income countries (MIC).

Methods: We searched four databases from December 2019 to March 2023.

Preconception Care Interventions for Adolescents and Young Adults to Prevent Adverse Maternal and Child Health Outcomes: Protocol for an Evidence Gap Map.

Background: Preconception is the period before a young woman or woman conceives, which draws attention to understanding how her health condition and certain risk factors affect her and her baby's health once she becomes pregnant. Adolescence and youth represent a life-course continuum between childhood and adulthood, in which the prepregnancy phase lacks sufficient research.

Objective: The aim of the study is to identify, map, and describe existing empirical evidence on preconception interventions that enhance health outcomes for adolescents, young adults, and their offspring.

COVID-19 vaccine coverage, determinants and inequity amongst refugees and migrants in Pakistan: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: Migrants and refugees are at a disadvantage in accessing basic necessities. The objective of this study is to assess the inequity in access, needs and determinants of COVID-19 vaccination among refugees and migrant populations in Pakistan.

Design: We conducted a mixed-method study comprising a cross-sectional survey and a qualitative study.

Exploring preconception health in adolescents and young adults: Identifying risk factors and interventions to prevent adverse maternal, perinatal, and child health outcomes-A scoping review.

Background: Preconception health provides an opportunity to examine a woman's health status and address modifiable risk factors that can impact both a woman's and her child's health once pregnant. In this review, we aimed to investigate the preconception risk factors and interventions of early pregnancy and its impact on adverse maternal, perinatal and child health outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a scoping review following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines to include relevant literature identified from electronic databases.

Unveiling silenced narratives: a scoping review on sexual function challenges in migrant and refugee women.

Introduction: Of the approximately 281 million international migrants and 35.3 million refugees around the world, almost half are women. These individuals experience significant stress due to language barriers, financial difficulties, poor living and working conditions, and discrimination.

Modifiable and Non-Modifiable Risk Factors for Premature Coronary Heart Disease (PCHD): Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Aim: We aimed to compare the prevalence of modifiable and non-modifiable coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors among those with premature CHD and healthy individuals.

Methods: PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched (review protocol is registered in PROSPERO CRD42020173216). The quality of studies was assessed using the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute tool for cross-sectional, cohort and case-control studies.

Calcium channel blockers for preventing cardiomyopathy due to iron overload in people with transfusion-dependent beta thalassaemia.

Background: Beta-thalassaemia is an inherited blood disorder that reduces the production of haemoglobin. The most severe form requires recurrent blood transfusions, which can lead to iron overload. Cardiovascular dysfunction caused by iron overload is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in people with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassaemia.

Systematic Review of Management of Moderate Wasting in Children over 6 Months of Age.

The effective management of the 33 million children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) is key to reducing childhood morbidity and mortality. In this review, we aim to evaluate the effectiveness of specially formulated foods (SFFs) compared to non-food-based approaches to manage MAM in children >6 months old. We conducted a search on ten databases until 23 August 2021 and included five studies, covering 3387 participants.

Dietary Strategies for Complementary Feeding between 6 and 24 Months of Age: The Evidence.

Suboptimal complementary feeding practices remain highly prevent. This review aims to comprehensively synthesize new emerging evidence on a set of topics related to the selection and consumption of complementary foods. We synthesized evidence related to five key topics focused on nutritional interventions that target the complementary feeding period, based on four systematic reviews that include updated evidence to February 2022.

Health behaviors and care seeking practices for childhood diarrhea and pneumonia in a rural district of Pakistan: A qualitative study.

Diarrhea and pneumonia are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children under five, and Pakistan is amongst the countries with the highest burden and low rates of related treatment coverage. We conducted a qualitative study as part of the formative phase to inform the design of the Community Mobilization and Community Incentivization (CoMIC) cluster randomized control trial (NCT03594279) in a rural district of Pakistan. We conducted in-dept interviews and focused group discussions with key stakeholders using a semi-structured study guide.

Optimal timing of introduction of complementary feeding: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Context: The timing of introducing complementary feeding (CF) is crucial because premature or delayed CF can be associated with adverse health outcomes in childhood and adulthood.

Objective: This systematic review aims to evaluate the impact of the timing of CF introduction on health, nutrition, and developmental outcomes among normal-term infants.

Data Sources: Electronic databases and trial registries were searched, along with the reference lists of the included studies and relevant systematic reviews.

Assessment of pediatric surgical needs, health-seeking behaviors, and health systems in a rural district of Pakistan.

Surgical conditions are responsible for up to 15% of total Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALY) lost globally. Approximately 4.8 billion people have no access to surgical care and this studies aim is to assess the surgical disease burden in children under the age of five years.

Effectiveness of Dietary Management for Moderate Wasting among Children > 6 Months of Age-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Exploring Different Types, Quantities, and Durations.

Currently, no World Health Organization guidelines exist for the management of approximately 31.8 million moderately wasted children globally. The objective of this review was to synthesise evidence on the optimal type, quantity, and duration of dietary treatment for moderate wasting.

Hypermanganesaemia with dystonia polycythemia and cirrhosis.

Hypermanganesaemia with dystonia, polycythemia, and cirrhosis (HMDPC) is a rare genetic and autosomal recessive disorder that occurs due to mutation of the SLC3A10 gene, which encodes the manganese (Mn) transporter in the body; as a result, Mn accumulates in the brain, liver and muscles. This accumulation leads to symptoms of generalized dystonia, polycythemia, and hypermanganesaemia. In this report, we present the case of a 2½-year-old baby girl (patient) with complaints of lower limb weakness and increased difficulty in walking for six months.