Un/met: a mixed-methods study on primary healthcare needs of the poorest population in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan.

Background: Access of all people to the healthcare they need, without financial hardship is the goal of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). As UHC initiatives expand, assessing the needs of vulnerable populations can reveal gaps in the system which may be covered by relevant policies. In this study we (i) identify the met and unmet primary healthcare needs of the poorest population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (KP), Pakistan, and (ii) explore why the gaps exist.

Cognitive therapy for depression in tuberculosis treatment: protocol for multicentre pragmatic parallel arm randomised control trial with an internal pilot.

Introduction And Objectives: There is an unmet need to develop high-quality evidence addressing tuberculosis (TB)-related mental health comorbidity, particularly in the context of lower-middle-income countries. This study aims to examine the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) versus enhanced treatment as usual (ETAU) in improving depressive symptoms in people with TB and comorbid depression, enhancing adherence with anti-TB treatment (ATT) and its implementation in the real-world setting of Pakistan.

Methods: We will conduct a pragmatic parallel arm randomised control trial with an internal pilot.

Lived experiences of COVID-19 patients admitted in isolation wards of healthcare centers in Peshawar, Pakistan: A phenomenological perspective.

Unlabelled: The emergence of COVID-19 caused a significant global threat, affecting populations worldwide. Its impact extended beyond just physical health, as it inflicted severe damage and challenges to individuals' well-being, leading to a deterioration in mental health. The lived experiences of patients hold a paramount position to explore and understand their perception of care which can ultimately strengthen the health system's delivery domain.

Linkages between poverty and food insecurity in Pakistan: Evidence from urban and rural households in Peshawar.

Objective: To assess household poverty, sanitation and hygiene practices, and food security in both urban and rural settlements of district Peshawar.

Methods: We conducted this cross-sectional study from March 2019 to October 2019 in the urban and rural households of Peshawar, KPK. Using stratified random sampling, 554 households (HH) having children and young adolescents of age 5-19 years, adult men > 19 - 62 years, and adult women >19 - 62 years were included in this study.

Determinants of Response at 2 Months of Treatment in a Cohort of Pakistani Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection continues to be a major global challenge. All patients with pulmonary tuberculosis are treated with a standard 6-month treatment regimen. Historical data suggest that even with shortened treatment, most patients achieve long-term remission.

Seroprevalence of Sars-Cov-2 antibodies among eligible blood donors of Peshawar, Pakistan.

Background And Objectives: To determine the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and the associated risk factors among healthy blood donors from Peshawar Pakistan, during the second and third waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: The study was conducted on 4047 healthy (with no history or symptoms of COVID-19) blood donors attending regional blood center Peshawar between Nov 2020 and June 2021. Demographic data was collected and donors were screened for the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA).

Perception of Master of Public Health Students regarding E-Learning in Covid-19 Era: A New Normal in Lower- and Middle-Income Countries.

Objectives: To explore the perception of postgraduate public health students regarding e-learning in context to Covid-19 pandemic and its effect on their academic performances.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Sarhad Institute of Health Science, SUIT Peshawar from 3 October 2020 to 4 February 2021. The Census method was incorporated for sample selection.

Awareness, perceptions of and compliance with tobacco control policies among naswar vendors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan.

Introduction: Regulatory compliance in the retail environment is integral to the success of tobacco control. We assessed compliance among naswar (smokeless tobacco product widely used in South Asia) vendors with tobacco control laws. We also assessed their awareness of tobacco-related harms and policies and perceived effect of policies on their sales.

Prevalence of Parental refusal rate and its associated factors in routine immunization by using WHO Vaccine Hesitancy tool: A Cross sectional study at district Bannu, KP, Pakistan.

Objective: To determine the vaccination refusal rate, associated factors and perceptions of parents who refused routine immunization for their children using the World Health Organization (WHO) SAGE Working Group on Vaccine Hesitancy Survey Tool.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using multi-stage cluster sampling in Bannu District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan from March 2019 to July 2019. A WHO validated questionaire was used.

Impact of Social Media Integration in Teaching Methods on Exam Outcomes.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of social media integration in teaching methods on exam outcomes.

Methods: This study was conducted at Poonch Medical College, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan from November 2018 to January 2019. All 125 students of 4th year MBBS were included in the study.

What Are We Doing For Injuries? The Burden And Level Of Preparedness For Mass Emergencies In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province Of Pakistan.

Background: Injuries are one of the highly prevalent public health problems of Pakistan but still we are unable to develop a mechanism for its quantification and management. To understand the reasons of not doing so we need detailed discussion among the leaders of different stakeholders working in area of injuries. In this study, a focus group discussion (FGD) of provincial health leaders was conducted to explore challenges and gaps and identify opportunities for quantification and management of injuries in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

Intramuscular Diclofenac Vs Periprostatic Lidocaine Injection For Controlling Pain Undergoing Transrectal Ultrasound Guided Prostatic Biopsy.

Background: Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) technique for getting prostatic tissue for histopathology is now the standard procedure for malignant lesions of the prostate and imperative diagnostic investigation of patients with clinical specks of prostatic neoplasia. During TRUS guided biopsy, pain control has been important issue therefore, highly potent analgesia before this procedure should be considered on high priority according to current census. Therefore, we compared intramuscular diclofenac injection with sensory blockade of injection lidocaine to abolish pain undergoing prostatic biopsy with TRUS technique.