The International Journal of Frontier Sciences

AbstractBackground: Vaccination prevents significant amount of childhood deaths around the globe. Pakistan is vaccinating children through EPI since 1978 against 10 diseases. Pakistan is facing difficulties in achieving goal of vaccine coverage due to multiple factors. Researches reveal that human resource, poor equipment and training of health care personnel are important for successful immunization programme. Current study was conducted to assess the routine immunization coverage among children of age 12-23 months in Rahimyar Khan district, Punjab, Pakistan and to identify factors that affect uptake of routine immunization in Rahimyar Khan district, Punjab, Pakistan.Materials and Methods: It was a cross sectional study which was conducted in Rahimyar Khan from Oct 2016-Jan 2017. A total of 378 mothers having children of age 12-23 months were interviewed through structured questionnaire. Total 12 (six rural and six urban) Union Councils of district Rahimyar Khan were selected through random sampling. For household selection, random area of union council was selected, and bottle was rotated to select first house, then every Nth (5th) house were approached for sample until required sample size was obtained. Data was analysed by SPSS 22.0. Chi Square test was used to explore association between independent variables and outcome variable.Results: A total of 378 mothers of children age 12-23 months were interviewed. About 66.10% children were found fully immunized. Measles- II vaccine coverage was 60.8% while 78% were immunized against BCG vaccines. Mother’s educational status, occupation and father’s educational status, occupations were observed to the significantly affect the immunization coverage of children. The monthly household income, age of children and area of residence also significantly affected the immunization coverage of children. Other factors such as the child gender, ethnicity, religion, type of family and number of children did not significantly affect the immunization coverage. Majority of respondents’ perception were place of delivery and community health workers play role to enhance the vaccination coverage.Conclusion: The study concluded that the majority (66.10%) of children were completely immunized within recommended time. The reasons of vaccine refusal and lower immunization coverage areas can be countered by overcoming the factors such as place of delivery, theory of knowledge, general public motivation and well-planned infrastructure at National and local level. Full article

Background: Diabetic foot disease (DFD) is a major challenge for the healthcare system, with enormous economic consequences for people living with diabetes, their families and society and it affects both quality of life and quality of care in the diabetic patients. This study was conducted to know about the knowledge, attitude and practices about diabetic foot disease in diabetic patients.Methodology: The study of knowledge, attitude and practices about DFD was done at the different areas in Lahore and at Bhutta Clinical Lab, Multan. Duration of this study was about 6 months. Questionnaire was designed and filled. Sample size of this study was 380. Data was collected and analysed by using SPSS.Results: In this study, 67.9% diabetic patients had poor knowledge, 30% had satisfactory knowledge whereas only 2.1% patients had good knowledge. Regarding attitude towards the DFD, 98.7% patients had good attitude, 1.3% patients had satisfactory attitude and poor attitude had not showed by any patient. In practices score, 47.4% were doing satisfactory practices, 42.9% patients were doing good practices and 9.7% patients were doing poor practices regarding DFD.Conclusion: In this study, awareness of the diabetic foot disease in diabetic patients was poor that may cause increase in the frequency of the diabetic foot disease that may ultimately cause amputation of the lower limb and even cause death due to sepsis. But attitude towards the disease was good in majority of the diabetic patients and practices regarding disease were also satisfactory therefore by increasing the knowledge regarding disease and knowledge of the good practices, reduction of the severe cases of disease and prevention of the disease should be done. Full article

Today’s health workforce is constantly engaged to enhance the standards of healthcare services and ensuring comprehensive healthcare standards to the community. Queensland’s health workforce is Australia’s second largest health workforce (1) and serving proportionately in all areas of QLD, making efforts to make health better by making research, surveys and developmental planning in rural and regional areas. Aged Care is currently the most concerned health issue among OECD countries (2) as aged population continues to grow and it’s challenging for Australian health sector to meet the standards of quality care in provision of aged care health services. As per Australian Institute of Health and Welfare statistics it is projected that Australia will constitute 22% of aged population in next 30 years (AIHW). Full article

Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department of Punjab Government, Pakistan owns 25 district headquarter hospitals, 100 tehsil headquarter hospitals and a number of rural health centres and basic health units. Currently, the department started process of revamping in hospitals and other healthcare delivery centres. In first phase, revamping of infrastructure and services of 25 district headquarter and 15 tehsil headquarter hospitals was started. For better care to patients and service delivery, services of janitorial and security were outsourced to private service providers. Now, the department plans to improve diagnostic services in these hospitals. For this purpose, laboratory and radiology services were planned to outsource. Islamabad Diagnostic Centre and Northshore Medical Labs are the two service providers who are to provide clinical laboratory services in selected hospitals. Islamabad Diagnostic Centre (Private Limited) is a leading diagnostic centre in Islamabad (Federal capital of Islamic Republic of Pakistan) which is ISO 151589:2012. While, Northshore Medical Labs is an American laboratory located and registered in New York State Department of Health and accredited by College of American Pathologist. It is expected to enhance clinical laboratory services standard by outsourcing of these laboratory services. First such laboratory became functional in District Headquarter Hospital Chakwal last month. Although the contract between outsourced laboratory and department describes upraising of services and quality standard by following MSDS and departmental proficiency testing. Full article

Abstract:Introduction: Disasters are the catastrophic events which affects human lives, infrastructure and economy at significant scale. Pakistan is vulnerable to disasters due to its climate change and geography. Climate change causes much more complications and disasters. So, there should be focus on climate change adaptations to reduce disaster risks. If country spends 1 dollar on DRR it saves 5 to 7 dollars to be spent on same population if disaster strike. So, development for disaster risk reduction is much more important. Making the communities resilient and reduces vulnerability environmental sustainability is very important. After the Millennium Development Goals recommendations, Pakistan is also trying to gain environmental sustainability but more in papers instead of practically. So, the need is to make sure practical implementations of these plans and efforts. The objective of this study was to overview the sustainable environmental development and disaster risk reduction in the context of Pakistan.Methodology: This is the descriptive cross-sectional review study.Conclusion: As Pakistan is vulnerable for natural disasters due to its geography and climate change like floods, landslides, droughts and Tsunamis. These impact communities according to vulnerability level of the community. Impacts of these disasters on communities can be reduced by reducing their vulnerability and increasing their resilience level. Full article

Abstract:Background: Lymph node are located throughout the lymphatic system, they are concentrated in certain areas of the body including head and neck. Cervical lymph nodes are lymph nodes found in the neck. Of the 800 lymph nodes in the human body, 300 are in the neck. Cervical lymph nodes are subject to several different pathological conditions including tumours, infection and inflammation.Methodology: The Povidine-iodine and chlorhexidine for preoperative skin preparation in cervical lymph node biopsy procedure were used in this study and patients were asked for follow up after a week. On follow up day their wounds were checked, assessed and withdraw all stiches and complications were recorded accordingly and analysed them. It was discussed and showed that which one of Povidine-iodine and chlorhexidine is best to use for preoperative skin preparation in cervical lymph node biopsy procedures to reduce surgical site infection and economical one.Results: Out of 150 patients, 46% (69) were males and 54% (81) were females that had cervical lymphadenopathy after skin preparation by chlorhexidine antiseptic solution showed frequency of infection in total of 150 patients 16.67% (25) were infected while the other 83.33%(125) were not infected. Out of 150 patients who were underwent cervical lymphadenopathy after using povidine iodine skin preparatory antiseptic solution, 42% (63) were males and 58% (87) were females and among those frequency of infection showed 44.67% (67) were infected while the others 55.33% (83) were not.Conclusion: Preoperative scrubbing of the patient’s skin with chlorhexidine–alcohol is better than scrubbing with povidone–iodine for preventing surgical-site infection after cervical lymph node biopsy. Full article

Background: Hepatitis C virus is a blood-borne virus where the most common modes of its transmission are unsafe injection practices, inadequate sterilization of medical equipment, and transfusion of unscreened blood and blood products. Approximately, 130–150 million people globally are suffering from chronic hepatitis C infection. A significant number of these chronically infected will develop liver cirrhosis or liver cancer subsequently. Approximately 500,000 people die of hepatitis C related liver diseases every year. This study aimed to describe personal characteristics, knowledge of respondents and to find out association of these factors with perceptions about Hepatitis C. The study also aimed to focus on perceptions (perceived susceptibility, severity and cues to action) of general population and finding association between their perceptions and health-related behaviors.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in Layyah city situated in Punjab province. Total of 423 male participants were selected through multistage sampling from general population of district Layyah. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data.Results: Out of 423 respondents, participants with the poor level of knowledge had right perceptions about hepatitis C (16.8%). 82.7% of the respondents were aware about the availability of hepatitis C treatment. Highest perceptions were observed in age group of 21-25 years old (39.7%), unmarried (73.0%), Saraiki (58.2%) and unemployed population (45.9%). People with less myth had the right perceptions about the hepatitis C.Conclusion: Increasing age, unmarried status and ethnicity were associated with right perceptions shown by respondents. Knowledge remained significant in showing association with perceptions about hepatitis C. General population perceived their susceptibility, severity of consequences and cues to actions were connecting them to show right perceptions overall. Relatives, colleagues and TV were common source of information about hepatitis C respectively. Full article