Emergency Contraception: Knowledge and Attitudes of Family Physicians of a Teaching Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan

This study was conducted to assess the knowledge of family medicine providers and their attitudes towards emergency contraception in a teaching hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. A 21-item questionnaire containing the demographic profile of respondents and questions concerning knowledge of and attitudes towards emergency contraception was distributed among participants. In total, 45 interviews were conducted, with a response rate of 100%, with faculty physicians (33%), residents (27%), medical officers (40%), 36% male and 64% female physicians; of them, the majority (64%) were married. Although the large majority (71%) of the respondents reported considerable familiarity with emergency contraception, objective assessment revealed deficiencies in their knowledge. About 38% of the participants incorrectly chose menstrual irregularity as the most common side-effect of progestin-only emergency contraception pills, and only 33% answered that emergency contraception was not an abortifacient while 42% were unsure. Forty percent of the physicians prescribed emergency contraception in the past. The large majority (71%) of the physicians were familiar with emergency contraception, yet deficiencies in knowledge inaccuracies were identified. Barriers to its use were identified as ‘it will promote promiscuity’ (31%), religious/ethical reasons (27%), liability (40%), teratogenicity (44%), and inexperience (40%). Overall attitudes regarding emergency contraception were positive; however, most (82%) physicians were unsatisfied with their current knowledge of emergency contraception, and there was a discrepancy between perceptions of physicians and actual knowledge. Interventions providing education to family physicians regarding emergency contraception is strongly recommended

A WORKFLOW MODEL TO SUPPORT LOCATION BASED PARTICIPATION TO POLICY MAKING PROCESSES

This paper aims to propose PMWF model, a new workflow model to automate ubiquitous policy making processes and facilitate citizen participation. While workflow technology has been widely adopted in public sector, the use of technology is mostly limited to supporting back-end administrative business processes. PMWF model targets front-end policy making processes that require active participation of large number of citizens. Automatic delivery of relevant policy issues into citizen’s life is expected to enhance their participation in policy formulation and implementation processes. PMWF model provides modelling constructs to link back-end admin tasks by policy makers to front-end opinion tasks whose main actors are citizens. The core constructs for linkage is opinion-tag which contains policy issues and is attached to geographical objects so that citizens can identify relevant policy issues in the middle of their every-day life patterns. The proposed model is applied to real world policy making processes in the UK and Turkey to show its generality

In vitro propagation of Gladiolus dalenii from the callus through the culture of corm slices

Production of sufficient numbers of plants of a unique genotype is possible using in vitro culture system. In this study, the effects of various concentrations and combinations of plant growth regulators for in vitro regeneration of gladiolus were used with corm fractions as explants. Thus, an efficient in vitro propagation method was developed for Gladiolus dalenii using corm slices as explants. The highest rate of 90% explants for callus induction was observed on MS medium supplemented with 7.5 mg/L NAA after culture initiation of 90 days. Calli responded to form well developed shoots on transferring to medium containing MS + 0.5 mg/L BA + 0.5 mg/L Kin, in which 70% of the cultured calli responded to produce shoots. The average number of shoot per culture calli was 20 ± 2.40 and the average shoot lengths of 4.50 ± 0.45 cm were achieved in this medium after culture of 60 days. Recurrent callus induction and continuous plant regeneration were also observed in the same medium during the passage of shoot induction period. Shoots rooted well when they were excised individually and implanted on half-strength MS medium supplemented with 2.5 mg/L IBA, which resulted 90% shoot induced roots after culture of 30 days. The average number of root per shoot was 10 ± 1.20 and the average root length of 5.5 ± 0.70 cm was observed in this medium. Eighty percent (80) of the in vitro raised plantlets were survived in the natural environment

Knowledge of emergency contraception among women of childbearing age at a teaching hospital of Karachi

OBJECTIVES: To assess knowledge and attitudes about Emergency Contraception among women of childbearing age in Karachi, Pakistan. METHODS: A questionnaire based survey was conducted on 400 married women, attending the family practice clinics at a teaching hospital in Karachi, Pakistan from July to December 2006. Questionnaire was administered to women at the family practice clinic-seeking level of knowledge of emergency contraception (EC) and attitudes towards its use, Ethical requirements of informed consent and confidentiality were ensured Data was entered into Epi data and analyzed in SPSS.RESULTS: Eighty-eight percent of women were not aware of EC. 83% were housewives. Only a small number (11.5%) ever used EC to prevent pregnancy, out of those, the correct timing of effectiveness of post-coital pill was known to only 40% of women while none of these women were aware of the existence of Intra Uterine Contraceptive Device (IUCD) insertion as an option for EC About 50% of women identified general practitioners or family medicine clinics as their main sources of knowledge about EC. Increased advertising was considered desirable by 72% while 37% considered over the counter availability of EC pill desirable and only 36% of women were uncomfortable to use EC because of religious reasons. CONCLUSION: EC has a potential to offer women an important option for fertility control. Lack of women\u27s knowledge about EC use and availability may account in part for its limited use. There is a need to improve women\u27s education about EC. The primary health care providers can play a major role in informing their patients about emergency contraception

The relationship between male factor infertility and Chlamydia infection, still an undecided issue

Background: Seropositivity of Chlamydia trachomatis in men is suggestive of chronic and recurrent infection with this sexually transmitted organism. Most males with urogenital Chlamydia infection have serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to C. trachomatis that persist for years. Serologic studies linking C. trachomatis to male infertility and sperm quality lead to highly variable results. The objective of the study was to examine the effect of Chlamydia infection, as determined by Chlamydia seropositivity on semen quality.Methods: One hundred men having semen analysis as part of infertility work up had anti-Chlamydia antibody test. They were grouped into those who are seropositive for Chlamydia antibody IgG and those who were not. The sperm parameters and prevalence of different semen abnormalities were compared between the two groups, Chlamydia positive and Chlamydia negative.Results: There are no significant difference in semen parameters and prevalence of different semen abnormalities between the two groups. The sonographical finding of epididymal cyst is 45.8% in Chlamydia positive compared to 12.2% in Chlamydia negative; the difference is significant.Conclusions: Seropositivity of Chlamydia infection in infertile male is not predictive of semen abnormalities. Serological screening of the male partner for Chlamydia trachomatis provides no more benefit than identifying the female partner at risk of tubal factor infertility and males at risk of epididymal obstruction

Emergency Contraception: Knowledge and Attitudes of Family Physicians of a Teaching Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan

This study was conducted to assess the knowledge of family medicine providers and their attitudes towards emergency contraception in a teaching hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. A 21-item questionnaire containing the demographic profile of respondents and questions concerning knowledge of and attitudes towards emergency contraception was distributed among participants. In total, 45 interviews were conducted, with a response rate of 100%, with faculty physicians (33%), residents (27%), medical officers (40%), 36% male and 64% female physicians; of them, the majority (64%) were married. Although the large majority (71%) of the respondents reported considerable familiarity with emergency contraception, objective assessment revealed deficiencies in their knowledge. About 38% of the participants incorrectly chose menstrual irregularity as the most common side-effect of progestin-only emergency contraception pills, and only 33% answered that emergency contraception was not an abortifacient while 42% were unsure. Forty percent of the physicians prescribed emergency contraception in the past. The large majority (71%) of the physicians were familiar with emergency contraception, yet deficiencies in knowledge inaccuracies were identified. Barriers to its use were identified as 'it will promote promiscuity' (31%), religious/ethical reasons (27%), liability (40%), teratogenicity (44%), and inexperience (40%). Overall attitudes regarding emergency contraception were positive; however, most (82%) physicians were unsatisfied with their current knowledge of emergency contraception, and there was a discrepancy between perceptions of physicians and actual knowledge. Interventions providing education to family physicians regarding emergency contraception is strongly recommended

Effects of drying methods on total phenolic contents and antioxidant capacity of the pomelo (Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck) peels

Pomelo (Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck) is an important cultivar of the Citrus genus, which contains a number of nutrients advantageous to human health. Non-edible parts of pomelo consist of flavedo, albedo, lamella and waste obtained from juice extraction (pulp waste). The peels are also thought to be part of waste products, which generally being discarded. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to evaluate changes in total phenolic contents (TPC) and antioxidant activity of processed pomelo peels after oven drying (50 and 60 °C) and freeze drying treatments in comparison with fresh pomelo peels. A slightly different (4%–6%) in TPC was observed in oven dried pomelo peels in comparison with fresh peels, indicating that there was a slightly effect of post-drying methods on retaining the antioxidant potential of these natural byproducts. In vitro assays revealed that post-drying methods involved oven drying exerted a higher TPC compared to freeze drying in overall parts of pomelo byproducts. Highest retention of bioactive compounds was found in fresh pomelo peels (437–1876 mg GAE/100 g DM), followed by oven dried at 50 and 60 °C (892–1336 mg GAE/100 g DM), and freeze dried (555–1267 mg GAE/100 g DM). In terms of oven dried pomelo byproducts, the highest TPC was retained in albedo (1337 mg GAE/100 g DW), followed by flavedo (1226 mg GAE/100 g DW), lamella (998 mg GAE/100 g DW) and pulp waste (962 mg GAE/100 g DW) respectively. Therefore, oven drying was the most suitable post-drying method to retain the bioactive compounds for pomelo byproducts. This knowledge may inspire consumer or pomelo industry operators to re-evaluate their byproducts, reduce the waste and expand the application of pomelo fruits