Application of geographical information system (GIS) for mapping road traffic injuries using existing source of data in Karachi, Pakistan--a pilot study

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of using Geographical Information System for mapping of road traffic injuries with an existing data source in a developing country. METHODS: The study was a retrospectives case series of road traffic injury cases registered with the medico-legal office located in the three major trauma centers in Karachi for the period of January 1, 2004 till December 31st, 2004. Spatial data analysis was performed using ARCVIEW 3.1. RESULTS: Out of 3650 of all road traffic injury, only 3% had locations detailed and accurate enough allowing mapping on a GIS map in the first attempt. Even after using detailed town maps and field exercises more than a quarter cases (n=1088; 30%) of road traffic injuries (RTIs) could not be properly located. We identified 25 areas of one kilometer or less in Karachi accounting for 27% of all RTIs. Five corridors of road measuring 27.7 km accounted for 590 (23%) of all RTIs with known locations. CONCLUSIONS: Existing sources of data from the medico-legal system in Karachi failed to provide exact information on crash site. Such datasets can however be used to define high risk areas/neighbourhoods

Factors associated with hydrocarbon ingestion in children

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the types of hydrocarbon ingested by children and identify factors associated with hydrocarbons ingestion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: It was a hospital based case control study in which medical records of sixty seven children with hydrocarbon ingestion, admitted through emergency department between January 2001 to December 2005 of Aga Khan Hospital were reviewed. Variables such as age, sex, types of hydrocarbons, amount ingested, socioeconomic status, family size, number of children, type of containers, trend of ingestion during hot weather, length of stay at hospital along with the outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: Out of 67 patients, 53 (79%) were male and 14 (21%) were female. Majority of children 36 (54%) were between the ages 2-5 years. Kerosene oil 59 (88%) was the most commonly ingested hydrocarbons. Socioeconomically 48 (71%) children belonged to lower middle class. Children with large family size (\u3e or = 3 siblings/family) were more commonly affected. Hydrocarbon were mostly 41 (61%) stored in beverages and mineral water bottles. The accident occurred in 43 (65%) during summer, whereas 34 (56%) patients had presented with fever and cough. Consolidation of lungs was found in 38 (56%) cases. Majority 53 (79%) of the patients were discharged from the hospital within the first 24 hours of admission. Male, age \u3c 2 years, large family size, poor socioeconomic status, hot weather (afternoon and summer vacations), kerosene oil, unsafe containers were the major factors loading to hydrocarbon ingestion in this study. CONCLUSION: There is a need for strategic planning with parent awareness programs to reduce the hydrocarbon poisoning in our children

Posttraumatic stress disorder and psychiatric comorbidity following the 2010 flood in Pakistan: Exposure characteristics, cognitive distortions, and emotional suppression

© 2014 Washington School of Psychiatry. This study investigated the extent of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and psychiatric comorbidity among the 2010 flood victims in Pakistan and its relationship with disaster exposure characteristics, cognitive distortions, and emotional suppression. One hundred and thirty-one (F = 89, iM = 42) flood victims were assessed using the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale, the General Health Questionnaire-28, the Cognitive Distortion Scales, and the Courtauld Emotional Control Scale. The results showed that all victims met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and scored above the cut-off for psychiatric caseness. Partial least squares modelling showed that disaster exposure characteristics were significantly correlated with PTSD and psychiatric comorbidity. Disaster exposure characteristics were also significantly associated with cognitive distortions which in turn were also significantly associated with PTSD and psychiatric comorbidity. Cognitive distortions were also correlated with emotional suppression which, however, was not associated with PTSD or psychiatric comorbidity. To conclude, the flood victims reported PTSD and psychiatric comorbid symptoms which were related to their subjective exposure to the flood. Such exposure led to the development of dysfunctional thinking patterns which in turn influenced distress symptoms

Diagnosis of enteric fever in the emergency department: a retrospective study from Pakistan

Background:Enteric fever is one of the top differential diagnoses of fever in many parts of the world. Generally, the diagnosis is suspected and treatment is initiated based on clinical and basic laboratory parameters.Aims: The present study identifies the clinical and laboratory parameters predicting enteric fever in Patients visiting the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan.Methods:This is a retrospective chart review of all adult Patients with clinically suspected enteric fever admitted to the hospital through the emergency department during a 5-year period (2000-2005).Results:A total of 421 emergency department Patients were admitted to the hospital with suspected enteric fever. There were 53 cases of blood culture-positive enteric fever and 296 disease-negative cases on culture. The mean age in the blood culture-positive group was 27 years (SD: 10) and in the group with negative blood culture for enteric fever, 35 years (SD: 15) with a male to female ratio of 1:0.6 in both groups. Less than half (48%) of all Patients admitted with suspected enteric fever had the discharge diagnosis of enteric fever, of which only 13% of the Patients had blood culture/serologically confirmed enteric fever. None of the common clinical and laboratory parameters differed between enteric fever-positive Patients and those without it.Conclusion:Commonly cited clinical and laboratory parameters were not able to predict enteric fever

Exploring Sex and/or Gender Disparities in STEMM Research Grant Funding - A Scoping Review Protocol

This scoping review aims to comprehensively map the existing knowledge landscape concerning sex and/or gender disparities in research grant funding within the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM). Recognizing that research funding serves as a cornerstone for academic and professional advancement in STEMM, the review seeks to explore how sex and/or gender dynamics influence the allocation of these crucial resources. The project will employ a multi-faceted search strategy, beginning with an exploratory scan of MEDLINE and extending to databases such as Embase Ovid, PsycINFO, and Web of Science, among others. We will also delve into grey literature platforms like OpenGrey and GoogleScholar to ensure a comprehensive understanding. The inclusion criteria for the review are stringent, focusing on studies that explicitly report outcomes based on the sex and/or gender of researchers and provide data on grant applications, research funding awards, and the amount of funding awarded. Preliminary searches indicate a gap in the existing literature, as no ongoing systematic or scoping reviews on the subject have been identified. The findings of this review will be presented using a variety of data visualization tools, including graphs and tables, to illustrate the distribution of studies by year, STEMM area, study design, and sex and/or gender. We aim to identify and characterize gaps that exist in the understanding of the grant application landscape in STEMM, both within our research team and the broader academic community. Our focus is specifically on the impact of sex and/or gender differences on funding outcomes