Pakistan’s Trade Performance vis-à-vis Its Major Trading Partners

In contrast to earlier empirical research that documents the import and export price elasticities at an aggregate level, this article estimates bilateral price and income impacts on Pakistan’s trade performance with its four major trading partners, i.e., USA, UK, Germany, and Japan. Using quarterly data for the period 1982-I–1996-IV and the Three-stage Least Square technique, the study documents the impact of real devaluation, real income, export incentives, and domestic inflation on trade performance with respect to each of the four trading partners.

Pakistan’s Trade Performance vis-à-vis Its Major Trading Partners

In contrast to earlier empirical research that documents the import and export price elasticities at an aggregate level, this article estimates bilateral price and income impacts on Pakistan’s trade performance with its four major trading partners, i.e., USA, UK, Germany, and Japan. Using quarterly data for the period 1982-I-1996-IV and the Three-stage Least Square technique, the study documents the impact of real devaluation, real income, export incentives, and domestic inflation on trade performance with respect to each of the four trading partners

Violence against Children: A Challenge for Public Health in Pakistan

World Health Organization has identified violence against children as a growing public-health issue with a global magnitude. This paper explored violence against children as a challenge in the developing world using Pakistan as a case study. A systematic review of existing research and literature on violence against children was followed by assessing the magnitude of this challenge and its impact on policy. Most research done in Pakistan is observational, descriptive, and anecdotal with data collected through survey methods and interviews with small sample sizes. The findings suggest that the confluence of macro risk factors, such as poverty, poor legal protections, illiteracy, large family size, and unemployment, create an enabling environment for violence against children. Lack of empirical data makes it difficult to assess the magnitude of this issue. The health problems reported and the extent of human potential destroyed are unknown. Conclusion calls for focused research to examine the prevalence, potential interventions, and policies in Pakistan

Perception of Visually Impaired Youth about Familial, Academic and Caregivers Support

The present study was an endeavor to explore the perception of visually impaired about familial academic and caregivers support Study aimed to explore the difference in the perception of support of visually impaired youth living in the residential institute A questionnaire consisting of 28 items was develop through standardizes procedure and used for data collection The sample of the study was consisted of 100 students Among them 28 were boys and 22 were girls ages ranged from 15 to 22 years they belong to different socioeconomic status The present study unfold various aspects of familial academic and residential life of visually impaired male and female students experienced lack of social support by caregivers visually impaired male students experienced most of problems due to non cooperative attitude of caregivers students who stay longer hours in hostel face more difficulties students who are receiving higher education face more problems as compared to students of secondary and intermediate level Study indicates that visually impaired students perceived lack of social support due the people those are near to them Finding of the study confirm that the performance and attitude of caregivers are not satisfactory moreover residential facilities are also not enough On the basis of results it is suggested that the excellence of family unit and institutional psychosocial support may provided to visually impaired students because it play a vital role for their successive achievement and success in practical lif

Violence Against Children: A Challenge for Public Health in Pakistan

World Health Organization has identified violence against children as a growing public-health issue with a global magnitude. This paper explored violence against children as a challenge in the deve-loping world using Pakistan as a case study. A systematic review of existing research and literature on violence against children was followed by assessing the magnitude of this challenge and its impact on policy. Most research done in Pakistan is observational, descriptive, and anecdotal with data col\uadlected through survey methods and interviews with small sample sizes. The findings suggest that the confluence of macro risk factors, such as poverty, poor legal protections, illiteracy, large family size, and unemployment, create an enabling environment for violence against children. Lack of empiri\uadcal data makes it difficult to assess the magnitude of this issue. The health problems reported and the extent of human potential destroyed are unknown. Conclusion calls for focused research to examine the prevalence, potential interventions, and policies in Pakistan

Categorization of Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) Deficiency on the Basis of Enzyme Activity and its Clinico Haematological Correlation

Objective: To categorize glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency based on enzyme activity and its clinical haematological correlation. Methodology: This Cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Haematology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), Rawalpindi, from February 2022 to August 2022. Sampling was done using the nonprobability consecutive sampling technique. Test analysis included a complete blood picture, RBC morphology and reticulocyte count, G6PD quantitative test, and serum bilirubin. Thus, to categorize G6PDD based on its enzyme and clinic-haematological correlation, study included patients of both gender with an age ranging from 0-76 years. Descriptive statistics were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD) and categorical data were presented as frequency and percentage. Results: Out of 120 study participants, 30 (25%) were females and 90 (75%) were males. The mean age of study participants was 10.83±12.75. G6PD PCR was detected among participants having G6PD deficiency level <1 U/g Hb and between 2-3 U/gm Hb. Hb levels below 8g/dL were found only in individuals with G6PD deficiency levels <1 U/gm Hb. Conclusion: GDPD deficiency can be diagnosed by blood analysis comprising of complete blood count and RBC morphology aided by clinical correlation. The signs and symptoms increase in severity with a decline in GDPD enzyme function along with blood haemoglobin levels

Celiac Disease and Glycemic Control Among Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Objective: To determine the frequency of celiac disease among type 1 diabetic patients and to compare the frequency of adequate glycemic control in patients having T1DM plus CD and T1DM alone. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration: Unit-II, Department of Medicine, Foundation University Medical College, Islamabad. from 16th June 2016 to 16th December 2016 Methodology: Patients were recruited through medical and diabetes OPDs and medical wards. All the relevant information was recorded on a Proforma. In all type 1 diabetics a sample of blood was sent to AFIP for the determination of Anti-tTG (IgA) antibodies; using a commercially available ELISA technique (Pharmacia Upjohn, Sweden) based on recombinant human tTG as antigen. The measuring range of this test is 0.1 - 100 U/ml. We used the cut-offs: anti-tTG IgA ≤ 10 U/ml were considered negative, > 10 U/ml was considered positive. The assay was a quantitative assay. On the same visit, another blood sample was sent for HbA1C estimation.  Results: Total 160 patients were included according to the inclusion criteria of the study. Mean age (years) in the study was 26.58+9.13. There were 83 (51.9) male and 77 (48.1) female patients who were included in the study according to the inclusion criteria. The frequency of celiac disease among type 1 diabetic patients was 42 (26.3) in the study whereas the frequency of adequate glycemic control in patients having T1DM plus CD and T1DM alone was 26 (61.9) and 31 (26.3) respectively. Conclusion: The study concludes that the prevalence of celiac disease in type 1 diabetes mellitus in our own population is high. Furthermore, gluten-free diet effects on glycemic control of type 1 diabetic patients which in screening for celiac disease in type 1 diabetes mellitus patients and to decreased risk of complication of diabetes.&nbsp

Partisipasi Masyarakat Dalam Pengelolaan Hutan Mangrove Sebagai Kawasan Ekowisata (Studi Kasus Dusun Magelo’o Desa Reroroja Kecamatan Magepanda Kabupaten Sikka)

Hutan mangrove di Dusun Magelo’o sudah mulai dimanfaatkan masyarakat dan pemerintah untuk dijadikan kawasan ekowisata. Tetapi, hutan mangrove di Dusun Magelo’o selama ini pengelolaannya belum maksimal dilihat dari masih kurang adanya penyediaan fasilitas penunjang kawasan wisata. Untuk itu partisipasi masyarakat sangat diperlukan dalam pengelolaan kawasan hutan mangrove menjadi kawasan ekowisata. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk 1) mengetahui bentuk pengelolaan hutan mangrove, 2) mengetahui partisipasi masyarakat dalam pengelolaan hutan mangrove sebagai kawasan ekowisata dan 3) mengetahui faktor pendukung dan penghambat partisipasi masyarakat dalam pengelolaan hutan mangrove sebagai kawasan ekowisata. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif dengan jenis penelitian studi kasus. Pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui observasi, wawancara dan dokumentasi. Analisis data dilakukan melalui pengumpulan data, reduksi data, penyajian data dan verification. Hasil penelitian ini diketahui bahwa bentuk pengelolaan kawasan hutan mangrove di Dusun Magelo’o adalah sebagai kawasan konservasi yang juga dimanfaatkan sebagai kawasan ekowisata dan pendidikan. Partisipasi yang diberikan masyarakat berupa pikiran dan tenaga. Tahapan partisipasi terdiri dari perencanaan, pengorganisasian, pelaksanaan, dan monitoring dan evaluasi. Faktor pendukung partisipasi masyarakat di Dusun Magelo’o berupa kesadaran dan kemauan. Sedangkan faktor penghambat pastisipasi masyarakat di Dusun Magelo’o adalah waktu bekerja dan ketergantungan kepada pihak-pihak tertentu. Saran agar penelitian ini dapat dijadikan acuan bagi peneliti lain untuk mengambil judul tentang partisipasi masyarakat dalam pengelolaan hutan mangrove sebagai kawasan ekowisata

Patient and Provider Perspectives on How Trust Influences Maternal Vaccine Acceptance Among Pregnant Women in Kenya

Background Pregnant women and newborns are at high risk for infectious diseases. Altered immunity status during pregnancy and challenges fully vaccinating newborns contribute to this medical reality. Maternal immunization is a strategy to protect pregnant women and their newborns. This study aimed to find out how patient-provider relationships affect maternal vaccine uptake, particularly in the context of a lower middle- income country where limited research in this area exists. Methods We conducted semi-structured, in-depth narrative interviews of both providers and pregnant women from four sites in Kenya: Siaya, Nairobi, Mombasa, and Marsabit. Interviews were conducted in either English or one of the local regional languages. Results We found that patient trust in health care providers (HCPs) is integral to vaccine acceptance among pregnant women in Kenya. The HCP-patient relationship is a fiduciary one, whereby the patients’ trusts is primarily rooted in the provider’s social position as a person who is highly educated in matters of health. Furthermore, patient health education and provider attitudes are crucial for reinstating and fostering that trust, especially in cases where trust was impeded by rumors, community myths and misperceptions, and religious and cultural factors. Conclusion Patient trust in providers is a strong facilitator contributing to vaccine acceptance among pregnant women in Kenya. To maintain and increase immunization trust, providers have a critical role in cultivating a positive environment that allows for favorable interactions and patient health education. This includes educating providers on maternal immunizations and enhancing knowledge of effective risk communication tactics in clinical encounters

Respiratory syncytial virus-associated mortality among young infants in Karachi, Pakistan: A prospective postmortem surveillance study

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an important cause of infant morbidity and mortality and a potential target for maternal immunization strategies. However, data on the role of RSV in young infant deaths in developing countries are limited.Methods: We conducted a community-based mortality surveillance from August 2018-March 2020 for infants ≤6 months in Karachi, Pakistan. We tested (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) nasopharyngeal swabs from deceased infants for presence of RSV. We performed verbal autopsies and calculated odds of RSV-associated mortality with 95% CIs and used multivariable logistic regression to evaluate associations.Results: We collected 490 nasopharyngeal specimens from 1280 eligible infant deaths. There were 377/490 (76.9%) live births and 14/377 (3.7%; 95% CI: 1.8-5.6) were RSV positive. Most deaths occurred in neonates (254/377; 67.4%), males (226/377; 59.9%), and respiratory illnesses (206/377; 54.6%). Postneonatal age (10/14, 71.4%; OR: 5.5; 95% CI: 1.7-18.0), respiratory symptoms (12/14, 85.7%; OR: 5.2; 1.2-23.7), and high RSV season (9/14, 64.3%; OR: 4.4; 1.4-13.3) were associated with RSV mortality. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, respiratory symptoms (OR: 6.6; 95% CI: 1.3-32.5), RSV seasonality (6.1; 1.8-20.4), and age (9.2; 2.6-33.1) were significant predictors of RSV-associated mortality.Conclusions: RSV has a significant mortality burden in early infancy in Karachi, Pakistan. Age, RSV seasonality, and respiratory symptoms were significant predictors of RSV-associated mortality. Our findings have implications for clinical management of young infants with cold-like symptoms, policy development, and research regarding maternal immunization against RSV during pregnancy, in resource-constrained, low-income, and vaccine-hesitant populations