Data_Sheet_4_Contextualizing the standard maternal continuum of care in Pakistan: an application of revised recommendation of the World Health Organization.docx

ObjectiveThis study utilizes recent nationally representative data to contextualize the standard maternal continuum of care (SMCoC) in Pakistan. The revised SMCoC framework encompasses at least eight antenatal care visits, skilled birth attendants during delivery, and postnatal care within 48 h of childbirth.MethodsThe study used a sample of 3,887 ever-married women aged 15–49 from the latest Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) conducted in 2017–18. Several statistical methods were employed: descriptive statistics, bivariate, multilevel logistic regression models, and Fairlie decomposition analysis.ResultsOnly 12% of women had accessed full SMCoC services in Pakistan. Education and the wealth quintile emerged as pivotal factors influencing the utilization of SMCoC. The likelihood of full SMCC utilization was more likely among higher educated women (OR: 3.37; 95% CI: 2.16–5.25) and those belonging to the wealthiest household wealth quintile (OR: 4.95; 95% CI: 2.33–5.51). Media exposure, autonomy, healthcare accessibility, residence, and region were also identified as significant predictors of SMCoC utilization among women.ConclusionIn conclusion, while most women did not utilize full SMCoC services in Pakistan, the pattern is substantially varied by background characteristics. Education, wealth quintile, mass media exposure, and autonomy were significant factors, along with geographical aspects such as healthcare accessibility and region. The study underscores the need for a multifaceted approach to ensure equitable access to full SMCoC services for women in Pakistan, addressing individual, socioeconomic, and geographical factors.</p

Data_Sheet_3_Contextualizing the standard maternal continuum of care in Pakistan: an application of revised recommendation of the World Health Organization.docx

ObjectiveThis study utilizes recent nationally representative data to contextualize the standard maternal continuum of care (SMCoC) in Pakistan. The revised SMCoC framework encompasses at least eight antenatal care visits, skilled birth attendants during delivery, and postnatal care within 48 h of childbirth.MethodsThe study used a sample of 3,887 ever-married women aged 15–49 from the latest Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) conducted in 2017–18. Several statistical methods were employed: descriptive statistics, bivariate, multilevel logistic regression models, and Fairlie decomposition analysis.ResultsOnly 12% of women had accessed full SMCoC services in Pakistan. Education and the wealth quintile emerged as pivotal factors influencing the utilization of SMCoC. The likelihood of full SMCC utilization was more likely among higher educated women (OR: 3.37; 95% CI: 2.16–5.25) and those belonging to the wealthiest household wealth quintile (OR: 4.95; 95% CI: 2.33–5.51). Media exposure, autonomy, healthcare accessibility, residence, and region were also identified as significant predictors of SMCoC utilization among women.ConclusionIn conclusion, while most women did not utilize full SMCoC services in Pakistan, the pattern is substantially varied by background characteristics. Education, wealth quintile, mass media exposure, and autonomy were significant factors, along with geographical aspects such as healthcare accessibility and region. The study underscores the need for a multifaceted approach to ensure equitable access to full SMCoC services for women in Pakistan, addressing individual, socioeconomic, and geographical factors.</p

Data_Sheet_1_Rural mothers' beliefs and practices about diagnosis, treatment, and management of children health problems: A qualitative study in marginalized Southern Pakistan.PDF

IntroductionAppropriate health-seeking beliefs and practices are indispensable for the survival and development of children. In this study, we explore childcare beliefs and practices of rural mothers and analyze the different ways childhood illness is diagnosed and managed in a marginalized rural community in Southern Pakistan.MethodsUsing purposive sampling, in-depth interviews are conducted to obtain qualitative data from 20 illiterate and rural mothers in addition to 15 healthcare providers in the district Rajanpur of South Punjab.Results and discussionThe findings reveal that rural mothers' access to healthcare and therapeutic programs is impeded due to geographical isolation, structural inequalities, poverty, and illiteracy. Consequently, evil eyes, witchcraft, and spirits are recognized as potential threats to children's health and nutrition. Therefore, the treatment of childhood morbidity and malnutrition is mostly performed with folk, domestic, herbal, magico-religious remedies, and spiritual healing methods. The current study also highlights that many low-income and rural mothers tend to normalize childhood illness when they become unable to advocate for their children's health and nutrition. Besides improving low-income mothers' access to healthcare facilities, health education and risk communication at the field level through field health staff could be most effective for health promotion.</p

Data_Sheet_2_Contextualizing the standard maternal continuum of care in Pakistan: an application of revised recommendation of the World Health Organization.docx

ObjectiveThis study utilizes recent nationally representative data to contextualize the standard maternal continuum of care (SMCoC) in Pakistan. The revised SMCoC framework encompasses at least eight antenatal care visits, skilled birth attendants during delivery, and postnatal care within 48 h of childbirth.MethodsThe study used a sample of 3,887 ever-married women aged 15–49 from the latest Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) conducted in 2017–18. Several statistical methods were employed: descriptive statistics, bivariate, multilevel logistic regression models, and Fairlie decomposition analysis.ResultsOnly 12% of women had accessed full SMCoC services in Pakistan. Education and the wealth quintile emerged as pivotal factors influencing the utilization of SMCoC. The likelihood of full SMCC utilization was more likely among higher educated women (OR: 3.37; 95% CI: 2.16–5.25) and those belonging to the wealthiest household wealth quintile (OR: 4.95; 95% CI: 2.33–5.51). Media exposure, autonomy, healthcare accessibility, residence, and region were also identified as significant predictors of SMCoC utilization among women.ConclusionIn conclusion, while most women did not utilize full SMCoC services in Pakistan, the pattern is substantially varied by background characteristics. Education, wealth quintile, mass media exposure, and autonomy were significant factors, along with geographical aspects such as healthcare accessibility and region. The study underscores the need for a multifaceted approach to ensure equitable access to full SMCoC services for women in Pakistan, addressing individual, socioeconomic, and geographical factors.</p

The Fear of COVID-19 Scale: Its Structure and Measurement Invariance Across 48 Countries

COVID-19 has been a source of fear around the world. We asked whether the measurement of this fear is trust worthy and comparable across countries. In particular, we explored the measurement invariance and cross-cultural replicability of the widely-used Fear of COVID-19scale(FCV-19S), testing community samples from 48countries (N= 14,558). The findings indicate that the FCV-19Shas a somewhat problematic structure, yet the one-factor solution is replicable across cultural contexts and could be used in studies that compare people who vary on gender and educational level. The validity of the scale is supported by a consistent pattern of positive correlations with perceived stress and general anxiety. However, given the unclear structure of the FCV-19S, we recommend using latent factor scores, instead of raw scores, especially in cross-cultural comparisons

Grandiose narcissism, unfounded beliefs, and behavioral reactions during the COVID-19 pandemic

A theoretical perspective on grandiose narcissism suggests four forms of it (sanctity, admiration, heroism, rivalry) and states that these forms conduce to different ways of thinking and acting. Guided by this perspective, we examined in a multinational and multicultural study (61 countries; N = 15,039) how narcissism forms are linked to cognitions and behaviors prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As expected, differences in cognitions and behaviors across narcissism forms emerged. For example, higher narcissistic rivalry predicted lower likelihood of enactment of COVID-19 prevention behaviors, but higher narcissistic sanctity predicted higher likelihood of enactment of COVID-19 prevention behaviors. Further, whereas the heroism, admiration, and rivalry narcissism forms acted in a typically antisocial manner, with high narcissism predicting greater endorsement of unfounded health beliefs, the sanctity form acted in a prosocial manner, with higher narcissism being linked to lower endorsement of unfounded COVID-19 health beliefs. Thus, the findings (a) support the idea of four narcissism forms acting differently, and (b) show that these differences reflect a double-edged sword, sometimes linking to an anti-social orientation, and sometimes linking to a pro-social orientation.</p