Tariff Reduction, Fiscal Adjustment and Poverty in Pakistan: a CGE-Based Analysis

After more than four decades of protective trade policy, Pakistan undertook substantial trade liberalization beginning in the 1990s. We assess the short- and long-run impacts of trade liberalization (full and partial) on household incomes, welfare, and poverty under various fiscal scenarios. A computable general equilibrium (CGE) model of the Pakistan economy for the year 1990 is used with 10 household categories (identified by employment status in urban areas and by land holdings in rural areas), 12 production activities, and two factors of production. Our general conclusion is that trade reform improves the average welfare of urban households but reduces the welfare of rural households. In both regions, the rich generally benefit, whereas the poor lose out. The fall in urban poverty dominates the increase in rural poverty such that overall poverty is reduced.Trade policy, fiscal adjustment, welfare and poverty, CGE

Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus infection among the diagnosed tuberculosis patients in Karachi, Pakistan

Background: People living with HIV are from 26-31 times more likely to develop TB than persons without HIV. TB is the most common presenting illness among people living with HIV, including among those taking antiretroviral treatment and it is the major cause of HIV-related death. HIV/AIDS has driven TB epidemics in a number of countries including Pakistan where Tuberculosis is endemic and is a major public health challenge. People living with HIV/AIDS continue to be a group at high risk for tuberculosis (TB). National surveillance is important to indicate the magnitude and burden of both diseases. To control the problem, the WHO recommends the establishment of coordinated strategy for both diseases. In this study we aimed to determine the prevalence of HIV/AIDS among diagnosed Tuberculosis (TB) patients in Karachi, Pakistan.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted, in the year 2015 among the diagnosed TB patients to detect TB/HIV co-infection in the two selected sentinel sites of Karachi, Pakistan. Trained investigators used a standardized multiple-choice and open-ended questionnaire to collect the data regarding demographic profile and collected samples for HIV tests of identified cases. Written informed consent was obtained and questionnaire was completed by respondents selected through simple random sampling. 1257 TB patients underwent the rapid assay for HIV serological testing and subsequent ELISA test was done for confirmation of the HIV. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 20.0 and Microsoft excel.Results: Among the 1257 patients tested 680 (54%) were men and 577 (46%) women and largest number of patients 56% belonged to the age group 19-40 years. In our study prevalence of HIV among identified Tuberculosis patients was 1.4%.Conclusions: The prevalence of HIV/AIDS among Tuberculosis patients is 1.4%. Future research needs to be directed toward this sensitive issue and social support programs with treatment services should be ensured for HIV positive TB patients to reduce the disparities in provision of health services for this vulnerable stratum of our society.

Repurposing factories with robotics in the face of COVID-19

Can collaborative robots ramp-up the production of medical ventilators

Assessing knowledge of lady health workers regarding sexually transmitted infections in rural Pakistan

Background: In a conservative culture with limited social mobility like Pakistan, a lady health worker (LHW) provides a valuable opportunity for women with STIs to be diagnosed early, referred for appropriate treatment, and can counsel regarding further prevention. The study was intended to assess LHWs knowledge regarding early assessment and referral of women with STIs in a rural area of Pakistan.Methods: This descriptive cross sectional study was conducted at health centers in a district of interior Sindh, Pakistan called Badin. A sample of 105 lady health workers were recruited using systemic random sampling technique, during six months from September 2015 to March 2016. Data were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed using IBM SPSS version 22 and Microsoft excel.Results: Majority (29%) of LHWs were aged between 25 and 29 years. Half sample (51%) of LHWs were educated up to middle school and 6% were intermediate. Eighty-five percent respondents were married. More than half (59%) of LHWs were trained regarding STIs and 21.9% got the special training for it. Among them, 59% of respondents defined STIs correctly. Two thirds (67.6%) of participants knew the meaning of safe sex. One third (37%) of sample was aware of complications due to STIs during pregnancy. Two fifth of LHWs (40%) stated to refer the women with suspected STIs to the hospital for confirmation and further intervention. Near half of LHWs (48%) recommended the use of condom for prevention.Conclusions: The current study concludes that there are gaps in knowledge of LHWs regarding STIs which makes it unsatisfactory. Therefore in service periodical sensitization and advocacy workshops and trainings of these LHWs are recommended to fill information gaps, remove misinformation and provide quality information in a way that is linked to the women’s reproductive health in Pakistan

Legal Framework to Control at Disposal Point Source Urban and Industrial Effluents of Hyderabad City into Pinyari (Old Phulleli) Canal off-taking from Kotri Barrage, Sindh

Pinyari (old Phulleli) canal off-takes from left bank of Kotri barrage is last Hydraulic structure on Indus river. This canal is passing from periphery of Hyderabad city and its design discharge is 13,636 cusecs which supplies fresh water not only for agricultural, industrial purpose and drinking purpose for the several towns and villages because groundwater in its command area is highly saline and not drinkable. The cottage factories and Hyderabad industrial area are located on nearby banks of canal. Hence, effluents from city and industrial SITE area are directly disposed off into the canal. The disposal of untreated wastewater created health and environmental safety problem. This paper presents that the analyzed results of water quality parameter ie pH, TDS, EC, Na, hardness, K, Mg, Mn, DO and BOD of collacted samples exhibit TDS 6%, K 20%, DO 67% and BOD 54%, respectively exceeded permissible limit. While pH, Na, hardness and Mn found within prescribed limits. Total coliform /E.coli (MPN/100ml) were found positive. Furthermore, the result of Water Quality Index (WQI) model reveals that water quality of canal of collected samples varies from excellent to very poor that reveals canal water is unsuitable for drinking purpose and aquatic life and also causes various waterborne diseases. Therefore, the local people are facing serious health problem by consuming water canal. With an attempt to ensure enforcement of environmental water laws in Sindh province of Pakistan for preventing degrading clean water. These environmental water laws have already been framed, but due to lake of enforcement, water pollution problems are increasing day by day. The enforcement of environmental water laws are very essential to control water pollution for safety of human health, and ecology in Sindh, Pakistan

Biomarkers for impending risk of osteoporosis in premenopausal women

Objective: To compare \u27cytokines\u27 and \u27bone turnover markers\u27 in pre- and post-menopausal women and identify their relationship with bone mineral density (BMD) in both groups. Study Design: A cross-sectional study.Place and duration of study: Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan, from June 2017 to August 2019.Methodology: Groups comprised of healthy premenopausal and postmenopausal women from the general population belonging to different ethnic groups and socio-economic status. Serum cytokines and bone turnover markers were assessed by solid-phase immunoassays, BMD (gm /cm2)] measurement was performed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at the hip, lumbar spine, and proximal femur. Results were interpreted as a sum of T scores calculated by BMD of the above-mentioned sites.Results: Cytokines and bone turnover markers were significantly high in post-menopausal women (p\u3c0.001). A negative correlation (r = 0.32) of TNF α with BMD (total T scores) observed in premenopausal women was found to be significant, however, no significant association of BMD was detected in post-menopausal women.Conclusion: There is an increase in the production of cytokines and bone turnover markers after menopause. TNF-α follows this usual pattern of increase in post-menopausal women and can predict impending bone loss and osteopenia in premenopausal females. Therefore, estimation of this cytokine in pre-menopausal women can give a fair indication of a decline in BMD, bone health, and risk of future osteoporosis. Key Words: Bone mineral density, Cytokines, Bone turnover markers, Osteoporosis

Influence of body mass index and polycystic ovarian syndrome on ICSI/IVF treatment outcomes: A study conducted in Pakistani women

Background: Obesity may establish a crucial barrier for effective fertility treatment in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) females.Objective: To compare results of intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in females with and without polycystic ovarian syndrome and further appraise the effect of obesity in PCOS females.Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study from June 2015 to July 2016 included non-PCOS and PCOS (recognized by Rotterdam criteria) females who underwent ICSI. The PCOS were further stratified into non-obese and Obese according to the South Asian criteria for body mass index. Results were categorized on the basis of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) and transvaginal scan into non-pregnant (β-hCG /ml), preclinical abortion (β-hCG \u3e25 mIU/ml with no fetal cardiac activity) and clinical pregnancy (β-hCG \u3e25 mIU/ml with fetal cardiac activity on transvaginal scan). In addition, reproductive outcomes; implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate and miscarriage rate among obese and non-obese PCOS and non-PCOS patients were compared.Results: Our results revealed 38.5% clinical pregnancy rate in non-PCOs females, 23.8% in non-obese PCOS females whereas 26.4% in obese PCOS. Preclinical abortions were found to be highest (31.5%) in non-obese PCOS females and were the lowest (26.2%) in non-PCOS females. In non-PCOS group and non-obese PCOS females 35.4% and 44.6%, respectively, failed to become pregnant.Conclusion: The success after ICSI in terms of number of clinical pregnancies was more in non-PCOS patients as compared to PCOS. Increase in body mass index reflected a negative impact on the reproductive outcome in PCOS patients

Self-reported academic performance in relation to health behaviours among Bahria University students

Objective: To find an association between self-reported academic performance with different socio-demographic factors, health behaviours and mental health amongst university students.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Bahria University, Karachi, from January 2012 to December 2013, and comprised university students of different disciplines. An anonymous, self-reported questionnaire was distributed among the subjects. Convenient sampling technique was used. Demographic information, including age, gender and field of study, were obtained. Depresion was evaluated via Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. SPSS 22 was used to analyse data.Results: Of the 813 respondents, 334(41.1%) were males and 479(58.9%) females. The mean age was 19.9±1.8 years. Overall, 126(15.5%) subjects reported excellent, 242(29.8%) very good, 310(38.1%) good, 100(12.3%) satisfactory and 35(4.3%) not satisfactory academic performance. Residential status of students played a significant role on their academic performance (p=0.011). Breakfast eating behaviour depicted a significant association with the academic performance (p=0.04).The proportion of unsatisfactory academic performances among students having severe sleep disorder was the highest, followed by mild/moderate (p=0.01). The depression scale\u27s item \u27troubling in mind\u27 was highly associated with academic performance (p\u3c0.05).Conclusions: A constructive association existed among healthy behaviours and academic performance.