Socioeconomic Inequalities in Self-Perceived Oral Health Among College-Going Students in Karachi, Pakistan

Background: Oral health inequalities are becoming a major threat to public health, and they excessively burden disadvantaged communities, especially within low and middle-income countries. This study explored the socioeconomic inequalities in self-perceived oral health behaviors among college-going students in Karachi, Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 328 college-going students using a convenient sampling technique from three different socioeconomic groups including urban slums, middle, and rich class neighborhoods. Oral health was assessed using three measures: daily tooth brushing, weekly sweet consumption, and substance abuse. Socio-economic inequalities were measured using binary logistic regression (odds ratios), relative index of inequality, and slope index of inequality. Results: Out of 328 participants, 56.4% perceived their oral health as fair, 24.1% good, 14.9% poor, while only 4.6% had an excellent perception of oral health. Significant inequalities were found regarding oral health behaviours with fraternal income, occupation, and education level. Education-related absolute inequalities among college-going students were1.28(95% CI -2.19, -0.36 p-value\u3c0.01), -1.34(95% CI -2.16, -0.52, p-value\u3c0.01), -1.43(95% CI -2.70, -0.15, p-value\u3c0.01) with tooth brushing, high sweet consumption, and substance abuse respectively. Similarly, income and occupation-related absolute inequalities were also existent. Conclusions: In Pakistan, data among college-going students regarding oral healthcare is scarce. Significant inequalities were found in oral health behaviours among college-going students. Thus, there is a need to design equity-based health system provisions specifically to address the needs of poor segments of society

Exploring Breast Cancer Patients’ Experiences of Struggle against Socio-Economic and Geographical Barriers in Rural Pakistan

This study offers insights into the barriers experienced by Breast Cancer (BC) patients from less privileged rural areas of Pakistan. We conducted in-depth interviews with 42 BC survivors, from the northern Sindh in southern Pakistan, to explore and analyse knowledge, geographical and financial barriers and how these barriers intersect and complicate BC patients’ lives. Results indicate that most of the women in this study were poor and their families’ health seeking behaviour was influenced by their socio-economic background; their knowledge about the disease was limited and they were unable to appropriately assess the symptoms for months, which caused delay. Based on the results, we underscore the need for increasing health education as who had a sound academic background, awareness about health as well as better social standing, accessed the treatment facility in time, approached quality healthcare services and were in a better position to cope with the aftermath of cancer. Extending the fold of quality healthcare services to less privileged areas and enabling women easy and inexpensive access to healthcare services will help in early diagnosis when treatment is affordable and chances of survival are better

The Koolungar Moorditj Healthy Skin Project: Elder and Community Led Resources Strengthen Aboriginal Voice for Skin Health

In partnership with local Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, the Elder-led co-designed Koolungar Moorditj Healthy Skin project is guided by principles of reciprocity, capacity building, respect, and community involvement. Through this work, the team of Elders, community members, clinicians and research staff have gained insight into the skin health needs of urban-living Aboriginal koolungar (children); and having identified a lack of targeted and culturally appropriate health literacy and health promotion resources on moorditj (strong) skin, prioritised development of community-created healthy skin resources. Community members self-appointed to Aboriginal Community Advisory Groups (CAG) on Whadjuk (Perth) and Wardandi (Bunbury) boodjar (land/place) provided local leadership and led the development of moorditj skin resources. Over several online and face-to-face meetings facilitated by an Aboriginal project officer, CAG members shared local perspectives and cultural knowledge to develop and inform the messaging, medium, and dissemination of health literacy and health promotion resources for healthy skin. All CAG-created research approaches, resources and materials were presented to the Elder Researchers for discussion, final review, and implementation by the project team. Culturally appropriate moorditj skin resources, designed by community for community, build on knowledge of healthy skin to achieve moorditj skin and moorditj health for urban-living Aboriginal koolungar