Contextual Assessment of Women Empowerment and Its Determinants: Evidence from Pakistan

The main objective of this study is to evaluate women empowerment in different contexts of family planning and economic decision making within the household. Further this paper investigates its appropriate determinants sifting through sociology resource control theory and economic bargaining theory by controlling for socio-cultural intervening factors. We examine this empirically by utilizing extensive micro level data information (15,453 households) from ‘Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement Survey’ (PSLM) for the year of 2005-06. Results suggest the presence of highly constrained and largely dichotomous empowerment within the household. Interestingly, we find that the number of children however not the sex of a child relevant in enhancing women’s empowerment. Further, the common determinants of empowerment depict varying degree of effectiveness depending on the specific context of empowerment. Moreover, socio-economic, level of education and employment status of a woman depict as effect modifier factors across the empowerment contexts and regions. Furthermore, geographic divisions within Pakistan, significantly explain the contextual empowerment of women.Contextual empowerment; family planning decision making; economic decision making; socio-cultural; ordered logistic regressions.

Perspectives on disclosure of HIV status to others among 12-19 year old HIV-infected adolescents attending an HIV care clinic at a tertiary hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe : a qualitative study

Includes bibliographical referencesIntroduction: The worldwide commitment to increasing services and access to antiretroviral therapy have resulted in a decline in HIV related mortality. As a result, the focus of HIV care is shifting towards improving the psychological health and quality of life. HIV infected adolescents are a group with unique psychosocial challenges. Given that HIV self disclosure has been recognized as an important challenge affecting their physical as well psychological health it warrants further exploration. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted during September to November 2014 among adolescents (12-19years) attending the HIV care clinic at a tertiary hospital in Harare. Twenty adolescents who were vertically infected with HIV were recruited using purposive sampling techniques to achieve maximum variability in age and sex. In depth interviews were conducted to determine the views of adolescents regarding when, whom and how to self disclose. All the interviews were transcribed verbatim. Data was analyzed using the framework approach. Results: Adolescents identified stigma and discrimination from peers as well as lack of HIV knowledge as important barriers to status disclosure and suggested societal resources like support groups and media to assist them in the disclosure process. Conclusion: HIV status disclosure to others is a challenging task for adolescents and it can be affected by personal as well as social factors. In order to deal with disclosure dilemmas, we have to work with adolescents keeping all these factors in mind to assist them in decision making, there by facilitating healthy supportive relationships and contributing to the wellbeing of HIV-positive adolescents

The Social Determinants of Multidrug Resistant Tuberculosis in the United States Between 2005 and 2009

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) poses a great threat to the eradication of TB. In the US, MDR-TB is faced with inadequate diagnostic tools and long and expensive treatment regimens. Therefore, preventing the disease is the key to saving lives and resources. Social and behavioral variables play a big part in this prevention. It is important to determine the social factors that may lead to MDR-TB in order to set up prevention programs and more efficient treatment regimens. AIM: This study was conducted to ascertain the social determinants of MDR-TB in the US between the years of 2005 and 2009 to better equip public health officials to deal with this growing threat. METHODS: This study used the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Online Tuberculosis Information System (OTIS) database to find associations between certain social variables and MDR-TB. The variables that were tested were whether or not the individual had lived in a correctional facility for the past year; HIV status; homelessness; whether or not the individual had an occupation; and whether the individual was foreign-born or US-born. An unadjusted odds ratio (OR) was calculated to find this association. The variables were then stratified with age; sex; race; age and race; age and sex; and age, sex, and race to see whether or not the strata were confounders. RESULTS: The variables of having lived in a correctional facility and homelessness were found to be associated with MDR-TB. However, all of the strata were found to be confounders for this relationship. Having HIV and being US-born were not found to be associated with MDR-TB. All of the strata for HIV were found to be confounders. But for place of birth, stratifying by age, sex, and both age and sex were not confounders. The rest of the strata were. The OR for occupation versus MDR-TB was almost at 1, meaning that those with a job and those without a job had almost equal odds of having MDR-TB. Effect modification was present for the strata in all variables, meaning that the risk of having MDR-TB varied with each different age, sex, and racial group. DISCUSSION: Results from this study showed which variables were more likely to be associated with MDR-TB in the US between the years of 2005 and 2009. However, when compared to the literature that exists, the results showed that more research needs to be done to properly ascertain this relationship. Using this study, public health officials can identify which populations to focus prevention efforts on

An investigation of planar array system artefacts generated within an electrical impedance mammography system developed for breast cancer detection

An Electrical Impedance Mammography (EIM) planar array imaging system is being developed at the University of Sussex for the detection of breast cancers. Investigations have shown that during data collection, systematic errors and patient artefacts are frequently introduced during signal acquisition from different electrodes pairs. This is caused, in particular, by the large variations in the electrode-skin contact interface conditions occurring between separate electrode positions both with the same and different patients. As a result, the EIM image quality is seriously affected by these errors. Hence, this research aims to experimentally identify, analyse and propose effective methods to reduce the systematic errors at the electrode-skin interface. Experimental studies and subsequent analysis is presented to determine what ratio of electrode blockage seriously affects the acquired raw data which may in turn compromise the reconstruction. This leads to techniques for the fast and accurate detection of any such occurrences. These methodologies can be applied to any planar array based EIM system

The Effectiveness of Supplemental Instruction and Online Homework in First-semester Calculus

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether supplemental instruction and online homework can improve student performance and understanding in a first-semester calculus course at a large urban four-year college. The study examined the metacognitive and study skills and posttest scores of students. The study also focused on students’ and instructor’s perception and experiences of supplemental instruction and online homework using WebAssign. The study used a modified version of the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) to reveal any significant differences in metacognitive and study strategies between students in a class with supplemental instruction/online homework and students in a traditional class. Students’ scores on their final examination were analyzed to reveal the effect of mathematical achievement between the control and experimental groups. Surveys and interviews were utilized to provide anecdotal evidence as to the overall effectiveness of the online homework management system and supplemental instruction. Results of the study showed no substantial difference between the control group and the experimental group in seven out of eight sub-scales of metacognitive and study strategies: metacognitive self-regulation, time and study environment, effort regulation, help seeking, rehearsal, organization, and critical thinking. But, students with supplemental instruction/online homework showed a higher level of elaboration learning strategies. The interaction of pretest and type of class (traditional or treatment) did not have a significant effect on students’ posttest score. There was no substantial effect of pretest on posttest, but the treatment influenced students’ posttest score. Students’ gender, race, class level, or the number of courses they registered for were insignificant predictors of their posttest scores. The instructor and students agreed that time spent in supplemental instruction sessions and on WebAssign were worthwhile and beneficial. They believed supplemental instruction and online homework using WebAssign may have influenced students’ understanding and performance in the course

Cognitive Radio and Dynamic Spectrum Access Using Fuzzy Logic

Cognitive Radio is artificially intelligent radio. This research paper work presents an application of Cognitive Radio and Dynamic Spectrum Access with the help of fuzzy logic considering the inputs: radio and satellite frequency and outputs: adjust power and modulation. This research paper shows the real approach of comparing the simulation and design algorithm result and its successful use

Rational use of antibiotics--a quality improvement initiative in hospital setting

Objectives: To minimise irrational use of antibiotics by implementing guidelines for antibiotic usage in obstetrics and Gynaeocology.Methods: The observational study was conducted from January to December 2010 at the maternity unit of Aga Khan Hospital for Women and children, Kharadar, a secondary care facility in Karachi, Pakistan. Data was collected from medical records related to the study period. Prophylactic antibiotics were given according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists recommendation 2009. Surveillance was done by surgical site infection rates and infectious morbidity. Data was analysed on SPSS 13.Results: Therapeutic antibiotic use was rationalized, reducing the use of therapeutic antibiotics from 97% (n= 160/165) in January 2010 to 8% (n=10/125) in December 2010. Surgical site infection rates were less than 5%. Cost of antibiotics per patient decreased by 90%. Decrease in the length of stay and workload on nursing staff was also observed.Conclusion: Implementing guidelines for antibiotic use in obstetrics and gynaecology and translating it into our protocols was effective in decreasing the irrational antibiotic consumption and increasing the rational use of antibiotics in the hospital

Evaluation of the nasopalatine canal (NPC) in a subset of Pakistani population, using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT)

Objective: To evaluate variations in the shape, diameter, length and width of the nasopalatine canal along with the width of the buccal cortical bone anterior to it, using cone beam computed tomography imaging. Methods: The retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from September to October 2020, and comprised pre-existing cone beam computed tomography scans taken between 2015 and 2020 of patients of either gender aged 18-60 years who had maxillary central incisors present. The shapes and dimensions of the nasopalatine canal were observed along with the buccal bone anterior to the nasopalatine canal. Data was compared with respect to age and gender. Data was analysed using SPSS 23. Results: Of the 90 scans evaluated, 46(51.1%) belonged to females with a mean age of 37.85±18.19 years, and 44(48.9%) belonged to males with a mean age of 38.07±13.58 years. The mean length and width of the nasopalatine canal was 11.28±1.90mm and 2.62±0.91mm, respectively. The nasopalatine canal was significantly longer (p\u3c0.01) and wider (p=0.02) in males than females. The mean diameter of foramen of Stenson was 2.99±1.17mm and incisive foramen was 6.09±1.80mm. The mean width of the buccal cortical bone at the most coronal, middle and most incisal levels was 7.20±1.70mm, 6.12±1.31mm and 6.12±1.31mm, respectively. Buccal bone width was wider in males than females, but the difference was significant only at the midpoint (p\u3c0.05). Conclusion: There was a significant difference in the dimensions of the width and length of the NPC with respect to gender. No significant differences were observed with respect to ag

A 6-year Evaluation of 223 Tapered Dental Implants and associated prosthesis in 92 patients at a university hospital

Abstract The aim of the retrospective study was to assess the clinical and radiographic outcome of the dental implant surgery and prosthetics. It was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised of medical charts and radiographic records of patients visiting between 2010 and 2015. Variables such as implant dimensions, final prosthesis, method of retention, loading protocol and patient factors were analysed. A total of 223 implants (143(64.1%) in maxilla and 80(35.9%) in mandible) were placed in 92 subjects (50(54.3%) males and 42(45.7%) females). All implants were Zimmer tapered screw-vent. Length of 108(48.4%) implants was 11.5mm and diameter of 84(37.7%) implants was 4.7mm. Besides, 6(2.7%) implants failed to osseointegrate, whereas 1(0.4%) implant failed at 12 months of loading. Among the 216(96.9%) successful implants, 140(64.8%) served as bridge abutments, 72(33.3%) were single crown abutments and 4(1.9%) were overdenture abutments. Also, 37(17.1%) implants were immediately loaded. The six-year survival rate of implants was 96.9%