Rates of caesarian section and trials and success of vaginal birth after caesarean sections in secondary care hospital.

We planned to investigate the rates of Caesarean Section (CS), potential Vaginal Births After previous Caesarean Section (VBAC), and successful VBAC in a secondary care hospital. We conducted an analytical retrospective study at Aga Khan Hospital for Women, Karimabad, Karachi, from October 2011 to September 2012. Data related to total deliveries, Lower Segment CS (LSCS), attempted VBAC and successful VBAC was retrieved from medical records. Total number of deliveries were 3266. Of these, 1021(31.26%) deliveries were conducted by CS. A total of 365(11.1%) had a previous history of one CS and VBAC trial was given to 33(9%) of these pregnancies. The success rate of VBAC was 21 (63.6%). Our results highlight that despite having limited resources, our rates of CS, VBAC trials and successful VBACs were within reasonable limits when compared with international rates.

Weight misperception amongst youth of a developing country: Pakistan -a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Weight misperception is the discordance between an individual's actual weight status and the perception of his/her weight. It is a common problem in the youth population as enumerated by many international studies. However data from Pakistan in this area is deficient. METHODS: A multi-center cross-sectional survey was carried out in undergraduate university students of Karachi between the ages of 15-24. Participants were questioned regarding their perception of being thin, normal or fat and it was compared with their Body Mass Index (BMI). Measurements of height and weight were taken for this purpose and BMI was categorized using Asian cut offs. Weight misperception was identified when the self-perceived weight (average, fat, thin) did not match the calculated BMI distribution. Chi square tests and logistic regression tests were applied to show associations of misperception and types of misperception (overestimation, underestimation) with independent variables like age, gender, type of university and faculties. P-value of <0.05 was taken as statistically significant. RESULTS: 42.4% of the total participants i.e. 43.3% males and 41% females misperceived their weight. Amongst those who misperceived 38.2% had overestimated and 61.8% had underestimated their weight. Greatest misperception of was observed in the overweight category (91%), specifically amongst overweight males (95%). Females of the underweight category overestimated their weight and males of the overweight category underestimated their weight. Amongst the total participants, females overestimated 8 times more than males (OR 8.054, 95% CI 5.34-12.13). Misperception increased with the age of the participants (OR 1.114, 95% CI 1.041-1.191). Odds of misperception were greater in students of private sector universities as compared to public (OR 1.861, 95% CI: 1.29-2.67). Odds of misperception were less in students of medical sciences (OR 0.693, 95% CI 0.491-0.977), engineering (OR 0.586, 95% CI 0.364-0.941) and business administration (OR 0.439, 95% CI 0.290-0.662) as compared to general faculty universities. CONCLUSION: There was marked discrepancy between the calculated BMI and the self-perceived weight in the youth of Karachi. Better awareness campaigns need to be implemented to reverse these trends.

HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C in garbage scavengers of Karachi.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and C, and to study the associated risk factors in garbage scavengers of Karachi. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was performed in a colony inhabited by low socioeconomic garbage-collecting people. Data was collected from April to December 2011. After informed consent and pre-test counselling, a set of questions were asked from a questionnaire, and 5cc of blood was drawn for pathological testing. SPSS 18 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: A total of 141 males agreed to participate in the study with a mean age of 21.33+/-9.28 years. Most of the respondents (n=67; 47.5%) were in the age group 11-20 years; 86 (61%) were single; 89 (63%) were illiterate and 127 (90%) had a monthly income less than Rs.10,000. Prevalence of hepatitis B was 18.8% (n=22), followed by 8.5% (n=10) and 0.85% (n=1) of hepatitis C and HIV respectively. Besides, 108 (77%) collected needles/syringes and 76 (54%) got pricked more than once. Only 23 (16%) wore gloves while collecting garbage. Overall, 79 (56%) had a history of sexual contact; 18 (23%) had three or more partners. CONCLUSION: The important factors contributing to the high prevalence of hepatitis B and C were needle prick injuries, bare-handed/bare-footed collection of garbage, poor vaccination status, improper garbage disposal system and the site of waste collection.