Client-centered counseling and facilitation in improving modern contraceptive uptake in urban slum of Karachi Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: Population growth in Pakistan necessitates the implementation of comprehensive family planning (FP) initiatives. The adoption of modern contraceptives, especially long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC), and permanent family planning methods in the country is challenging and has yet to reach an optimal level. These challenges are deeply rooted in the lack of informed decision-making, as well as demographic and maternal obstetric history. Interventions tailored according to women's needs can address the challenges faced by FP programs. This paper presents the findings of the implementation of a client-centered counseling and facilitation approach in an urban slum in Karachi, Pakistan. Such an approach has the potential to inform women and help them make better decisions regarding their health. METHODS: In Rehri Goth, a slum located in Karachi, client-centered counseling along with facilitation at the facility was implemented to encourage the adoption of any modern contraceptive methods, with a specific emphasis on promoting the use of LARCs and permanent methods (where needed) among married women of reproductive age (MWRA). This approach was integrated into the existing Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health (MNCH) services established in 2014. During the routine delivery of services, data were collected on various aspects including demographic characteristics, obstetric history, motivation to adopt LARCs, and reasons for refusal. RESULTS: A total of N = 3079 eligible MWRA received client-centered counseling, and 60.3% accepted modern contraceptive methods after counseling. Furthermore, 32.5% of these MWRA adopted LARCs or permanent methods. Factors explaining reluctance to adopt any method by MWRA despite specialized counselling were: age >25 years (AOR:1.28, 95% CI:1.08-1.51), no formal education (AOR:1.58, 95% CI:1.36-1.89), having no decision making role at household (AOR:1.60, 95% CI:1.36-1.89), the desire of female or male progeny (AOR:1.86, 95% CI:1.59-2.25) and age of youngest alive ≥3 years (AOR:1.50, 95% CI:1.22-1.84). Factors explaining adoption of short-term methods instead of LARCs or permanent method were: being resident in high under-five mortality clusters (AOR:1.56, 95% CI:1.14-2.14), maternal age > 25 years (AOR:1.88, 95% CI: 1.47-2.40), no decision-making role (AOR:11.19, 95% CI:8.74-14.34), no history of abortions (AOR:2.59, 95% CI:1.79-3.75), no female child (AOR:1.85, 95% CI:1.30-2.65) and ≤ 2 children (AOR:1.74, 95% CI:1.08-2.81). CONCLUSION: Considering the obstacles mothers face when it comes to accessing extended contraception, public health officials can devise effective strategies that empower MWRA to make well-informed and empowered choices regarding their families and reproductive health.

The Serological Confirmation and Outcome of the Pediatric Dengue Patients Presenting to Emergency Department: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: In the emergency department, it is very uncommon perform a differential diagnosis to serologically differentiate between dengue, dengue hemorrhagic fever, and dengue shock syndrome. Prompt differential diagnosis and treatment is essential with the presentation of dengue. This study aims to determine the serological confirmation and outcome of the dengue epidemic in the pediatric population presenting to the ED in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: A single-center cross-sectional study was conducted. All pediatric patients aged less than 18 years presented to ED with clinical features suggestive of DF, DFF, and DSS while also doing the serological confirmation for the dengue were enrolled in the study. Data was collected on demographics, clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and outcomes of 324 pediatric patients. Multivariable binary logistic regression was applied for the analysis. Results: Out of 324 patients, 191 (59.13%) underwent NS1 testing and 132 (40.87%) did the IgM test. Most participants were in the age range of 13 to 18 years in both groups. Fever was the most common complaint in both groups 191 (100%) and 132 (100%). In each group, around one-third of the participants complained about body aches 69 (36.13%) and 44 (33.33%). The patient having a history of traveling within the past 14 days created a 1.51 (95% CI: 1.27-2.25) times higher odds of contracting dengue fever as compared to no history of travel. Conclusion: The serologic confirmation of dengue in the ED helps in both the adequate and timely treatment as well as patient disposition and ultimately saves lives.

COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy among the general population of Pakistan: a population-based survey.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine the COVID-19 vaccination coverage and the factors associated with vaccine acceptance and hesitancy in the general population of Pakistan. SETTING: This population-based study covers all major areas of Pakistan, including Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan provinces and the capital Islamabad. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 541 male and female Pakistani adults above 18 years were interviewed to determine the COVID-19 vaccination coverage and understand the factors associated with vaccine acceptance and hesitancy. OUTCOME: The outcome was COVID-19 vaccination status (not vaccinated or vaccinated). RESULTS: Of 541 participants, 227 (41.96%) were non-vaccinated and 314 (58.04%) were vaccinated. Two-thirds of the participants from both the non-vaccinated and vaccinated groups (185 (81.50%) vs 236 (75.16%), p=0.008) reside in Sindh. Nearly one-third of participants from both groups were ever infected with COVID-19 (77 (33.92%) and 90 (28.66%)). The odds of COVID-19 vaccination among the age group 34-42 years were 1.75 times higher (95% CI 1.35 to 2.09, p=0.008) than the other age groups. The odds of COVID-19 vaccination among those with COVID-19 ever-infected family members were 1.87 times higher (95% CI 1.56 to 2.34, p=0.032) than those with uninfected family members. CONCLUSIONS: Targeted interventions for subsets of populations reluctant to vaccination can improve vaccine coverage. Moreover, advocacy and explaining the public health benefits of vaccination can enhance the coverage in Pakistan.

Prevalence and determinants of anemia among women of reproductive age in Thatta Pakistan: Findings from a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Anemia is a major public health concern among women of reproductive age leading to high maternal mortality in low- and middle-income countries. Of the prior studies conducted in Pakistan, most focused on large urban areas and did not explore the determinants of anemia among women of reproductive age (WRA) across socio-demographic, dietary, reproductive, and biological domains. Thus, we aimed to study the prevalence and determinants of anemia among WRA in rural Pakistan. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study in the Thatta district of Pakistan from September 2018 to January 2019 and enrolled 150 non-pregnant, married women. Data collectors administered a structured questionnaire to collect sociodemographic, reproductive and dietary data from women, who also provided stool and blood samples. We classified all WRA as anemic if their hemoglobin was <12.0 g/dl. We performed logistic regression analysis to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and their respective 95% CIs to assess the determinants of anemia. RESULTS: In our study, 61.3% of the enrolled women were anemic. In the multivariable analysis, we found that factors such as serum iron levels of less than 50 µg/dl (aOR: 7.17; 95% CI (2.94, 17.47)), history of breastfeeding (aOR: 2.43; 95% CI (1.04, 5.72)), living in a katcha house (aOR: 6.61; 95% CI (2.21, 19.87)), no consumption of meat (aOR: 4.18; 95% CI (1.66, 9.96)) were significantly associated with anemia among WRA. A history of more than one abortion (aOR: 0.06; 95% CI (0.01, 0.33) appeared protective for its association with anemia. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate a high burden of anemia and its complex determinants among WRA in rural Pakistan. A combination of nutritional and educational strategies should be designed to encourage rural women to consume iron-rich foods in their diet with an access to adequate food. Breastfeeding women should be encouraged to consume extra calories with sufficient intake of the food to continue exclusive breastfeeding and reserve the iron stores through amenorrhea to prevent themselves from becoming anemic.