Survey of patient awareness and beliefs regarding emergency contraception

To investigate patient's knowledge and beliefs regarding emergency contraception and its use. Cross-sectional descriptive study. A six months cross-sectional descriptive study, from 1[st] July 2009 till 31[st] December 2009 carried out at Shifa international Hospital [SIH] and Shifa community health centre [SFCHC] Islamabad. All married women of reproductive age coming to SIH or SFCHC clinics after informed consent were interviewed regarding their knowledge of emergency contraception. A total of 770 women were interviewed, but the data was completed for 759 women. 131 women [17.3%] had knowledge about emergency contraception but only 79 [10.4%] had actually used this method for contraception. There is a very low awareness level regarding emergency contraception among women of developing countries even in the urban population

Serum uric acid level as a marker for predicting progression of gestational hypertension to pre-eclampsia and fetal morbidity

This study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Federal Government Services Hospital Islamabad over the year 2001 for Predicting pre-eclampsia in patients with gestational hypertension through maternal hyperuricemia and to see if there is any association between maternal uric acid levels and fetal outcome. All cases presenting with gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia were studied. Three main groups were recognized gestational hypertension [group I], gestational hypertension progressing to pre-eclampsia [group II] pre-eclampsia [group III], and their clinical and laboratory findings were compared at different times in the study. Among other investigations serial serum uric acid levels were performed and their association with maternal disease progression, fetal growth and fetal outcome were seen. Gestational hypertension was present in 409 [71.01%] of the total 576 cases; with 167 [28.99%] cases of pre eclampsia 86[21.02%] cases out of the 409 cases of GH progressed to PE. Nulliparas accounted for 65.01% cases in-group I, 60.4% cases in group II and 70.04% cases in-group III. Mean serum uric acid levels at delivery were 5.6 +/- 0.3 for groups I, 6.1 +/- 0.76 for group II and 7.02 +/- 1.4 for group III. Mean gestional age at delivery was 38 +/- 2 weeks for patients with uric acid levels of < 6.4mg/dl with a mean fetal birth weight of 3125 grams and 10% babies being small for gestational age. Whereas with serum uric acid of >=6.4 mg/dl mean gestational age at delivery became 35.5 +/- 2 weeks with a mean birth weight of 2774 grams and 28% babies were small for gestational age. Maternal hyperuricemia is a strong predictor of maternal disease progression and fetal outcome. Thus it can be used as a useful and inexpensive marker for predicting preeclampsia and fetal growth retardation in women presenting with gestational hypertension

Complications of induced septic abortions and risk factors

To determine the relationship of different risk factors like age, parity, and socioeconomic status with the incidence of induced septic abortions and to assess the rate of complications in this group. Design: A descriptive study conducted from December, 1999 to December, 2000. Place and Duration: Gynecology Department of Federal Government Services Hospital, Islamabad. A total of 52 cases were included in the study out of which 64% cases were in the age group 25-35 years with grand multiparas making up 57.8% of the patients. There were 84.6% patients married while 15% women were unmarried. Poor socioeconomic status was associated with 78% cases. Fourty-four%. cases were admitted with haemorrhage, 32% with sepsis and 19% with visceral injuries. A lot of preventable maternal mortality and morbidity is associated with induced abortions. Alleviation of illiteracy along with easy and free availability of reliable contraceptives can improve the prevailing situation