Myths about diabetes mellitus among non-diabetic individuals attending primary health care centers of karachi subrubs

OBJECTIVE

To determine the myths and misconception about diabetes mellitus among non-diabetics attending primary health care centers of Gadap town, Karachi.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of the Study: Primary Health Care Centers, Gadap Town, Karachi, during the month of July 2005.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data was collected from four primary health care centers, located at Gadap Town, Karachi, and about 198 non-diabetic patients, above 18 years of age, and resident of Gadap Town, coming consecutively during the month of July 2005, were interviewed after taking the informed consent by using a semi-structured pre-tested questionnaire regarding prevailing myths about diabetes mellitus. The data collected was entered and analyzed by using a statistical package SPSS 11.0. Myths are defined as stories shared by a group, as part of the cultural identity.

RESULTS

There were 198 participants in the study. Mean age of study participants was 40 years with standard deviation of 13, while approximately two thirds, 62.6%, were females. About 39% had history of type II diabetes mellitus in family. Overall myths related to diabetes mellitus were common among the individuals, males reported myths pre-dominantly contagiousness of diabetes (p= < 0.03), diabetics becoming more ill (p=<0.009) and belief in spiritual treatment for permanent cure of diabetes (p=< 0.006). People having 5-16 years of education were less misconceived as compared to illiterates. The variables that showed significant difference were over-eating, causing diabetes (p= < 0.006), diabetics falling ill more than others (p=< 0.04), eating less starch (p= < 0.0006) and alternative treatment like spiritual treatment (p=< 0.00001). Family history of diabetes was also found significantly associated with reporting myths.

CONCLUSION

Frequency of reporting myths was significantly high in this study with preponderance of males, family history of diabetes mellitus and educational status. Education serves as protective factor, hence efforts should be made to promote education and health awareness regarding the disease, with more emphasis on addressing myths regarding diabetes mellitus.

Injection practices among practitioners in private medical clinics of Karachi, Pakistan

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and determinants of sharps injuries among private health practitioners in slum areas of Karachi, Pakistan. All practitioners with at least 1 year of experience in a private medical clinic were asked to complete a self-administered, structured questionnaire (317/397 responded). Only 7.9% of practitioners were qualified from medical school, 12.3% were registered nurses and 8.8% lacked any professional qualifications. At least 1 sharps injury in the previous 12 months was reported by 26.7%, mostly due to needle recapping. Only 25.2% reported using a new syringe for each patient. In multivariate regression analysis shorter work experience, < 14 years of schooling, > 20 patients per day, administering > or = 30 injections per day, reuse of syringes and needle recapping after use were significantly associated with sharps injury in the past year. Better awareness and training on standard precautions is needed for private practitioners in slum areas of Karachi.

Dietary habits and life style among the students of a private medical university Karachi

OBJECTIVES

To determine the dietary habits and life style of the students of a private medical university in Karachi.

METHODOLOGY

A cross-sectional study was conducted at Baqai Medical University, from August 2005 to September 2005. A total of 384 medical students from the batches of 2002 to 2005 participated in this study. A pre-tested semi structured questionnaire was self administered to the students after taking their consent. The data included sociodemographic characteristics, life style, exercise, dietary habits and family history of diabetes mellitus. The collected data was analyzed by statistical program SPSS version 11.

RESULTS

Out of the total participants, 53.4% were male and 46.6% were female students. The mean age was 20 +/- 1.58 years. The average income of the household of students was 50,000 Pakistani rupees per month. Only 7% students were tobacco users. About 33% students had a history of diabetes mellitus among their parents. Nearly ninety-seven percent reported consumption of junk food while 60% reported use of whole grain food in their diet. Seventy percent students walked 30 minutes and 47% exercised daily. According to the body mass index, 58.3% students were of normal weight and 41.7% were overweight. No significant difference was found among male and female students when dietary habits and life style were compared by sex. Junk food and soft-drink consumption was associated with being overweight. Eating whole grain food and doing exercise showed a protective association against overweight.

CONCLUSION

Unhealthy lifestyle and poor dietary habits were highly prevalent in the overweight study population. Type-2 diabetes mellitus was common among parents and grandparents of the students making them prone to this disorder. Our study concluded that dietary and exercise counselling is necessary as a preventive strategy.

Dietary habits and life style among the students of a private medical university Karachi

OBJECTIVES

To determine the dietary habits and life style of the students of a private medical university in Karachi.

METHODOLOGY

A cross-sectional study was conducted at Baqai Medical University, from August 2005 to September 2005. A total of 384 medical students from the batches of 2002 to 2005 participated in this study. A pre-tested semi structured questionnaire was self administered to the students after taking their consent. The data included socio-demographic characteristics, life style, exercise, dietary habits and family history of diabetes mellitus. The collected data was analyzed by statistical program SPSS version 11.

RESULTS

Out of the total participants, 53.4% were male and 46.6% were female students. The mean age was 20 +/- 1.58 years. The average income of the household of students was 50,000 Pakistani rupees per month. Only 7% students were tobacco users. About 33% students had a history of diabetes mellitus among their parents. Nearly 97% reported consumption of junk food while 60% reported use of whole grain food in their diet. Seventy percent students walked 30 minutes and 47% exercised daily. According to the body mass index, 58.3% students were of normal weight and 41.7% were overweight. No significant difference was found among male and female students when dietary habits and life style were compared by sex. Junk food and soft-drink consumption was associated with being overweight. Eating whole grain food and doing exercise showed a protective association against overweight.

CONCLUSION

Unhealthy lifestyle and poor dietary habits were highly prevalent in the overweight study population. Type-2 diabetes mellitus was common among parents and grandparents of the students making them prone to this disorder. Our study concluded that dietary and exercise counselling is necessary as a preventive strategy.

A community based study about knowledge and practices regarding tobacco consumption and passive smoking in Gadap Town, Karachi

OBJECTIVE

To determine the proportion of people consuming tobacco in various forms, level of knowledge and practices regarding various harmful effects of tobacco and passive smoking.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted at Ghulam Mohammad Jokhio Goth, a small semi urban community of Gadap Town Karachi, which comprises of a population approximate 2225. About 157 people were interviewed regarding their tobacco consumption practices through a semi structured pre-tested questionnaire from June to August 2005. There were 314 households in the community and every alternate household was selected with a random start. The study subject was selected among all the adult members of 18 years age and above present at the time of interview in the household by lottery method and the questionnaire was administerd to those who were resident of GM Goth after taking consent.

RESULTS

In our study 110 (70%) people were tobacco consumers, 47% were knowledgeable about hazards of smoking, 22% were aware about passive smoking, and 90% started consuming tobacco below 20 years of age. The most popular form of tobacco was pan 40%, cigarette 39% and hookah 19%. Eighty four percent were regular smokers. Only 13.6% took counseling, 26.3% tried to quit smoking but none of them succeeded. About 23.5% smokers suffered from cough and headache due to smoking. When age, sex, marital status, income of the household, education and knowledge about hazards of smoking was compared, age and knowledge showed significant association while other variables did not show any significant association.

CONCLUSION

Our study concluded that high proportion of people including men and women consume tobacco. Most of them were unaware about tobacco consumption hazards, and passive smoking.

Seasonal, nontoxigenic Vibrio cholerae O1 Ogawa infections in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

Surveillance for Vibrio cholerae in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia has been ongoing since 1985 to detect and prevent local proliferation of imported cholera. In 1996 and 1997 the authors performed additional microbiologic and epidemiologic assessment of V. cholerae surveillance to better characterize a recurrent summertime pattern of V. cholerae infections in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

All health facilities routinely submitted stool or rectal swab specimens for isolation of V. cholerae from patients with gastroenteritis. In addition, specimens were taken from expatriate workers and household contacts of persons with confirmed V. cholerae infection. Forty-two isolates were evaluated for cholera enterotoxin by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, cholera toxin polymerase chain reaction, and Y1 adrenal cell assay; 12 isolates also were characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Interviews about potential exposures were done for all V. cholerae infections.

RESULTS

Vibrio cholerae O1 serotype Ogawa biotype El Tor was identified in 113 gastroenteritis patients (6.0 per 100,000 population per year), 28 asymptomatic expatriate workers, and 16 of 982 household contacts of index patients. All symptomatic infected persons had mild illness that was not typical of cholera, and all 42 isolates evaluated were nontoxigenic. All 12 isolates evaluated by PFGE had an indistinguishable pattern (pattern 81). Infections appeared in late May, decreased in mid-July through August, increased again in September, and disappeared from December through April. Infections had a uniform geographic distribution and affected all ages. No linkage was identified between affected households, or between community cases and food-handlers or domestic servants.

DISCUSSION

Surveillance in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia has identified a novel strain of nontoxigenic V. cholerae O1 Ogawa. This strain probably has a local environmental reservoir. Since cholera toxin is the primary virulence factor involved in the cause of cholera, assays for cholera toxin should be included in cholera surveillance.

Breastfeeding practice in dammam area of saudi arabia

OBJECTIVES

The main objective of this study was to determine the breastfeeding status for children under 24 months and assess the causes of breastfeeding failure among those mothers who do not breastfeed their babies.

METHODOLOGY

This study was conducted on a sampled population of 1185 children under 24 months of age, using breastfeeding indicators recommended by World Health Organization, for assessing breastfeeding practices within a recall period of 24 hours, in the Dammam area of Saudi Arabia.

RESULTS

The exclusive breastfeeding rate and predominantly breastfeeding rates were 33% and 11.5%, respectively, under 4 months of age among these children. The timely complementary feeding rate was 31.7% only. All the values were far behind those recommended. The reasons given in order of their frequencies by the mothers for failure to breastfeed were insufficient milk, advice and example of other mothers and formula milk advertisement.

CONCLUSION

This study recognizes the low level of exclusive breastfeeding among children under 4 months of age and lays emphasis on changing the behavior of mothers towards exclusive breastfeeding. This can be achieved by special integrated community-based approaches among potential mothers by supporting them after delivery and proper follow-up, to prevent failure of milk formation and discontinuation of breastfeeding.

A study on diarrheal diseases in children under five years of age

A cross sectional house-to-house survey on diarrheal disease in children less than five-years-of-age was conducted in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The main objective was to determine diarrheal disease morbidity and its relationship with different variable factors and management practices during the episode of diarrhea. The survey population included 1,105 households with 2,005 children under five-years-of-age selected from the entire Eastern Province. The prevalence observed was 7.6% during a two-week period giving an annual incidence of two episodes per child per year. Diarrheal morbidity was less prevalent among with age, water storage, and feeding patterns. Diarrhea morbidity was less prevalent among children receiving breast milk. The majority of cases with diarrhea were treated in health facilities where 27% were given drugs only. A solution containing sugar and salt in addition to home fluids were given to 46.4% while 23% received oral rehydration solution (ORS).