scholarly journals UTILIZATION OF HEALTH SERVICES REGARDING HEPATITIS B IN KARACHI, PAKISTAN: A COMMUNITY SURVEY

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-99
Author(s):  
Subhana Akber ◽  
Laila Rizvi ◽  
Saad Khalid Niaz ◽  
Nighat Nisar

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is considered as the smallest human DNA virus known to the world at present. Concerning the primary level of prevention against hepatitis B, health services utilization of community residents is essential to their health seeking behavior. This community-based study was designed to determine health services utilization regarding hepatitis B among residents of Korangi, Karachi. Methods: A cross-sectional study design and multi-stage random sampling technique was used. Data was entered and analyzed in SPSS version-21. Sample size calculated at 95% CI with 5% absolute precision was 286 households. Data of 293 study respondents were entered for analysis after obtaining an informed consent. All participants were assured of their privacy and confidentiality to be protected. A pre-tested study questionnaire containing two main parts was administered to the study respondents. Results: The results of our survey have elucidated that the residents of Korangi, Karachi were adherent to utilize health services regarding hepatitis B which mainly included vaccination. A majority of the study participants reported to have their children vaccinated against hepatitis B at their schools. Whereas, no significant association was observed for other covariates with health services utilization regarding hepatitis B. Conclusion: The findings of this survey have generally found that health services utilization regarding hepatitis B was known to the community residents which can be attributed to better awareness. However, importance of screening and uptake of vaccination against hepatitis B must be raised so as to reduce prevalence of disease in the community.

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Yuya ◽  
Hassen Abdi Adem ◽  
Nega Assefa ◽  
Addisu Alemu ◽  
Abdurezak Adem Umer ◽  
...  

Background: Globally, two-thirds of pre-mature deaths and one-third of the total disease burden in adults are associated with problems that began in adolescent and youth. Global and national acting educational and health policies, strategies, and programs designed to promote, implement, and improve adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health services utilization should be responsive, consider the knowledge of reproductive rights and risk factors. This study assessed the level and predictors of knowledge of reproductive rights among Haramaya University students in Ethiopia.Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected Haramaya University students from March 1 to 24, 2018. A self-administered pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect data from participants. Data were entered using EpiData version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 24. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with knowledge of reproductive rights. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% CI was used to report association and significance was declared at P-value < 0.05.Results: Of 822 total students invited to the study, 812 (98.8%) respondents participated in the study. A total of 424 students (52.2%, 95% CI: 48.8, 55.4%) had an above-average level of knowledge on reproductive rights. Participants who were in the fourth and above year of the study [AOR = 2.37 (1.58, 3.54)], whose father's had higher education [AOR = 1.89 (1.27, 2.80)], who came from rich families [AOR = 1.54 (1.07, 2.21)], in the health faculty [AOR = 3.37 (2.17, 5.23)], utilized reproductive health services [AOR = 2.81 (2.21, 4.98)] and participated in reproductive health club [AOR = 1.77 (1.27, 2.47)] were significantly associated with knowledge of reproductive rights.Conclusion: Around half of the participants knew reproductive rights. In this study, lack of awareness (information) on reproductive health issues and absence of reproductive health services utilization were strong independent predictors of knowledge of reproductive rights.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Fang Luo ◽  
Shu Ching Yang ◽  
An-Sing Chen ◽  
Chia-Hsun Chiang

BACKGROUND Electronic health (eHealth) literacy has become an important topic in health fields. Studies have found that individuals with higher eHealth literacy are more likely to use preventive care services and to have effective interactions with their physicians. In addition, previous studies have revealed a gender difference in the utilization of physician access and outpatient services. Nevertheless, few studies have explored the effect of the three levels of eHealth literacy (functional, interactive, and critical levels) on the four aspects of health services utilization (type, site, purpose, and time interval). It is unclear whether the associations between these three levels of eHealth literacy and the four aspects of health services utilization among college students are positive or negative. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to investigate the associations among gender, eHealth literacy, and health services utilization. METHODS We used the eHealth Literacy Scale, a 12-item instrument designed to measure college students’ functional, interactive, and critical eHealth literacy, and the Health Services Utilization Scale, which is a 10-item instrument developed to measure the four aspects of health services utilization by college students. A nationally representative sample of 489 college students in Taiwan was surveyed. We conducted multiple regression analysis to examine the associations among gender, eHealth literacy, and health services utilization. RESULTS The study found that being female was negatively related to the purpose aspect of health services utilization (t487=−2.85, P<.01). However, the R2 value of gender on the purpose aspect was low enough to be ignored. Critical (t484=2.98-4.23, P<.01) and interactive eHealth literacy (t484=2.43-2.89, P<.05) were related to three aspects of the health services utilization, and functional eHealth literacy was related to the purpose aspect (t484=−4.99, P<.001). CONCLUSIONS This study showed that Taiwanese college students with interactive eHealth literacy were more likely to have a higher rate of outpatient care use. Moreover, Taiwanese college students with critical eHealth literacy were more likely to make full use of health services than those with functional eHealth literacy. Finally, the educated and age-restricted sample may attenuate gender disparities in health services utilization among Taiwanese college students.


2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Ranjbar Ezzatabadi ◽  
Ameneh Khosravi ◽  
Mohammad Amin Bahrami ◽  
Sima Rafiei

Purpose Developing country workers mainly face important challenges when examining equality in health services utilization among the population and identifying influential factors. The purpose of this paper us to: understand health service use among households with different socio-economic status in Isfahan province; and to investigate probable inequality determinants in service utilization. Design/methodology/approach Almost 1,040 households living in Isfahan province participated in this cross-sectional study in 2013. Data were collected by a questionnaire with three sections: demographic characteristics; socio-economic status; and health services utilization. The concentration index was applied to measure inequality. Analysts used STATA 11. Findings Economic status, educational level, insurance coverage and household gender were the most influential factors on health services utilization. Those with a high socio-economic level were more likely to demand and use such services; although self-medication patterns showed an opposite trend. Practical implications Female-headed families face with more difficulties in access to basic human needs including health. Supportive policies are needed to meet their demands. Originality/value The authors used principle component analysis to assess households’ economic situation, which reduced the variables into a single index.


2017 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Uchenna C. Atowa ◽  
Alvin J. Munsamy ◽  
Samuel O. Wajuihian

Aim: To study the prevalence of myopia among school children in Aba, Nigeria.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in public and private (primary and secondary) schools. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used for selecting participants aged between 8 and 15 years from 12 schools in Aba, Nigeria. Data were analysed for 1197 children who underwent a comprehensive eye examination. The children were divided according to the following criteria: age groups (group 1 [8–11 years] or group 2 [12–15 years]), gender (male or female), level of education (primary or secondary) and type of school (public or private). Myopia was defined as spherical equivalent refraction (SER) ≤ -0.50 D in the poorer eye.Results: The prevalence of myopia was estimated to be 2.7%. Of the 96 children with refractive error, 78.1% were uncorrected. In using logistic regression analysis, risk of developing myopia was associated with older age groups (odds ratio [OR]: 1.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.16–9.11; p < 0.010) and higher level of education (OR: 1.73; 95% CI, 1.05–2.86; p < 0.030). There was no significant difference in myopia prevalence between male and female children (p = 0.89).Conclusion: Although the prevalence of myopia and overall prevalence of refractive error in school children in Aba were low, the high prevalence of uncorrected refractive error is a significant public health problem. An effective and sustainable children’s vision screening programme is needed to prevent visual impairment and blindness.


1970 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-65
Author(s):  
Muhammad Faisal Qureshi ◽  
Aneeta Rathore ◽  
Nandlal Seerani ◽  
Sumera Qureshi ◽  
Bisharat Faisal ◽  
...  

Background: Children's health is very important for their better learning and timely nourishment everywhere in the world. Malnutrition among school going children has remained a big challenge in under developed countries. Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 children of four Government Primary schools of Qasimabad, district Hyderabad after taking the proper consent and administration approval from the head of school. Multi stage simple random sampling technique was adopted. Study was approved from Institutional review board of Health Services Academy Islamabad. Results: Out of total, 217 (51.4%) were boys and 205 (48.6%) were girls. Mean Height of boys and girls were 128.09 cm (±SD 12.90) and 130.36 cm (±SD 12.50) respectively. Mean Weight of boys was 25.27 Kgs (±SD 6.17) while in girls mean Weight was 26.83 Kgs (±SD 7.03). 17.57 cm (±SD 2.34) was mean MUAC for all participants and mean BMI was 15.42 (±SD 2.02). Prevalent of stunting and wasting were 24.4% and 18.3% respectively. While in 13.7% thinness (BMI for age) was seen. Stunting was statistically significant in girls 9-10 year (p value=.015, CI: .118-.823, OR=.311) and 11-≥12 years (p value=.018, CI: .215-.874, OR=.434). Pallor was more in girls (17%) and Dental caries were higher in boys (20.8%). Insufficient breakfast was done by 347 (82.2%), whereas 75 (17.8%) were doing sufficient breakfast. 341 (80.8%) students became ill during last year, out of that 80 (19%) were having history of hospitalization. Conclusion: Poor polices and lack of food aid interventions regarding health of primary school going children was assessed during this study.


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