Asian Journal of Allied Health Sciences (AJAHS)

Combating Violence against Healthcare Workers: A Call for Safety and Respect in Pakistan

Dr. Asif Hanif — 2023-08-07

Violence against healthcare workers has become an alarming and distressing issue in Pakistan. It is high time for Pakistani authorities, communities, and individuals to take a stand against this grave problem and ensure the safety and respect of healthcare workers. Violence against healthcare workers encompasses a wide range of acts, including physical assaults, verbal threats and abuse, harassment, and even murder. It occurs in various healthcare settings, such as hospitals, clinics, and ambulances, and affects doctors, nurses, paramedics, and other medical personnel.

Violence against healthcare workers has severe consequences for the healthcare system and the public at large. Moreover, violence against healthcare workers deters talented individuals from entering the medical profession, exacerbating the existing shortage of skilled personnel in Pakistan.

Addressing violence against healthcare workers requires a collaborative effort from all stakeholders involved. The following steps are crucial in ensuring the safety and respect of healthcare professionals:

Legal Protection and Enforcement

Enhanced Security Measures

Awareness and Education

Supportive Work Environment

Strengthening Accountability

Pakistan can create an atmosphere of safety and respect for healthcare professionals. It is time for society as a whole to recognize the immense value healthcare workers bring to our lives and ensure they are protected from all forms of violence.

Research in Healthcare in Pakistan

Muhammad Yahya Qureshi — 2023-08-07

One of the primary obstacles to research in healthcare is the limited availability of funding. Adequate financial support is vital to conduct high-quality research, support research infrastructure, and attract and retain talented researchers. Governmental and non-governmental organizations should allocate substantial resources to research grants, fellowships, and scholarships, enabling researchers to pursue their investigations and contribute to scientific advancements.

Ethics and integrity in research are of utmost importance. Establishing robust ethical review boards and ensuring adherence to ethical guidelines in research studies is essential to protect the rights and well-being of research participants. Furthermore, fostering a culture of scientific integrity, promoting responsible conduct of research, and addressing issues such as plagiarism and publication bias will enhance the credibility and impact of research conducted in Pakistan.

Impact of Hypothyroidism and Lipid Profile on Obesity

Usman Ali Shams — 2023-07-27

Background: Obesity is frequently characterized as a state of irregular or over the top fat collection in adipose tissue, to the degree that health might be impeded. Obesity and hypothyroidism are two common medical conditions which have been linked together closely. The clinical cardiovascular manifestation in obesity is correlated with the changing of serum lipid profile. The abnormality of fat and lipoprotein in obese patient generally are the increase of LDL, cholesterol, hypertriglyceridemia, and decrease of HDL cholesterol.

Objective: The current study aims to determine association of obesity with hypothyroidism, lipid profile and thyroid hormones.

Methodology: Total of 150 samples was collected from obese participants of > 30 BMI. For thyroid profile samples were run on (cobas e411) principle of the Electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) and lipid profile on COBAS c311 on the principle of photometric assays and ion-selective electrode measurements and uses serum/ plasma.

Results: Among study participant 104 (69.3%) were females and 46 (30.7%) were males. The higher prevalence of obesity in female is the indicative risk. Result of chi square test predict; obesity and hypothyroidism P value 0.817, obesity and triglyceride 0.144, obesity and HDL 0.565, obesity and cholesterol 0.204 and obesity and LDL 0.004.

Conclusion: Crystal significant association between obesity and LDL was founded (P-value ≥0.005). No association was observed for other study variables.

Keywords: Obesity; Hypothyroidism; TSH; LDL; HDL; TG; Cholesterol

The Association of Anxiety and Depression with Tinnitus

Mohsin Raza — 2023-07-27

ABSTRACT

Background:

Anxiety and Depression were linked to an increase in tinnitus. Other than anxiety, depression was associated with tinnitus. Tinnitus causes changes in neural circuits in the brainstem and cortex, which are linked to a number of comorbid diseases. Tinnitus is thought to be a symptom of auditory nerve failure. Subjective and objective tinnitus are two forms of tinnitus.

Objective:

To find out the association of depression and anxiety with tinnitus.

Methodology:

An analytic cross-sectional study design was performed on a sample of 150 adult both male and female have diagnosed with tinnitus having age from 25 to 45 age limit with non-probability sampling technique. Data was collected from October 2021 to March 2022 and Beck Anxiety scale, Beck Depression inventory and Tinnitus Handicap inventory was used to collect data, analyzed and evaluated with the help of statistical package for social sciences version 25. Pearson Chi-square test was used to determine association of depression and anxiety in tinnitus patients. The significant level was set as equal as or less than p < 0.05.

Results:

A Total of 150 adult both male and female assessed to know the association of depression and anxiety with tinnitus. Of these, 65.3% low level Anxiety due to tinnitus increase and also 58.0% moderate depression increases. Significant values have been seen (p<0.082) in Anxiety and (p<0.005) in association of depression and anxiety with tinnitus.

Conclusions:

As level of tinnitus increases, level of Anxiety and Depression was also increase. Patients suffering with tinnitus have high risk of Depression than Anxiety. As results showed tinnitus cause depression great than Anxiety.

Key words:

Tinnitus, Depression, Anxiety.

Comparison of Dynamic Balance in Normal and Overweight Students through Y Balance Test

Barira Shahid — 2023-07-17

ABSTRACT

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the dynamic balance in normal and overweight students through y balance test.

Method: This study recruited 30 participants of either sex Participants were also categorized as normal weight (n=15) and overweight (n=15) according to the BMI. Dynamic balance was analyzed by Y balance test in anterior, posteromedial and postero-lateral directions. Comparison of all variables was entered in SPSS and after testing normality, independent sample t test was applied for mean difference keeping p value of 0.05 as significant.

Results: Mean age of the male subjects was 22±1.00 years and female was 21.81±1.41years The anterior reach distance of right leg of group with normal weight individuals is (53.53±8.12) and group with overweight individuals is (60.40±7.67).The difference between these groups in anterior reach distance was statistically significant (p-value 0.024), but not with the posteromedial and posterolateral directions.

Conclusion: Increase BMI shows significant results in the anterior direction. The anterior reach distance in overweight individuals is quite greater than normal weight individuals .On the other hand, no significant difference is seen in posterolateral and posteromedial directions.

Key words: Overweight, Normal weight, Postural balance, Y balance test

Association of Physical Functional Capacity with BMI and Strength in Hypertensive Adults

Sumaiyah Obaid — 2023-07-17

Objective: To determine the correlation of functional capacity with BMI and strength in hypertensive adults via exercise testing by using aerobic endurance, upper and lower limb strength tests and functional capacity and to determine the quality of life in hypertensive adults; To determine the quality of life in hypertensive adults.

Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study conducted over 6 months from September 2019 to February 2020 at Noor Hussain Hospital Attock, Pakistan. Among 146 hypertensive adults recruited in the study by non-probability purposive sampling, between 40 and 60 years of age, all were found eligible. The aim of the study and testing methods were explained to the participants and written informed consent was obtained before testing. The study tools were then applied on the participants including 6 minute walk test, upper limb and lower limb strength test, arm curl test, 30 second chair stand test, time up go test and step test. The measures were performed by all the hypertensive adults on the same day individually. 5 minute interval was given between each test. 15D Quality of life questionnaire was used for assessing the quality of life status of the participants.

Results: The value of r (0.281, 0.420) shows moderate positive correlation among 6 MWT with arm curl test and 30s chair stand test whereas moderate negative correlation is seen among 6MWT with BMI, TUG and step test as per value of r (-0.081, -0.590, -0.639).

Discussion: According to our study results it is concluded that there is no association of functional capacity with body mass index, time up go and step test. Moderate association of functional capacity with arm curl test and 30 second chair stand test.

The Burden of Stroke in Sukkur, Pakistan

Lal Chand — 2023-07-17

Background: Stroke is the subsequent driving reason for death and a significant reason for incapacity around the world. Its rate is expanding on the grounds that the populace ages. Furthermore, more youngsters are impacted by stroke in low-income nations. Ischemic stroke is more incessant yet hemorrhagic stroke is answerable for additional passing and inability changed life-years lost.

Objective: To identify the burden of stroke on the population of sukkur, Pakistan.

Materials and Methods: The goal of this cross-sectional survey was to provide an inquiry of the burden of stroke in Sukkur, Pakistan, on patients which are investigated at Department of Neurology, Ghulam Muhammad Mahar Medical College & Teaching Hospital Sukkur from November 2021 till February 2022. A total of 339 patients with symptoms of cerebrovascular diseases.

Results: The bulk of patients were in the 41–60 age bracket, secondly the above 60 years of-fold that was recorded in older age groups. Among all the Bulk (n=247, 72.9%) were male, (n=326, 96.2%) were married. while, majority (n=130, 38.3%) of patients were un-educated, in profession (n=113, 33.3%) were found un-employed and (n=210, 61.9%) had not any direct source of income. Among all the majority (n=219, 64.6%) were residing in the urban area of Sukkur, Pakistan. The majority (n=307, 90.6%) of the patients were suffering from ischemic stroke followed by the (n=32, 9.4%) the hemorrhagic stroke.

Conclusion: The study finalized that, among the population of sukkur the ischemic stroke is more prevalent and but more burden then the hemorrhagic stroke

Prevalence of chlamydia and levels of seminal antisperm antibody and oxidative stress markers of infertile men in Calabar, Southern Nigeria

Iya Eze Bassey — 2023-07-17

Background: Male infertility occurs globally and has a multifactorial aetiology. This study assessed prevalence of chlamydia and levels of seminal antisperm antibody (ASA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase and vitamin C of infertile men in Calabar, Southern Nigeria.

Basic procedures: This was a case-control study involving 35 oligospermic, 30 azoospermic men and 30 normospermic fertile men. Seminal chlamydial IgG antibody and ASA were done by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, TAC, Vitamin C and catalase by colorimetry and semen analysis by WHO method. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 18.0 and data obtained was analyzed by the ANOVA, LSD Post hoc analysis, Pearson’s correlation and the level of significance was set at P < 0.05

Main findings: The oligospermic and azoospermic men had significantly lower (p = 0.0001) sperm count, sperm concentration, % sperm motility, catalase, TAC and significantly higher (p = 0.002) ASA than controls. Only the oligospermic men had significantly lower (p = 0.017) Vitamin C levels than the controls. They also had significantly higher catalase (p = 0.003) compared to the azoospermic men. None were positive for ASA and 4.4% of the infertile men were positive for chlamydia IgG antibody. Vitamin C correlated significantly and negatively with ASA (r= -0.388, p =0.009).

Principal conclusions: The prevalence of chlamydia and ASA of infertile men in this study was 4.4% and 0% respectively, seminal TAC, catalase and Vitamin C were lower and ASA higher in infertile men than fertile men.