Abstract Background In low income countries, the task of providing primary health care is often responsibility community workers. Pakistan, workers called Lady Health Workers (LHW) deliver basic at doorstep in rural areas and urban slums. Evaluations show that it a successful programme but point out inconsistencies quality service provided. order achieve this, would be important to obtain workers' viewpoint on their job-description, problems they face levels stress encounter. Methods We...

Maternal psychosocial well‐being (MPW) is a wide‐ranging concept that encompasses the psychological (e.g., mental health, distress, anxiety, depression, coping, problem solving) and social family community support, empowerment, culture) aspects of motherhood. Evidence‐based MPW interventions can be integrated into large‐scale maternal child health programs have not been developed. Building on several years research in Pakistan, we developed cognitive behavioral therapy–based intervention...

ABSTRACT Aim and objectives The aim was to contribute the editorial principles on possible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)- based tools for scientific writing. included Enlist inclusion exclusion criteria test ChatGPT in writing Develop evaluation assess quality articles written by human authors Compare prospectively manuscripts Design Prospective exploratory study Intervention Human were asked write short journal three topics: 1) Promotion early childhood development Pakistan 2)...

Primary health care is a set of services that can meet the needs developing world. Community workers act as bridge between system and community in providing this care. Appropriate knowledge communication skills are key to their confidence elementary for success system. We conducted study document perceptions these on needs, image building through mass media mechanisms continued education. Focus group discussions were held with supervisors belonging all four provinces country Azad Jammu &...

OBJECTIVE: To test the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral counseling on rate and duration exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) during first 6 months an infant’s life compared with routine counseling. METHODS: A single blind cluster-randomized controlled trial was undertaken in 40 Union Councils a rural district northwest province Pakistan between May 2009 April 2010. By simple unmatched randomization, 20 were each allocated to intervention control arms. Two hundred twenty-four third trimester...

Undernutrition and inadequate stimulation both negatively influence child health development have a long‐term impact on school attainment income. This paper reports data from India Pakistan looking at how families interact, play with, feed children; their expectations of growth development; the perceived benefits, consequences, opportunities, barriers adopting recommended feeding developmental behaviors. These were collected as part formative research for Sustainable Program Incorporating...

Primary health care (PHC) is the backbone of universal coverage, with community workers (CHWs) being one its critical pillars in lower-middle-income countries. Most CHW functions require them to be an efficient communicator, but their program development has been deficient this area. Can IT provide some solutions? Moreover, can IT-based CHW-delivered innovations help mothers and children areas not covered by PHC services? We explored these questions during feasibility testing a digital...

Abstract Despite being an important component of Pakistan's primary health care programme, the rates exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months remain among lowest in world. Low levels literacy women and deeply held cultural beliefs practices have been found to contribute ineffectiveness routine counselling delivered universally by community workers Pakistan. We aimed address this incorporating techniques cognitive‐behavioural therapy (CBT) into process. conducted qualitative studies stakeholders'...

Pakistan has one of the highest infant and child mortality rates in world, half these occurring due to vaccine-preventable diseases. The country started its Expanded Programme on immunisation (EPI) 1978. However, programme’s performance is often questioned, as Immunisation have been chronically low on-time vaccination unsatisfactory. We explored insights about structural implementation arrangements within larger governance system, ensuing challenges well opportunities. carried out a...

Afghanistan has faced health consequences of war including those due to displacement populations, breakdown and social services, increased risks disease transmission for over three decades. Yet it was able restructure its National Tuberculosis Control Programme (NTP), integrate tuberculosis treatment into primary care achieve most targets by the year 2011. What were processes that enabled programme targets? More importantly, what underpinning factors made this success possible? We addressed...

One-third of all morbidities and mortalities in the Eastern Mediterranean Region are attributed to communicable diseases. A continued situation war conflict, growing political unrest Region, coupled with factors such as travel migration, insufficient infrastructure inadequate technical managerial capacity ofthe programmes major challenges. Despite these challenges, making progress towards elimination specific diseases lymphatic filariasis, measles, malaria, schistosomiasis dracunculiasis...

Incorporating evidence is fundamental to maintaining the general acceptance and efficiency in public policies. In Pakistan, different actors—local global—strive facilitate development of evidence-informed health Effective involvement however, requires knowledge country-context, i.e. knowing intricacies how policies are formulated Pakistan. Obtaining this one key steps making interventions impactful. We carried out a qualitative study explore environment policy The involved 89 participants...

A 2013-2014 media campaign in Sindh Province, Pakistan, promoted healthy breastfeeding practices. According to data from annual household surveys, 26.7% of mothers saw one television spot and 19.4% another. The proportion who received information via increased 8.3% 29.4% after the (p≤0.05) percentage receiving doctors, mothers-in-law relatives/friends nearly doubled (p≤0.05). However, no improvements practices were reported. experience suggests that, order change practices, mass...

Abstract Background Prevalence of smoking is on the rise and its harmful effects every organ body are well known. Smoking a growing concern due to adverse health, association with academic performance not studied. Objectives This study aims assess prevalence among undergraduate students age 18-24 years in public sector university Islamabad, between also reasons initiation students. Methods The included 500 A self-report structured questionnaire was used smoking, dietary habits, physical...

A novel strain of influenza virus H1N1 surfaced in Mexico April 2009 and quickly spread across the globe, turning an epidemic into a pandemic. Within two months, World Health Organization (WHO) declared international health emergency raised threat bar from level V to VI, i.e. containment mitigation. During this time, WHO Regional Office for Eastern Mediterranean worked closely with its Member States, other stakeholders headquarters manage situation. This report examines steps taken as part...

This study was carried out to document the implementation status of public-private mix (PPM) in 6 member countries World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region, with a particular focus on advocacy, communication and social mobilization (ACSM) specific PPM.Interviews group discussions were held staff national tuberculosis control programmes partners.Four PPM models being practised.For all models, ACSM at elementary stage.Participants perceived that promoting private partners...

In a health emergency, governments rely on public trust in their policy, and anticipate its compliance to protect save lives. Vaccine hesitancy compromises this process when an emergency involves infections. The prevailing discourse vaccine often describes it as static phenomenon, ignoring expanse complexity, neglecting the exploration of tools address it. This article diverges from conventional perspective by explaining case Pakistan communication strategy for COVID-19 vaccine. Decades...