Muhammad Arsalan

and 5 more

Background: Newly Merged Districts (NMDs) of erstwhile FATA Pakistan area has remained under protracted emergency of conflict and terrorism and has difficult terrain with hard to reach areas. Methods: We conducted KAP survey about COVID19 in five NMDs, aiming at assessing knowledge of population and establishing baseline for comparison. A total of 1227 respondents (376 adult males, 382 adult females, 236 adolescent boys and 233 adolescent girls) were interviewed in 150 locations over a period of five days. Data Instruments were pretested, and consent of respondents were taken. Multiple choice options were given to choose from; hence responses have been calculated. Results: Our results reveal that mean knowledge score was similar amongst adults and adolescents. However, adult males on average scored better than the adult females. Overall, 98 % of the study participants knew about COVID 19 and 92% participants acknowledged COVID- 19 as a preventable infection. Formal school education and belonging to district NWTD and SWTD (vs. the reference district Khyber) were significantly associated with higher knowledge score amongst both adults and adolescents. In addition, formal school education and adults belonging to district Kurram, Orakzai and SWTD (vs. the reference district Khyber) had greater odds of believing that COVID 19 is preventable. Conclusion: Our findings confirm that majority of respondents know about symptoms, spread, prevention, test and treatment related to COVID 19 which may be attributed to concurrent global, national and provincial information dissemination campaigns.

Muhammad Asim

and 6 more

Swine-origin influenza (H1N1) virus appeared in 2009 which spread worldwide, and it still circulates in the population. This study aimed at exploring the clinical manifestations and results in admitted patients having H1N1 influenza. All patients with confirmed or suspected influenza (H1N1) who reported to NWGH & RC, Peshawar, Pakistan from January 2018 till December 2019 were included in the study. Data was collected on demographics, preexisting medical conditions, duration of hospital stay, clinical laboratory data, outcome, and clinical features. Distribution of variables was assessed using histograms, comparison of continuous variables was done via independent Student’s t-test and of categorical variables using Chi Square test. A p value of ≤0.05 was set as cut-off for significance. A total of 39 patients presented to the hospital during the study period. Mean age was 52 (15.8) years and the proportion of male and female participants was 43.6% and 56.4% respectively. Clinical features included fever, shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, body aches and sore throat. The most commonly occurring comorbidities were hypertension [21 (53.8%)], diabetes [11 (28.2%)], and chronic kidney disease [3 (7.7%)]. Real time PCR positivity was present in 36 (92.3%) patients. Overall, 30 (76.9%) survived while 09 (23.1%) died. Comparison of the clinical parameters of survivors and non-survivors showed that non-survivors had significantly higher risk of renal failure (p=0.01), ionotropic disturbances (p=0.001), secondary infection (p=0.03), septic shock (p=0.001), and respiratory problems, requiring non-invasive ventilation and invasive mechanical ventilation (p=0.001).