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IntroductionStigmatization, social exclusion and consequent banishment from the society makes transgender's life even tougher; isolating, pushing and forcing them into inappropriate conducts/habits like selling sex. This study investigates the association of social exclusion/victimization with high-risk behaviors among transgender community of Rawalpindi and Islamabad (Pakistan).MethodsThrough a cross-sectional study design, a sample of 189 transgender community living in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad was selected using snowball sampling technique. A validated close ended questionnaire was used to estimate the high-risk behaviors. Multivariate logistic regression was used to explore the competing outcomes associated with suicidal risk, selling sex and substance abuse.ResultsMajority study participants 77.8% experienced physical attacks with institutional discrimination even higher (91.5%). Commercial sex work and drug abuse was reported in 39.2% and 37.6% respectively. The prevalence of suicide ideation was high (38.6%) however, suicide attempted rate was less (18.5%). In the multivariate logistic regression, compared to those with no risk, being physically attacked increased the odds of both attempting (OR=2.18) and contemplating suicide and selling sex (OR=4.10). Nevertheless, the relative impact of institutional victimization on suicidal behavior was higher among those who were targeted on the basis of their gender identity or expression (AOR = 6.20, CI = 1.58-24.29, p=0.009).ConclusionThe transgender community is socially excluded by the Pakistani society where they experience high levels of physical abuse and face discriminatory behavior in daily life. Such attitudes make them vulnerable for risky behaviors; forcing them to become commercial sex workers, begging, drugs use and even suicidal ideation.

Background and Objectives: The present research was conducted to obtain a perceived stress pattern among nurses attending the psychiatric patients with suicidal and non-suicidal behavior in the different hospitals and clinics of the twin-cities (Islamabad and Rawalpindi) of Pakistan. The main objective of the study was to have an idea about the environment of nursing in psychiatric wards in Pakistani culture. Participants and Method:The sample (N= 36) comprised of the nurses of psychiatric ward attending the one patient for 12 hours (n=16) with and (n=20) without suicidal behavior working into night and day shifts respectively. All the participants gave responses on the perceived stress scale. Participants were approached during their duty hours and were given perceived stress scale 10-items along with demographic information sheet and the consent form. Between group-design was used in the present study. Results and Conclusion:The results indicated that verification of both hypotheses, i.e. the nurses of patients with suicidal behavior had more perceived stress (M= 42 ±3.5) than the nurses of patients without suicidal behavior (M= 19.11 ± 5.7) and also the old nurses had a greater level of perceived stress than the younger nurses according to the same statistics. The t-test, t (28.5) = 14.9 p< 0.05 was significant on 95% confidence interval with variance not equal. Limitations and suggestions for future were also discussed. Both the hypotheses were supported by the analysis-results and by the previous literature.

Ongoing Coronavirus epidemic (COVID-19) identified first in Wuhan, China posed huge impact on public health and economy around the globe. Both cough and sneeze based droplets or aerosols encapsulated COVID-19 particles are responsible for air borne transmission of this virus and caused unexpected escalation and high mortality worldwide. Current study intends to investigate correlation of COVID-19 epidemic with meteorological parameters particularly, temperature, rainfall, humidity, and wind speed along with population size. Data set of COVID-19 for highly infected cities of Pakistan was collected from the official website of National Institute of health (NIH). Spearman rank (rs) correlation coefficient test employed for data analysis revealed significant correlation between temperature minimum (TM), temperature average (TA), wind speed (WS) and population size (PS) with COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve was used to analyze the sensitivity of TA, WS, and PS on transmission rate of COVID-19 in selected cities of Pakistan. The results obtained for sensitivity and specificity analysis for all selected parameters signifies sensitivity and direct correlation of COVID-19 transmission with temperature variation, WS and PS. Positive correlation and strong association of PS parameter with COVID-19 pandemic suggested need of more strict actions and control measures for highly populated cities. These findings will be helpful for health regulatory authorities and policymakers to take specific measures to combat COVID-19 epidemic in Pakistan.