IntroductionThere is a need to continue primary healthcare services through digital communication for disadvantaged women living in underdeveloped areas of Pakistan, especially in the age of the coronavirus pandemic, social distancing and lockdown of communities. This project will be the first of its kind in aiming to implement a digital health literacy intervention, using smartphone and internet, to disadvantaged women through female community healthcare workers. Improved health literacy in women of reproductive years is known to promote maternal, child and family health overall.Methods and analysisThe study will include a baseline survey, a pre- and post-test survey and a 3-month lasting intervention on (1) hygiene and prevention and (2) coronavirus awareness and prevention. Women of reproductive years will be sampled from disadvantaged areas across the four provinces of Pakistan (Baluchistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh), and the selection criteria will be poor, semiliterate or illiterate, belonging to underdeveloped neighbourhoods devoid of universal healthcare coverage and dependent on free primary health services. A target of 1000 women will comprise the sample, with 500 women each assigned randomly to the intervention and control groups. Analysis of variance and multivariate analysis will be used for analysing the intervention’s effects compared with the control group.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval for this study has been received from the Internal Review Board of the Forman Christian College University (reference number: IRB-252/06-2020). Results will be published in academic journals of repute and dissemination to the international scientific community and stakeholders will also be planned through workshops.Trial registration numberNCT04603092.

This study aimed to identify social determinants of maternal and child health (SDoH) in Pakistan. Using a qualitative study design, data were collected from community members in seven underserved areas of Lahore City, Pakistan. A total of 22 qualitative in-depth interviews and 10 focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted. The participants included basic health unit healthcare staff, women of reproductive ages, male family members, mothers-in-law, and religious leaders. We found that maternal and child health is adversely affected by the following socioeconomic and environmental barriers: (i) poor housing quality and sanitation; (ii) inadequate food supply and safety; (iii) unsatisfactory public sector school services; (iv) a lack of safety and security; (v) scarce poverty alleviation efforts and loan schemes; (vi) unsatisfactory transport and internet services; and (vii) inadequate health services. The targets for maternal and child health in Pakistan cannot be met without close coordination between the primary health sector, local governance, and macro state structures, which collectively must monitor and improve housing adequacy, food security, public sector services (primary healthcare services, public schooling, public transport, and public internet access), overall safety, and poverty emergence.

The current study is an examination of increasing coverage of food crimes on media and its influence on the public. There are number of broadcasts, commentaries, articles and investigations that have surfaced on public platforms regarding the heinous individual and organized food crimes in Pakistan, literature about the food safety standards in Pakistan has also confirmed that the increasing safety violations have created an impact on public health. These investigative initiatives have created an impact on the audience about reevaluating their choices and decisions about the procurement of common to specialized food items and supplies. This study assesses a range of concepts related to food risk and safety perception amongst the audience with reference to the role and effectiveness of media. The media’s function is assessed in the broader framework of public service and social responsibility theories.

Background: The majority of poor, illiterate women of reproductive years in Pakistan are living in underdeveloped regions and are solely dependent on free primary health services provided by the state. This project aims 1) to collect baseline health and social data, 2) to deliver a health and social literacy intervention, 3) to deliver a team-building intervention for primary-level healthcare providers, and 4) to conduct a community needs assessment. Methods: Electronic health and social data will be collected at baseline, which will be used to develop a comprehensive database and develop an index for Maternal Health and Wellbeing. A 24-month intervention will be delivered which will have 6 modules related to health and social literacy. The principal investigators will train the data collectors and intervention facilitators. Lady Health Workers will collect the electronic data and pre-post test data, and Community Social Workers will deliver the health and social literacy intervention. Cluster randomized sampling will be used to sample 6 BHUs across 6 different cities of Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 360 women will be sampled and assigned randomly to the experiment and control groups. The principal investigators will deliver the team-building intervention and conduct the community needs assessment. The participants for the latter will include doctors, nurses and community health workers; and for the former will include women from the community, women community health providers, community elders and religious leaders, and local government officials. Discussion: Pakistan is falling behind on its sustainable development goals for maternal health, mainly due to the limitations of the existing services and literacy of women. There is critical need to support understaffing of current providers by partnering them with community social workers and training them for better care delivery. Similarly, women need support for gaps in both health and social literacy. Development of an index and community needs assessment report can support better identification of environmental and socio-cultural needs in the community and to advise policy makers and stakeholders about issues wider which directly and indirectly impact women’s health. Trial registration: This study has been registered with ClinicalTrials.gov. The identification number is: NCT05389501.