Background: In last few decades, childhood obesity has become a burdensome challenge globally. The most important long-term consequence of childhood obesity is its persistence into adulthood, with all the associated health risks. Persistent obesity is established before the age of 11. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study with non-probability convenient sampling was carried out over a period of three month in a private sector school Islamabad, Pakistan. The sampling frame was 250 students of grade 4 of roots school system. The response rate was 67%. Results: Mean age in our sample was 10 years. Mean BMI was 18.14 with a standard deviation of 4.4. The frequency of obesity in children was 22% (more than 97th percentile and equivalent to BMI of 30kg/m 2) and that of overweight was 32% (more than 85th percentile and BMI of). Among obese children 28% were reasonably physically active the past week. Regarding eating habits 52% children ate their breakfast every day, 16% of the children never had their breakfast because they didn’t like breakfast or because they were never given breakfast at home. 55% of the children thought that obesity can be prevented by making sure that children are into sports and games, by promoting healthy snacks and banning fast foods, by launching fitness programs and by health education. Conclusion: We found a high frequency of obese and overweight children in the private sector school of Islamabad. Physical inactivity and relationship with other factors like watching TV, gaming and over consumption of junk food was found to be associated with overweight and obesity adds some useful data to the previous researches.

Objective: To assess the frequency of antibiotic use through internet and social media among the people visiting Rawal institute of health sciences. To assess knowledge about antibiotics and to explore role of internet search engines and social media for accessing information regarding antibiotic use. Study Design: Cross-sectional Descriptive study. Setting: Rawal Institute of health sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan. Period: June 2019 to September 2019. Material & Methods: A was study carried to find out the role of internet and social media for use of antibiotics through a structured questionnaire from 150 people visiting RIHS. Sampling was done through non probability convenient sampling method. Response rate was 100%. Results: The data of 150 participants showed 92% have used antibiotics in their life time, of those 92% (n=138) participants, 26 %( n=39) have used them through prescription, 30% (n=45) have done self-medication, 19% (n=29) have used social media for medication. 91% think that information regarding use of antibiotics can be spread through internet and social media. Conclusion: The results conclude that social media and internet related antibiotic sales is contributing a substantial share. Majority of the participant also think that internet and social media are the best source to spread information for safe use. National guidelines should be devised for appropriate information seeking and communication interventions can be done using internet and social media.

Background: Amputation is the surgery of “Removal of limb or its part from the body” due to medical reasons. The loss of a limb is indubitably a distressing lifetime experience. Several studies have shown that depression is higher in patients with amputations. The objective of this study is to determine the association of depression with level of amputation, use of prosthesis and sociodemographic characteristics. Methods: A cross-sectional research study was conducted in three physical rehabilitation centers of Quetta in a time span of three months. Non probability convenient sampling was used to collect data from 54 participants having traumatic or non-traumatic unilateral amputation. Depression was measured using the validated tool, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results: Total 54 participants, Males =47(87%) and Females = 7(13%) and were surveyed. Among them 44(81.5%) were married. Majority of the patients 30(55.5%) were between the age of 15-45 while 28 (51.9%) were educated. Majority of the participants (91%) were with lower-limb amputation. Trans-tibial Amputation (TTA) and Trans-Femoral Amputation (TFA) were 27(50%) and 20(37%) respectively. Use of prosthesis was found among 38(70.4%) patients, while 16(29.6%) did not use prosthesis. Statistically significant relationship was found between married participants and depression (p-value 0.047). Our results showed that depression was less in patients using prosthesis compared to the ones not using prosthesis. Conclusion: Structured psychological and psychosocial support to the patients with amputations is needed before and after surgery, involving multidisciplinary teams. More emphasis should be given to the mental health of the married participants, as they showed higher levels of depression.

Background: Research plays a prominent role in day to day life. Very little amount of literature is available on students interest and involvement in research in Pakistan, Most of the studies are quite old and new studies are required to identify the changing trends. It is therefore important to understand and highlight the attitudes and barriers of undergraduate medical students come across in conducting quality research. Objective: Our study intended to assess the knowledge and attitude of medical students at RIHS towards research. Methods: A cross sectional study of five months duration was carried out at RIHS. Sample size of 224 MBBS students was taken, with 5% margin of error and 95% confidence level. Response rate was 67%. Data was collected through close ended questionnaire and was analyzed using SPSS version 17/MS excel. Results: Most (65%) of the students only knew about research and its uses. The rest of 35% had no idea what research is about and what is the process. Out of those 65% who had knowledge, 39% students have conducted research in their life time, out of those 39 %, 16% have previous exposure of conducting research at school, and 23% have done it as a part of mandatory training at medical college (RIHS). The rest of students have done it with their teachers as a part of the team. Conclusion: The most important finding in this research was suggestion of enforcement of research project in the curriculum and as a part of their assessment and the preponderance of participating students considered it difficult to conduct research , with the most common barrier being lack of time, research training , schooling background, and the lack of motivation.

To observe the frequency of smoking in female medical students and to determine the associated factors. Study Design: Cross-sectional survey. Setting: Data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire from female students at Rawal Institute of Health Sciences. Period: February 2015 to August 2015. Methods: Information about demographic characteristics, smoking status in family members, number of cigarettes smoked per day, influence for starting smoking and use of sheesha and hash was obtained. Results: A total of 100 female students were asked to fill the questionnaires. Response rate was 60%, out of which, 52.6 % (31/60) were smokers and 48.4% were non-smokers.6 out of 31 were hash smokers and 20 out of 60 were cigarette smokers, remaining were sheesha smokers. Majority of these females started smoking after 18 years of age, with greatest influence being life style and peer pressure. Our results show substantial trend of smoking in female medical students. Majority have smokers in their families but their families were not aware of their smoking habit. Even though almost everyone was aware of the associated risks, 24% never tried to quit. Most of the students spent Rs 1500 to 3000 per month on smoking. Article Citation: Hassan U, Haq MI, Qadeer AA, Rahim K, Naiyar I. Smoking; frequency and associated factors in female medical students. Professional Med J 2016;23(11):1382-1389.