Background: Vitiligo is an idiopathic acquired depigmentary skin/mucous membrane disorder. Main objective of this study was to find out demographic data, clinical patterns, and comorbidities associated with vitiligo in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Material and Methods: This was a case-control study conducted in Kandahar University Teaching Hospital between July 2017-June 2018. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, and logistic regression were used for data analysis. Results: A total of 400 patients (200 cases and 200 controls) were recruited. Mean age ± standard deviation (SD) of cases were 21.7±13.8 with most of the patients (77/200 [38.5%]) in age group 11-20 years. Female cases were more (107/200 [53.5%]) than males. Family history of vitiligo, accompanying altered immunity and autoimmunity disorders, psychological stress, premature graying of hair, halo nevus, vitamin D deficiency, vitamin B 12 deficiency, and folate deficiency were present in 60/200 (30%), 26/195 (13.3%), 95/200 (47.5%), 31/200 (15.5%), 24/200 (12%), 22/200 (11%), 16/200 (8%), and 14/200 (7%) of the cases, respectively. Most of the patients (148/200 [74%]) had vulgaris, followed by focal (30/200 [15%]) and segmental (11/200 [5.5%]) types of vitiligo. Logistic regression analysis showed that family history, accompanying altered immunity and autoimmunity disorders, premature graying of hair, halo nevus, and atopic diathesis were the possible risk factors of vitiligo with odds ratios of 37.1, 9.0, 6.0, 13.9, and 3.9 respectively. Conclusions: Vitiligo affects women more than men, observed mostly in second decade of life. Vitiligo vulgaris is the most prevalent type.

Background. Anemia is a global public health problem that affects a large number of pregnant women worldwide. In developed and developing countries, the number of pregnant women who become anemic ranges between 18% and 56%, respectively. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anemia and factors associated with anemia among pregnant women who visit Bost Hospital for delivery in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Methods. This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study that included 787 pregnant women who visited Bost Hospital for delivery services from January to June 2019. Data was collected in a self-structured questionnaire, which included sociodemographic, obstetrics, and laboratory information. Data was analyzed using SPSS 21.00 Statistical software. The prevalence of anemia was presented as a percentage. Bivariate analysis and binary logistic regression were used to identify the predictors of anemia among pregnant women. Results. The overall prevalence of anemia in this study was 51% (95% CI = 48.7%–54.7%). The mean hemoglobin concentration among the study participants was 10.8 (±1.8) g/dL. On bivariate analysis, age group 30 years and above, rural residency and unemployment/housewives, multiparity, and no previous use of contraceptive were found to be associated with anemia. Binary logistic regression showed that multiparity (AOR = 3.09, 95% CI = 1.81–5.29) and no contraceptive use (AOR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.08–2.16) were the independent predictors of increased anemia among pregnant women. Conclusion. Anemia was found to be a severe public health problem in the study area. Policymakers in Afghanistan must accelerate interventions to promote family planning. The need for prospective studies is also suggested to identify other factors associated with anemia among pregnant women.

Background Quality antenatal care (ANC) is one of the four pillars of safe motherhood initiatives and improves the survival and health of mother and neonate. The main objective of this study was to assess the barriers in the utilization of ANC services in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Methods This was a cross-sectional analytical study conducted over one year from December 2018–November 2019. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Chi squared, and binary logistic regression. Results A total of 1524 women were recruited in this study with mean age of 30.3 years. Of these women, 848 (55.6%) were rural dwellers, 1450/1510 (96.0%) were illiterate, 438/608 (72.0%) belonged to low-income families, 1112/1508 (73.7%) lived in joint families, 1420/1484 (95.7%) lived in a house of >10 inhabitants, while 388/1494 (26.0%) had attended had at least one ANC visit during their last pregnancy. On univariate analysis, the main barriers in the utilization of ANC services were living in rural areas, being illiterate, having lower socio-economic status, remoteness of the health facility from home, bad behavior of clinic personnel, and unplanned pregnancy. Only lower socio-economic status and bad behavior of clinic personnel were independent explanatory variables in the regression model. Conclusions Utilization of ANC services is inadequate in Kandahar province. Improving clinic staff professional behavior and status of women by expanding educational opportunities, and enhancing community awareness of the value of ANC are recommended.