Objectives:The aim of present study was to investigate serum homocysteine levels in apparently healthy vegetarians and ominvores in Mithi, district Tharparker, Sindh, Pakistan.Methods:This study was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry, Basic Medical Sciences Institute (BMSI), Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC), Karachi and blood samples were collected from Mithi, district Tharparker, Sindh, Pakistan, in 2012. One hundred vegetarian and one hundred omnivores (age ranging from 20-40 years) were enrolled for this study. Serum homocysteine levels were measured by the chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay method.Results:Serum homocysteine (Hcy) level was considerably higher (p<0.001) in vegetarian group compared to omnivores. We further grouped and analyzed our study subjects according to their gender and according to Hcy level (greater than or lower than 15µmol/L). A considerable number of vegetarian subjects 30% were having Hcy >15µmol/L compared to omnivores 6%, (p<0.001). Gender-wise comparison showed that 27.02% male and 38.46% females had >15µmol/L serum Hcy level in vegetarian group and 6.9% male and 3.5% females had >15µmol/L serum Hcy level in omnivores group, but the difference was not significant in any group.Conclusion:Vegetarians are more prone to develop hyperhomocysteinemia, so they are at high risk to develop cardiovascular disease.

Background: Neonatal and maternal mortality are the major concerns in the country mainly due to the “three delays” in seeking, reaching, and obtaining appropriate care. Birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPACR) is one of the most important tools to assess these delays. BPACR is the process of planning for normal birth and anticipating the actions needed in case of an emergency. The current study was undertaken to assess the status of BPACR among pregnant women in rural area of Kharsiya block in Raigarh district.Methods: A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among 110 pregnant women in rural area of Kharsiya during January-June 2017. All the pregnant females were interviewed using a pretested and structured questionnaire. Knowledge about danger signs, planning for transport, place and delivery by skilled birth attendant, financial management were assessed. BPACR index was also calculated.Results: The BPACR index was found to be very low (27.79%). About 73.65% women identified a skilled birth attendant for delivery but, only 10% women saved money and only 2.7% women had identified a blood donor for emergency. Nearly 74.54% women had no knowledge about danger or warning signs during pregnancy while 89.09% were unaware of complications during labour and 97.27% women did not know about puerperal complications.Conclusions: BPACR index in this rural area was very low. Vast majority of women were not knowledgeable about birth preparedness and complication readiness.