IntroductionHuman papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common infection of the reproductive tract. The introduction of HPV vaccines by WHO aims to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer. Pakistan lacks an effective nationwide HPV vaccination program, thereby making HPV a major threat. In this study, we aimed to assess the knowledge of HPV vaccination in Pakistan and to determine the barriers against it.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in Karachi, Pakistan, between April and May 2019. A convenience sampling technique was implemented using a self-administered questionnaire, which was filled by individuals aged 18-26. The questionnaire assessed the knowledge regarding HPV and also evaluated the attitude and acceptability amongst these individuals towards the vaccine. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 20.0.ResultsThe majority of the participants belonged to the monthly household income range of 200,000 rupees and above, which was labeled as the high-income category (n=158, 39.5%). Out of the 18 people who were vaccinated, eight belonged to the aforementioned category. Of these 18, nearly two-thirds (n=11, 61.1%) had gotten vaccinated upon the recommendation of their doctor. A statistically significant difference was found only between those currently enrolled in universities and previously vaccinated for HPV (p=.047). Nearly half of the responders perceived the vaccine to be time-consuming (n=167, 41.8%) and overpriced (n=187, 46.8%).ConclusionThe vaccination rate is low in Karachi, Pakistan. Concentrated efforts involving the healthcare system should be made to raise awareness regarding HPV and its vaccine thereby reducing barriers to HPV prevention

Background: Endoscopic procedures are frequently performed to rule out any disease process which eventuates with either a positive or negative outcome. Association of patient demographics, clinical features with endoscopic outcomes are of paramount importance for better understanding and practice of endoscopy. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the frequency of positive endoscopic findings in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms compared to those with negative findings. As a secondary objective, the association between relevant demographics, symptoms, laboratory investigations and procedural outcomes of the participants and positive endoscopic findings were also assessed. Methods: A retrospective analysis of all the patients who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy from January 2017 to December 2017 was conducted. A total of 1066 endoscopy records were retrieved and using a convenience sampling technique, relevant data were manually entered to the questionnaires. Records with incomplete or inconsistent data were disregarded as per the exclusion criteria, resulting in 1011 patient records ultimately utilized for the study. All data were entered and analyzed using IBM SPSS 23.0. Results: The study comprised a total of 1011 patients where 52.2% were females and 47.8% males while the mean age of patients was 42.16 ± 15.45. Positive endoscopic findings were observed in 88.1%, where the most common finding was gastritis (49.1%). Approximately 14.5% had positive investigation findings for HBsAg and 23.1% were seropositive for anti-HCV antibody.

This article aims to comment on pandemic preparedness strategies, especially for refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Yemen, and the obstacles that may hinder their success. Yemen is currently undergoing the largest humanitarian crisis worldwide, with 283,000 refugees from the Middle East and Africa, and 3.6 million internally displaced inhabitants. Basic needs including food, water and shelter have been compromised, in the setting of political unrest and financial instability. The effects of healthcare discrimination and inadequate healthcare facilities have intensified in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic, where healthcare resources are of the utmost significance. This amounts to a wake-up call for concerned international bodies and charitable organizations to intensify their efforts in view of the rising infection rate. Since March 2020, numerous endeavors have been made by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and partners, such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Yemen Red Crescent Society (YRCS), with the objective of mitigating the situation in Yemen. Improving relationships between Yemeni citizens and migrants, and strengthening collaboration with foreign governments may help secure the health and wellbeing of the displaced population amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.