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This is the first study done to explore reproductive health needs of adolescent males in Pakistan. The purpose of this exploratory study was to obtain qualitative information on existing knowledge and perceptions on puberty and reproductive health needs and to identify effective communication channels for imparting reproductive health education to adolescent males. Seventy-eight unmarried adolescent males participated in the survey, conducted through in-depth interviews by a semi-structured questionnaire using purposive sampling, in eight rural districts in Pakistan. The study pointed out that there existed misconceptions and gaps in knowledge regarding puberty and reproductive health. These young men also have poor knowledge about sexually transmitted diseases dynamics. The communication between parents or siblings on the said issues was found to be poor and they mainly get information from friends followed by the media. The majority showed interest in getting quality information. Multiple entry points and settings can be used to enhance access to information and services. In-school adolescents could be effectively approached through teachers and peer group. Out-of-school adolescents could be reached via media and local health care providers. The results imply that there is a dire need for reproductive health education for adolescent males and suggestions from this study might be utilized when initiating any reproductive health educational service for male adolescents in rural areas in Pakistan. Future efforts should thus focus on assuring access to timely, comprehensive and high-quality reproductive health education for all teenagers and reducing gaps in access related to gender and school attendance.rural adolescent males; puberty; reproductive health; Pakistan

Objectives: To assess the nutritional status of adolescent college girls by assessing the dietary intake in terms of carbohydrates, proteins, Estimating the hemoglobin levels in the study group and studying the clinical signs of malnutrition with special emphasis to vitamin A, iron and iodine deficiency. Design of Study:A cross-sectional study.Settings: Two Post-Graduate women colleges of Rawalpindi. Materials and Methods:Nutritional status of 508 adolescent girls was assessed with a questionnaire, clinical examination and biochemical estimation (hemoglobin). The data thus collected was analyzed in July 2006 on computer with the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Excel.Results: Results revealed that 20%of girls were having BMI <18.5, 77% above 18.5% and 3% were obese. 57.09% of the girls had goiter out of which 52.96% had palpable goiter and 4.13% had visible goiter. Pallor conjunctiva was seen in 1% girls. No clinical signs of Vitamin A deficiency were seen. Biochemical results indicated that 32.87% of the girls was suffering from Iron deficiency anemia.Conclusions: Large longitudinal and cross-sectional studies, regarding nutrient consumption, dietary habits and nutritional intervention are required in the adolescent girls. These studies can be thought provoking for the policy maker at the government level. Nutritional education and health promotion can be used as tool to improve the health status of the nation.

Objectives: To assess different level of stress and reaction to those stressors among undergraduate medical students andalso observe an association between different academic years, if any exists. Design of the study: Cross-sectional study. Settings: IslamicInternational medical college- a private medical college in Rawalpindi. Period: From 2006 to 2007. Material & methods: Questionnaire usedwas a stress inventory called students life stress inventory. It was distributed to all registered MBBS students at IIMC in years 1- 5 whovoluntarily participated. 403 out of 500 students completed the questionnaire with response rate 81.6%. Results: Data was analyzed throughSPSS by applying different statistical tests, which were ANOVA, and t test. Results reveal that 21.53% students were mildly stressed, 39.12%students were moderately stressed and 12.64% students were severely stressed. Significant gender differences were found on almost all thesub-scales. The findings reveal that females face more stressors especially conflicts, emotional and behavioral (p < .01), stress was moresignificant between boarders as compare to non-boarders. One Way Analyses of variance (ANOVA) was computed to check the significanceof differences on mean scores. An analysis of variance on Student Life Stress Inventory is significant, F = (3.774), p <.01. Mean differenceindicates that prevalence of stress is higher in first year and final year MBBS students. Conclusion: This study presents pragmatic evidenceregarding the psychological health of students in our college. These findings suggest that high levels of stress exist in our students especiallysignificant during first and final years of their course. It is important for us to know the prevalence and causes of student stress, which not onlyaffects their health, but also their academic achievement. Information from this study can be used to develop appropriate intervention programsfor medical students, in order to decrease their stress leve

Objective: To measure the distance of villagesfrom the facility (BHU) and to analyze the geographical location, Pattern of Access and health facility utilization. StudyPurpose: To improve the health status of community, by improving the geographical patterns of access and healthfacility utilization in Pakistan and to provide necessary information to policy makers, planners and health care providersfor improvement of health facility utilization in Pakistan. Study Design: A cross sectional study. Setting: At UnionCouncil Gali Jagir, Tehsil Fateh Jang, District Attock. Period: From 15 Nov 1999 to 31 Dec 2000. Material & Method:Measurement of the distance from the villages to the health facility and the facility record was reviewed to assess theutilization pattern by the village population. Information about mode of travel, time for travel and cost of traveling wascollected by the key informers. Results: 22% of villages and 23% of population was situated at a distance of 3km fromthe BHU. 33% of villages and 30% of population were living within 5km. 67% of villages and 70% of population wassituated at a distance of more than 5km from BHU.The overall health facility utilization of BHU Gali Jagir is 8.34%.Discussion: The health facility utilization decreases as the distance increases. Geographical accessibility up to adistance of 3km is a new finding in the study. We have noted that majority of the villages and populations, 67% villagesand 70% population is uncovered and 33% villages’ and 30%population is under served. Conclusion: The study hasidentified the gaps in the geographical access patterns that an accessible distance is 3km instead of 5km (as acceptedby world health organization). Distance of 3km was accessible for seeking care from a public health care facility. Theover all health facility utilization was 8.32 %, which was alarmingly low.