Background Iron supplementation is considered an imperative strategy for anemia prevention and control during pregnancy in Pakistan. Although there is some evidence on the predictors of iron deficiency anemia among Pakistani women, there is a very limited understanding of factors associated with iron consumption among Pakistani pregnant women. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the predictors of iron consumption for at least ≥90 days during pregnancy in Pakistan. Methods We analyzed dataset from the nationally representative Pakistan Demographic Health Survey 2017–2018. The primary outcome of the current study was the consumption of iron supplementation for ≥90 days during the pregnancy of the last birth. Women who had last childbirth 5 years before the survey and who responded to the question of iron intake were included in the final analysis (n = 6370). We analyzed the data that accounted for complex sampling design by including clusters, strata, and sampling weights. Results Around 30% of the women reported consumed iron tablets for ≥90 days during their last pregnancy. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, we found that factors such as women’s age (≥ 25 years) (adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) = 1.52; 95% CI: 1.42–1.62)], wealth index (rich/richest) (aPR = 1.25; [95% CI: 1.18–1.33]), primary education (aPR = 1.33; [95% CI: 1.24–1.43), secondary education (aPR = 1.34; [95% CI: 1.26–1.43), higher education (aPR = 2.13; [95% CI: 1.97–2.30), women’s say in choosing husband (aPR = 1.68; [95% CI: 1.57–1.80]), ≥ five antenatal care visits (aPR =2.65; [95% CI (2.43–2.89]), history of the last Caesarian-section (aPR = 1.29; [95% CI: 1.23–1.36]) were significantly associated with iron consumption for ≥90 days. Conclusion These findings demonstrate complex predictors of iron consumption during pregnancy in Pakistan. There is a need to increase the number of ANC visits and the government should take necessary steps to improve access to iron supplements by targeting disadvantaged and vulnerable women who are younger, less educated, poor, and living in rural areas.

Poliomyelitis is a highly contagious and incurable disease, which mainly affects children under five years of age leading to irreversible paralysis and possibly death. For decades, both private and government organizations have been putting efforts through their partnership to eradicate polio completely from the different parts of the globe and as a result of those efforts there are left only three countries which are currently polio endemic. Since Pakistan is one of those three countries which still remain polio endemic along with Afghanistan and Nigeria, it is significant to address this issue and work on the preventive measures to control the incidence of such a lethal disease. In Pakistan, a program was introduced on immunization in 1978, known as Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI). The main purpose of EPI was to reduce the burden of diseases like polio and tetanus. Although the number of polio cases has fallen due to the classic efforts of government and other NGOs, polio is not eradicated from Pakistan. This situation is thought provoking. Even after the great global efforts; polio is not eradicated from Pakistan. Multiple factors might have prevented the eradication of this deadly disease from our society.

No abstract

No abstract

BackgroundThe world health organization (WHO), since 1948, has defined health as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity". This was later expanded to include intellectual, environmental, and spiritual health. This is a very remarkable statement, considering that it was originally created in 1948(WHO) [1]. Personal responsibility is the driving force reflected in the above definition of health given by WHO, and the purpose defines destiny to achieve good health. If a state of ongoing health is our choice and purpose, then it is up to us to strive for this destiny ourselves. Life is a gift of God; the degree of health that we hold be a marker for how well we've taken care of this wonderful gift. Pakistan is ethnically, linguistically, religiously, and culturally a diverse society [2]. Our culture is a mixed culture. Pakistan is a Muslim country, although most people in Pakistan are Muslims, there is a strong influence of different cultures and their social activities on our culture, for example, Hindu culture influences are visible on our ceremonies and festivals. Despite significant progress has been made in recent years, the development indicators for Pakistan are still low. In addition, poverty is the major problem in our country, every person could not earn 1$ daily according to WHO.The country is largely comprised of scattered rural communities. The total expenditure on health from the gross domestic products is less than 2 percent and health services are mainly provided by the private sectors in Pakistan. The health indicators are very poor and current health status of the nation is characterized by a high population growth rate, high incidence of low birth weight babies and high maternal and neonatal mortality. In addition to these problems, both communicable and non-communicable diseases are increasing day by day. Communicable, infectious and parasitic diseases remain a severe burden on the country in the form of malaria and tuberculosis which continue to remain potential threats for the Pakistani Population [3]. Some of the health problems faced by the health sector are: i. Inadequate primary health care ii. A high rate of population growth iii. Prevalence of communicable and non-communicable diseases iv. Managerial deficiencies v. The inadequacy of funding and trained manpower vi. Centralized administrative and financial powers vii. Lack of mass awareness of health.