Background: Various factors influence the quality and safety of milk. However, a detailed study about these factors is lacking in our area. Aim: To elucidate perceptions regarding milk hygiene, milk processing and consumption behaviors. Study design: Descriptive cross-sectional study, Place & duration of study: Mohi-ud-Din Islamic Medical College, Mirpur, AJK, from March to August 2020. Methods: Female staff, patients and attendants were included. A pre-tested and pre-validated questionnaire was used to gather responses. Questions were specifically asked about practices associated with consumption of milk and related products, familiarity with risks associated with consumption of raw milk, practices associated with boiling of milk and milk consumption. Result: There were 130 participants and 75(58%) were educated while 55(42%) were uneducated. Almost all of the educated women were aware of the importance of boiling milk. On the contrary, awareness about usage of boiled milk among uneducated women was 69% while 31% were unaware about the importance of boiling milk. About 58% of study participants consume milk regularly as compared to 42% who were not taking milk regularly. The duration of boiling of milk, for majority of participants, ranged from 05-15 minutes. Side effects experienced by the those consuming raw milk included abdominal pain (62%), diarrhea (23%) and vomiting (15%). Conclusion: The findings suggest that there is a need to encourage sterile milk handling practices and local communities should be closely involved to strengthen their understanding of milk safety. There should be campaigns involving masses to induce behavioral changes among communities about safe and hygienic habits involving handling and usage of milk and its products. The best approach to encourage people towards milk safety will be the boiling of milk. Keywords: Milk, boiling, pasteurization, hygiene, raw

Aim: To analyze clinical, biochemical & treatment profile of patients suffering from CLD secondary to viral hepatitis in our region. Duration & place of study: Descriptive study, January 2021 to July 2021 at Frontier Medical & Dental College, Abbottabad Methods: All patients having chronic liver disease secondary to viral hepatitis with or without complications were enrolled in this study. A diagnosis was made based on clinical findings, biochemical tests, ultrasonography of abdomen and upper GI endoscopy findings. Inclusion criteria further included presence of stigmata suggestive of chronic liver disease and clinical and laboratory parameters which were indicative of portal hypertension. Patients who refused to give consent, pregnant female patients and patients suffering from CLD caused by etiological factors other than hepatitis viruses and who were terminally ill were excluded. Results: Mean age of these patients was 41.25±12.59 years. There were 138 males and only 16 female patients. Majority of the patients, 79.22%, developed anorexia. A large number of patients, 82.47%, had hepatomegaly while 58.44% had firmness in their liver. About 79.87% had splenomegaly, 66.23% had spider naevi, 86.36% had ascites and 87.67% had esophageal varices. Almost half of our patients, 50.65%, used steroid therapy while a large majority of them, 85.06%, were taking antiviral treatment. Mean values of bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), albumin and prothrombin time (PT) were 1.43±1.21 mg/dL, 105.33±51.51 U/L, 85.89±89.65 U/L, 3.82±0.65 g/dL, 62.57±22 seconds respectively. Conclusion: Chronic liver disease secondary to viral hepatitis especially hepatitis B and C virus is quite common in our country. It presents with typical stigmata both clinically and pathologically. There is a need to identify these stigmata and diagnose this condition early to avoid complications in these patients. Keywords: Hepatitis, antiviral, hepatomegaly, liver, bilirubin

Background: Being a developing country, fertility rates are high in our country while contraception use is sub-optimal. Aim: To assess the factors and perceptions of women of reproductive age influencing their choice of contraceptive method as well as the prevalence of contraception. Duration & place of study: Mohi-ud-Din Islamic Medical College, Mirpur, AJK from January to June 2021 Methods: In this cross-sectional study, females of child-bearing age were selected. They were divided into various groups based on different parameters. Pre-structured and a pre-validated proforma was used to collect data. Results: Most of the females, 74.88%, were between the ages of 21-40 years. Most of the women were literate and 50.51% had completed their matriculation. Majority of them, about 49.69%, have 2-4 children. The working status revealed that 74.95% women were house wives while only 25% were doing a job and 85.06% were Muslims. The proportion of women belonging to low-income group was only 8.76% while the average was almost similar for women belonging to middle- and high-income group. Media exposure was quite high in the study subjects with about 92.60% reported to have had media exposure. Conclusion: There is restricted and reduced use of contraceptive methods among our study subjects. Among those who use contraception, preferred methods are short acting ones. Keywords: Contraception, women, method choice, family, planning