The substantial burden of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased feelings of fear and uncertainty. The contagious nature and high mortality associated with the disease has caused psychological distress, depression, stress, and anxiety among the general population, including pregnant women. 1,2 The COVID-19 pandemic affects pregnant women's perceptions, appetite, psychosocial behavior, and sleep patterns, which in turn may impact the physical and cognitive development of their newborn babies. 3 This has resulted in myriad issues for overburdened health systems trying to provide appropriate medical and mental health care. 4-6 Pakistan, a low-income country, has been slow to recognize maternal health conditions; therefore, these are unrecognized and undertreated. 7,8 The present study highlights sociodemographic factors, psychological impact, levels of depression (no depression, possible depression, and maximum depression) and anxiety, lack of appetite, and sleep disturbances among pregnant women in Lahore, Pakistan, during the COVID-19 pandemic. A descriptive cross-sectional study on pregnant women visiting the Outpatient Department (OPD) of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, was conducted from August 6-20, 2020; a consecutive sampling technique (non-probability) was used. Pregnant women were included irrespective of their gestational period and parity, whereas pregnant women with psychiatric disorders and co-morbidities were excluded from the study. A total of 600 pregnant women were selected for this study. Among the study group, 552 (92%) responded and were included for further analysis. Psychological impact due to the COVID-19 pandemic was measured using the Kessler-10 scale (K-10), 9 and depression and anxiety were measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). 10 Research data were evaluated using SPSS version 22.0

Objective: To analyze the most used applications on smartphone among school going children (5-16 years). Study Design and Setting: Descriptive cross sectional study comprised of five months (April 2017 to July 2017); concerned community survey i.e. door to door data collection method was carried out in Lahore, Pakistan. Material and Methods: Multistage cluster sampling technique was used. 6200 school going children were selected, 4030 (65%) respond to the study and remaining 2170 (35%) do not respond to the study (excluded from the research). Among 4030 school going children, 2889 (71.7%) were smartphone users (included in the analysis) and 1141 (28.3%) do not use smartphone (excluded in the analysis). Among 2889 school going smartphone users, 1993 (69%) were short term smartphone users and 896 (31%) were long term smartphone users. Descriptive statistics and Bivariate logistic regression was applied on the gathered data. Results: Significant associations were found. The use of smartphone for messaging have p-value = 0.19, for Facebook p-value = 0.11, for WhatsApp p-value = 0.043, for playing games p-value < 0.001, for listening music p-value = 0.049, for watching videos and movies p-value = 0.030, for alarm purpose p-value = 0.001 and for camera purpose p-value = 0.015. Conclusion: The research findings showed that most used applications on smartphone among school going children (5-16 years) were WhatsApp and used smartphone for playing games, listening music, watching videos and movies, alarm and camera purpose with respect to which the study was concise.

ABSTRACT… Introduction:The upsurge in occurrence of overweight and obesity is explored with the passage of time as the corresponding diseases are increasing rapidly. Objectives: The main objectives of this instant research study were to explore the comorbidities and their association with overweight and obesity among 25 to 60 years old women. Study Design and Setting: Descriptive cross sectional study was carried out in Lahore, Pakistan from January 2016 to May 2016. Material and Methods: All the non-pregnant and non-lactating women 25 to 60 years of age belonging to different socio-economic groups were included in our study. Results: Based on cluster sampling technique and sample size, there were 1555 women in 20 clusters in which 1106 overweight and 449 obese women were found for the further research. IBM SPSS statistics version 21 was used to analyze our research findings. Conclusion:The study leads to the interesting exposition of the various overwhelming diseases related to overweight and obesity. Significant achievements were obtained by considering different comorbidities with respect to which the topic can be easily summarized to some extent. Key words:Comorbidities, Overweight, Obesity, Women (25 to 60 years of age). Article Citation: Tariq R, Tariq K. Overweight and obesity; Comorbidities among 25-60 years women in Lahore, Pakistan.

Objectives: To discover role of mass media in cervical cancer and its screening awareness with socio-demographic profile, understanding, source of information and advocacy towards the disease. Study Design: Descriptive study. Setting: OPD of Gynecology and Obstetrics Department, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. Period: 1st August, 2022 to 31st October, 2022. Material & Methods: Participants were selected via convenient sampling technique. Data was analyzed through SPSS version 24. Results: 17% respondents agreed that mass media has attributed to cervical cancer awareness while 83% were not familiar with the disease. 93% and 7% respondents had poor and good understanding, respectively. 36% respondents attained information from doctors/health care workers. Whereas, 68% and 32% respondents had found mass media imperative and had not found significant in cervical cancer and its screening advocacy, respectively. Conclusion: The study revealed poor understanding but with the help of health care workers, print and digital media, respondent’s knowledge on cervical cancer and its screening may enhance as well as awareness on their health spectrum may broaden.

Objective: To observe association of factors such as nutritional factors, physical activities and systemic factors with overweight and obesity among 25 to 60 years old women. Study Design: A quantitative household survey. Place and Duration: The survey was carried out in all ten towns of Lahore, Pakistan from 4 th January 2016 to 4 th May 2016. Methodology: The research investigated 3239 women (25 to 60 years of age) through multistage sampling technique; from which two neighboring localities were randomly selected; found 1106 women were overweight and 449 were obese whereas, 1684 females were normal weights who were excluded from the research study. Results: Factors were found significantly associated with overweight and obesity. Among nutritional factors such as fast food and snacks have p-value 0.000, whereas, daily food intakes have p-value 0.001. Physical activities such as housework activities have p-value 0.000; whereas, both regular exercise and time spent on TV/Computer per day have p-values 0.001. Systemic factors such as systemic diseases have p-value 0.001 whereas family history of overweight and obesity and women using medications both have p-value 0.000. Conclusion: The study concluded that overweight and obesity was positively associated with nutritional factors, physical activities and factors such as genetics, use of medications and systemic diseases among women 25-60 years.