ObjectiveTo produce a strategic roadmap for supporting the development of dementia research in Pakistan.BackgroundWhile global research strategies for dementia research already exist, none is tailored to the specific needs and challenges of low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) like Pakistan.MethodsWe undertook an iterative consensus process with lay and professional experts to develop a Theory of Change-based strategy for dementia research in Pakistan. This included Expert Reference Groups (ERGs), strategic planning techniques, a “research question” priority survey, and consultations with Key Opinion Leaders.ResultsWe agreed on ten principles to guide dementia research in Pakistan, emphasizing pragmatic, resource sparing, real-world approaches to support people with dementia, both locally and internationally. Goals included capacity/capability building. Priority research topics included raising awareness and understanding of dementia, and improving quality of life.ConclusionThis roadmap may be a model for other LMIC health ecosystems with emerging dementia research cultures.

PurposeParents' health literacy is an important element to ensure the sound health of children. One of the major purposes of this study was to systematically collect and review the literature that identified the relationship between two variables: parents' health literacy and their child's health.Design/methodology/approachTo meet the purpose, the authors searched four well-reputed research databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar and LISTA (Library, Information Science and Technology Abstracts) comprehensively to collect the relevant research on the topic. Except for books, various types of content from different years were used for this review. The investigators used Preferred Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines to select eligible studies for this review. The authors also assessed the quality of the reviewed research in the light of well-reputed quality guidelines shared by Boynton and Greenhalgh (2004).FindingsThe majority of the reviewed studies found a statistically significant relationship between parents' health literacy and the health of their children. Findings also identified that the majority of the reviewed literature scored from 9 to 12 on the quality assessment criteria. Results also highlighted that the majority of the reviewed research on parents' health literacy and child health has been conducted in the USA and utilized quantitative methods to conduct research on the topic under this study.Research limitations/implicationsThis systematic review has multiple theoretical and practical implications for parents, policymakers and researchers.Originality/valueThis is the first systematically collected and reviewed paper on the relationship between parents' health literacy and child health.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, students, and teachers of the developing countries had to shift from the face-to-face traditional classroom to an e-learning environment, which elicited various reactions to teaching and learning. I conducted this research to understand how students perceived online learning and to share my reflexive experiences about this shift in a Pakistani public sector women university. I administered a short survey in seven domains. As a teacher, I found (working from home) online teaching, assessment, internship, and research supervision extremely productive, interesting, rewarding, and excellent for my health and wellbeing. More than 50 per cent of the students appeared adjusted to online mode of learning. Improvement in internet connection, development of teachers’ and students’ computer skills, and development of teachers’ cultural sensitivity can enrich students’ learning outcomes. Online educational systems need to be improved in developing countries. Students engaged in practical work or those progressing to online careers need more online hands on experience.

Background: COVID-19 is a deadly viral infection that kills many people throughout the globe. The goal of this study was to find out how people in Pakistan felt about the COVID-19 vaccine. Method: Convenience and respondent-driven sampling method was used to conduct an online survey with 15 closed- and open-ended questions to a sample of 330 participants. The proportion of people who had a good attitude towards vaccination vs. those who had a negative attitude towards vaccination was revealed by the closed-ended questions. The open-ended questions elicited qualitative data on why people accepted or rejected the vaccination. Results: 62.9% of the respondents intended to use the COVID-19 vaccine and around 80% were younger than 50 years. 71.3% married, and 69.3% of the working population were willing to accept vaccination. Males are 1.97 times more likely (OR: 1.97, CI: 1.08-3.58) to use COVID-19 vaccine than females. Higher age groups were more likely to accept vaccination. The working population (82%) was more likely (OR: 1.82, CI: 1.08-3.58) to use the COVID-19 vaccine than the non-working population. Conclusion: This study helps to identify the attitudes of people and has implications for COVID-19 immunization efforts in Pakistan for various population segments.