Background: Organophosphate toxicity is a worldwide problem as this is equally easily available in rural and urban areas. Furthermore, the complications and outcome of the organophosphate poisoning was also examined. Aim: to determine the frequency of organophosphate poisoning and its outcomes in this region with limited laboratory and ICU facilities. Place and duration of study: SKBZ/AK CMH Muzaffarabad from January 2019 to December 2019. Methodology: This observational, prospective analytical study was planned in Department of Medicine, SKBZ/AK CMH Muzaffarabad. A total of 110 suspected poisoned patients were included having age between 12-60 years. Patients who had taken more than one poison were excluded from the study. The organophosphate poisoning was identified through pupil size, increased secretion and Glasgow Coma Scale. Results: The average age of the patients was 24.38±6.35 years. The male to female ratio was 1:1.69. Majority 77 (70%) of the patients were single and resident in rural areas 59 (53.6%). The incidence rate of organophosphate poisoning was 90 out of 110 (81.81%). There were at least 75% cases of organophosphate poisoning among all poisoned cases with p value 0.03. The survival rate was 93.3% (84 out of 90). The most important factor affecting survival rate was the time lag between ingestion of the poison and initiation of specific therapy with p value 0.022. Conclusion: Organophosphate poisoning has high incidence although has good prognosis and not a very problematic death rate. We also concluded that the survival rate can be improved through reduction in time lag before start the treatment. Keywords: Cause of poisoning, Organophosphate poisoning, Complication of Organophosphate poisoning

Utilization of health services is a multidimensional behavioural phenomenon, particularly when it comes to pregnancy and delivery concerns. The importance of maternal health care services in reducing maternal mortality and morbidity has received a significant recognition. Most of the maternal deaths can be prevented if women have access to basic antenatal, delivery and postnatal care. However, uptake of maternal health care services is very low even in the areas where they are extensively available. The aim of this study is to assess the pattern and identify underlying factors on maternal health care utilization in Pakistan. Data is taken from Pakistan Maternal Mortality Survey (PMMS) 2019. Logistic regression was performed and adjusted odd ratios were calculated by using three dependent variables – Ideal Antenatal Care (IANC), birth assisted by Skilled Birth Attendant (SBA), and Postnatal Care (PNC). Impact of biological and socio-demographic variables were computed, and findings revealed that with the increase in age, education and household wealth, women are more likely to have better opportunities to use ANC, SBA and PNC. The focus of policy considerations should be on the provision of high-quality services as well as on educating women about the value of receiving such services during pregnancy and the postpartum period through education and awareness campaigns. Moreover, skilled staff and voluntary health workers can be recruited to make future agendas in reducing maternal mortality and morbidity more successful.

Women’s empowerment is considered to play a crucial role in food and nutrition security. We aimed to explore the relationship between women’s empowerment and food and nutrition security, in rural Pakistan. Methods: To estimate women’s empowerment, we developed a Rural Women Composite Empowerment Index incorporating nine domains. For indicators of food and nutritional data we used data of 1879 rural households from Pakistan Rural Household Panel Survey (PRHPS). Food insecurity was measured through a caloric intake approach; nutrition insecurity was measured through recommended nutrient intake (RNI). Using the Rural Women’s Composite Empowerment Index (RWCEI), we employed multi-level mixed-effect regression analysis. Results: The domains of traveling safely (21%), time allocated to tasks (20%), and (lack of) domestic violence (19%) were the most significant domains in defining empowerment of rural woman. The prevalence of food and nutrition insecurity were 33% and 50% respectively. Regression analysis found a positive and significant relationship between women’s empowerment and food and nutrition security–the proportion of household who were food and nutritionally secure in empowered households was 70% and 98% respectively. Conclusions: Developing programmes and policies to improve the range of domains of women’s empowerment requires a focussed policy agenda, bringing together policy makers from a number of different sectors including education, economy, communications, technology and agriculture. Women’s empowerment has the potential to make positive changes not only in food and nutrition security, but in all aspects of family health and wellbeing.

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