(Un)belonging to land: relationality with land for Muslim women teachers in a rural Pakistani community

Discerning Trends, Contours, and Boundaries in Comparative Education: A Survey of Comparativists and Their Literature

Background: Hepatitis C is a major global health problem, with a high disease burden in developing countries like Pakistan. Rural communities in Pakistan have limited awareness about hepatitis C transmission, prevention, and control. This study aimed to assess knowledge and practices related to hepatitis C among patients in the rural community of Lasi Goth, Gadap Town, Karachi. Material and Method: A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted among 150 adult patients (>18 years) with known hepatitis C infection in Lasi Goth. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire captured socio-demographic information, knowledge about hepatitis C (causative agent, symptoms, transmission), attitudes towards its prevention, and related practices. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: Of 150 participants, 55% were males and mean age was 25 years. Majority (69.3%) had heard about hepatitis C, with main sources being television (28.7%) and other people (38.7%). Knowledge regarding hepatitis C was low, with less than half aware of the causative agent (42%) and symptoms (41.3%). Around 55% knew it spreads person-to-person, mainly by blood transmission (38%), shared razors/brushes (4.7%), injection drug use (12%), mother to child transmission (18.7%), and sexual contact (26.7%). Most (76%) believed hepatitis C was preventable through screening blood (20%), avoiding sharing razors/brushes (37.3%), and infected persons not donating blood (24.7%). Only 18% reported their families were involved in prevention efforts. A high proportion (88%) were using anti-hepatitis C drugs and 54.7% received hepatitis B vaccination. Conclusion: Patients from the rural community had limited knowledge about hepatitis C transmission routes and prevention measures. Culturally appropriate educational campaigns are required to raise awareness in rural communities regarding risks, prevention strategies, and control of hepatitis C infection.

Basee sur une enquete d'envergure mondiale, cette etude delimite les orientations des travaux en education comparee, en tâchant de regrouper les tendances actuelles majeures afin d'isoler des domaines d'application futures de cette discipline.

The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of respiratory viruses associated with severe pneumonia among children less than 2 years of age in the rural district of Matiari in Sindh, Pakistan. This study was a community‐based prospective cohort active surveillance of infants enrolled at birth and followed for 2 years. Cases were identified using the World Health Organization's Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses’ definition of severe pneumonia. Nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained for assessment by multiplex RT‐PCR for eight viruses and their subtypes, including RSV, influenza virus, human metapneumovirus, enterovirus/rhinovirus, coronavirus, parainfluenza virus, adenovirus, and human bocavirus. Blood cultures were collected from febrile participants. A total of 817 newborns were enrolled and followed with fortnightly surveillance for 2 years, accounting for a total of 1,501 child‐years of follow‐up. Of the nasopharyngeal swabs collected, 77.8% (179/230) were positive for one or more of the above mentioned respiratory viruses. The incidence of laboratory confirmed viral‐associated pneumonia was 11.9 per 100 child‐years of follow‐up. Enterovirus/rhinovirus was detected in 51.7% patients, followed by parainfluenza virus type III (8.3%), and RSV (5.7%). Of the uncontaminated blood cultures, 1.4% (5/356) were positive. Respiratory viruses are frequently detected during acute respiratory infection episodes in children under 2 years old in a rural community in Pakistan. However, causal association is yet to be established and the concomitant role of bacteria as a co‐infection or super‐infection needs further investigation. J. Med. Virol. 88:1882–1890, 2016 . © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Many irrigation systems are special cases of common-pool resources (CPRs) in which some users have preferential access to the resource, which in theory aggravates collective action challenges such as the under-provision of necessary infrastructure as a result of unequal appropriation of water resources. We present experimental evidence based on an irrigation game played in communities that are dependent on one of the largest contiguous irrigation network: the Indus basin irrigation system in Punjab, Pakistan. Furthermore, we simulate two institutional mechanisms that are neglected in experimental studies, despite their importance in many CPR governance systems: traditional authorities and legal pluralism. In our experiments, Punjabi farmers (N = 160) managed to provide the CPR at a level close to the social optimum, even without communication or enforcement opportunities. The equal investment in water infrastructure seems to be a strong social norm, even though those in disadvantageous positions (tail-users) earn less than those who have preferential access (head-users). At the same time, head-users restrain themselves from maximum resource extraction, which could be interpreted either as a norm or a stationary bandit strategy. In contrast to one of the most consistent findings of previous experimental studies, the participants in our experiment increased their earnings over the experimental rounds by using the available resources in a more efficient manner. One explanation for this behavior could be the availability of social information in our game. Starting from a high level of cooperation during baseline rounds, the treatments did not change the group investment significantly. The introduction of external sanctions created additional coordination problems, which led to a decrease in the level of group welfare. More specifically, head-users reduced their water extraction in the face of possible external sanctions to a level that the remaining water could not be used completely by tail-users.

Background Unsafe practices such as cutting umbilical cord with unsterilized instruments and application of harmful substances, are in practice in many rural areas of Pakistan, and associated with high risk of neonatal sepsis and mortality. Methods We conducted an implementation research in 2015 in Tharparkar district, in Sindh province of Pakistan to understand the feasibility and acceptability of community-based distribution of chlorhexidine (CHX) in rural Pakistan. For this cohort group-only study, 225 lady health workers (LHWs) enrolled 495 pregnant women. Enrolled women received 4% CHX gel and user’s instructions for newborn cord care. The LHWs also counseled women on the benefits and correct use of CHX. Study enumerators collected data from CHX receiving women 3 times: at around 2 weeks before delivery, within 24 hours after delivery, and on the 8th day after delivery. We implemented this study jointly in collaboration with Ministry of Health in Sindh province, Pakistan. Results Among enrolled participants, 399 women (81%) received only the first visit, 295 women (60%) received first two visits and 261 women (53%) received all three visits by enumerators. Among 399 women, who received CHX gel, counseling on its use and were respondent to the first round data collection, 78% remembered that the CHX gel to be applied to cord stump and surrounding areas immediately after birth; but less than a third (29%) forgot the need to keep the cord clean and dry. Among 295 respondents in the first two rounds of data collection, who delivered at home, 97% applied CHX to cord stump on the first day. Conclusions Community-based CHX distribution by LHWs, along with counseling to recipient women, resulted in a high rate of cord care with CHX among newborn delivered at home. Results from this study may help program implementers to consider expanding this intervention for improving newborn cord care on the first day of life in Pakistan. Key messages Community-based distribution of chlorhexidine for newborn cord care appears as highly acceptable and feasible in rural communities in Pakistan. Relevant program policy supporting community-based CHX distribution along with counseling by LHW may help expanding coverage of newborn cord care in rural communities in Pakistan.

Rethinking Knowledge Production and Circulation in Comparative and International Education: Southern Theory, Postcolonial Perspectives, and Alternative Epistemologies

Domesticated gender (in) equality: Women’s education & gender relations among rural communities in Pakistan

South Asia is among the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions, with rural farming communities facing increasing exposure to climatic stressors and constrained adaptive capacity. In Pakistan, where agriculture remains the primary livelihood for a large rural population, adaptation to climate change depends not only on economic and institutional resources but also on access to credible climate information. This study examines how misinformation influences climate risk perception, perceived vulnerability, and adaptive decision-making among smallholder farmers in Punjab, Pakistan. The study is grounded in the Model of Proactive Private Adaptation to Climate Change (MPPACC) and extends this framework by conceptualizing misinformation as a cognitive and structural barrier embedded within farmers’ information environments. A mixed-methods research design was employed in Dera Ghazi Khan, a socially marginalized and climate-sensitive district. Quantitative data were collected through a household survey of 202 farming households and analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. Qualitative data were generated through five focus group discussions and ten key informant interviews with extension agents, community leaders, and local intermediaries and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings show that misinformation distorts farmers’ perceptions of climate trends and risks, leading to misinterpretation of climatic changes. Exposure to misinformation contributes to heightened perceived vulnerability, fatalism, and declining trust in institutional actors, which together weaken adaptive capacity and reduce the adoption of climate-smart practices. By integrating misinformation into the MPPACC framework, the study advances adaptation theory and highlights the need to strengthen extension services, promote literacy, and treat information systems as a component of resilience policy.

<p><strong>Background and Objective:</strong> Oral health is significantly impacted by an individual’s social interactions and quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between oral health status and socio-demographic factors, in particular, monthly income and level of education, of a rural community in Pakistan.</p>
 <p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional survey study was conducted among n = 380 people from the Jahangirabad community of Multan from July 2021 to September 2021. A validated questionnaire was designed to be filled by the subjects or the researchers in case of low literacy levels. Two qualified oro-dental examiners assessed all the subjects for their oral health status by using the community periodontal index of the treatment needs (CPITN index).</p>
 <p><strong>Results: </strong>There were 209 males and 171 females. As regards the status of education, 27% of the subjects had no formal education, 21% of respondents were primary (5th grade) pass, 31.9% attended secondary school, 10.7% got higher secondary school education, whereas 9.4% of respondents had passed the college/university examination. The majority of the participants (46.7%) had income within the range of 10,000-20,000 Pakistani rupees per month, whereas only 12.8% of subjects reported earning more than Rs. 50,000 per month. No significant association was found between average monthly income and oral health status; however, the CPITN score and the higher level of education (high school and college/university) showed a significant association (p-value = 0.012).</p>
 <p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Level of education, independent of socioeconomic status, is identified as a potential risk factor for poor oral health status among the rural community in Pakistan. Dental practitioners should consider enhancing timely screening and awareness campaigns, especially within this specific class of community, to improve oral health outcomes.</p>

I am a first-generation immigrant from Scotland who moved to Aotearoa, New Zealand as a young child. Using the metaphor of ‘harmonics’, which comes from playing the cello, I consider the ‘frequencies’ I have inherited through two women in my ancestral lineage. This work is grounded by theories of non-linear time, such as ‘quantum entanglements’ and ‘hauntings’, primarily through the work of Karen Barad. My writing theorises an approach to tracing family histories using these ideas from quantum physics alongside ‘harmonics’ as an analytical tool. This method explores how frequencies of inheritance can be tracked through generations and what this might mean for immigrants who do not live in their ancestral lands. In my writing, I recall stories and memories, pad them with historical literature about what was occurring societally at the time, and analyse them through embodied and place-based theories. Towards the end, I finish by elucidating how the ‘harmonics’ of these stories ‘sound’ through me, in poetry. Our ‘I’ is a story of entanglements; our ancestors are the metaphysical and genealogical dust in which we are coated.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has emerged as a transformative initiative, reshaping Pakistan’s economic landscape through the development of Special Economic Zones (SEZs). This study examines the socio-economic impact of infrastructural development within SEZs on rural communities, with a focus on key aspects such as road connectivity, electricity supply, sanitation, and access to public services. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected from 150 rural inhabitants through a structured questionnaire, and results were analyzed using chi-square tests. Findings indicate that road infrastructure under SEZs has significantly improved farmers' access to urban markets, with 44% of respondents reporting a major impact and 35% noting a moderate impact. Additionally, SEZs have contributed to the availability of quality public services and electricity, with 38% and 42% of respondents acknowledging significant improvements, respectively. Furthermore, 40% of respondents perceived SEZs as a major driver of rural development, while 48% reported a noticeable influence on local tourism. These insights underscore the role of SEZs in fostering regional economic integration and social upliftment, contributing to broader discussions on governance, development, and socio-economic transformation in South Asia.

This chapter studies impacts of flood events on the livelihoods of rural communities in Pakistan. It explores the adverse effects of extreme flooding, as well as how communities learn and adapt their livelihoods in the wake of such events. Three flood-affected districts in the province of Punjab were selected as case study areas. A household survey was conducted and analyzed by using descriptive statistics. The results suggest that various livelihood assets were adversely impacted by flooding. The most significant impact was the loss of assets in farming communities. The impact of floods has led to several changes in the communities—notably, households changed how they make a living and their relationship with the nearest major city. Other changes include changes in construction techniques and a range of behavioural changes. Differences among communities were found, particularly in how they responded to flood events. It was observed that rural communities near large city more rapidly adopt changes that make them better adapted to future flooding as they have access to more avenues for livelihood diversification and more services, as well as better and more innovative markets. Observing and understanding these changes that the surveyed rural households made in response to flooding, is an important contribution to understanding how communities can adapt to extreme events and how this adaptation can be supported.

Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is a common medical emergency associated with significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in rural populations where diagnostic and treatment resources are limited. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and hematological profiles of patients presenting with GI bleeding from rural communities in Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted across multiple tertiary care hospitals from January 2022 to August 2023. A total of 110 adult patients from rural areas presenting with clinical signs of GI bleeding were enrolled. Detailed demographic, clinical, and hematological data were collected. Hematological parameters analyzed included hemoglobin, platelet count, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and international normalized ratio (INR). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. Results: Among the 110 patients, 64 (58.2%) were male and 46 (41.8%) were female, with a mean age of 48.3 ± 14.9 years. Upper GI bleeding was more prevalent (64.5%) than lower GI bleeding (35.5%). The majority of patients presented with moderate anemia (mean hemoglobin 10.15 ± 2.08 g/dL). Patients with upper GI bleeding had significantly lower hemoglobin and higher INR values than those with lower GI bleeding. Mild prolongation of PT and aPTT was also observed, especially in patients with suspected liver disease. Conclusion: GI bleeding in rural settings is predominantly upper GI in origin and frequently associated with anemia and borderline coagulopathies. Basic hematological testing remains a crucial tool for initial assessment in low-resource environments. Improved diagnostic capacity and early referral can significantly enhance outcomes in rural populations. Keywords: Gastrointestinal bleeding, anemia, rural health, hematology, coagulopathy, upper GI bleeding, Pakistan

Access to uninterrupted power is not a luxury but a basic need. Rural communities living far from the national grid, particularly those in the southern region of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, have limited access to a reliable power supply. In order to provide sustainable electricity, small-scale off-grid renewable energy systems are increasingly used for rural electrification. These systems are commonly known as stand-alone home systems or community micro-grids. This paper proposes an off-grid solar–biogas micro-grid for rural communities in the Lakki Marwat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The area is mainly dependent upon income from the agricultural and livestock sectors. HOMER was used to simulate the electric power system, while RET-Screen was used to analyze the economics of the system. The optimized system’s results demonstrate that the most economically and technically possible system, which produces 515 kWh and 338.50 m3 biogas daily, is made up of a 30-kW photovoltaic system coupled with a 37-kW biomass hybrid system, a 64-kWh battery storage capacity, and a 20-kW invertor. The system will meet the cooking and power needs of 900 individuals who reside in 100 homes. In addition to household users, the system will provide fixed-priced electricity to productive buildings, and free electricity to community buildings. The system will generate 1300 kg of organic fertilizer each day, which will be sold to local farmers for 50% less than what it would cost on the open market. The proposed approach is techno-economically viable based on the payback period and internal rate of return.