Kandahar Research Articles

Prevalence and associated risk factors of stunting, wasting/thinness, and underweight among primary school children in Kandahar City, Afghanistan: a cross-sectional analytical study

BackgroundUndernutrition, which includes stunting, wasting, and underweight, is a global problem, especially among children of low- and middle-income countries. To our knowledge, this study is first of its type from Afghanistan. Its main objectives were to estimate the prevalence and associated risk factors of stunting, wasting/thinness, and underweight among urban primary school children in Kandahar city of Afghanistan.MethodsThis school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 1205 primary school children aged 6–12 years during a period of six months (October 2022–March 2023). Anthropometric measurements and other data were collected from all the participants. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, Chi square test (using crude odds ratio or COR), and multivariate logistic regression (using adjusted odds ratio or AOR).ResultsAmong the 1205 enrolled government school students, 47.4%, 19.5%, and 25.6% had stunting, wasting/thinness, and underweight, respectively. Statistically significant factors associated with stunting were age group 6–9 years (AOR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1–1.7), being girl (AOR 2.3, 95% CI 1.8–3.0), poverty (AOR 2.2, 95% CI 1.5–3.2), large family (AOR 3.0, 95% CI 2.4–3.9), illiterate mother (AOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.0–2.6), jobless head of the family (AOR 3.3, 95% CI 2.3–4.8), and skipping breakfasts (AOR 1.7, 95% CI 1.2–2.3). Main factor associated with wasting/thinness were age group 6–9 years (AOR 30.5, 95% CI 11.8–78.7), skipping breakfasts (AOR 22.9, 95% CI 13.9–37.8), and history of sickness during the past two weeks (AOR 17.0, 95% CI 6.6–43.8). Also, main factors associated with underweight were age group 6–9 years (AOR 2.6, 95% CI 1.6–4.1), skipping breakfasts (AOR 2.6, 95% CI 1.8–3.6), and poor sanitation (AOR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1–3.2).ConclusionsStunting, wasting/thinness, and underweight are highly prevalent among primary school children (both girls and boys) in Kandahar city. It is recommended that local government (Afghanistan Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health) with the help of international organizations and donor agencies should implement comprehensive school-based feeding programs especially for girls. Health and nutrition education programs should be conducted with emphasis on nutrition of children aged 6–9 years as well as importance of healthy breakfast and good sanitation.

Challenges of Online Learning in Kandahar City, Afghanistan

Despite the growing need for online education in Afghanistan and especially in Kandahar city, unfortunately this form of learning has not been well developed here. The findings show that online learning, in addition to growing needs and opportunities, faces many challenges in Afghanistan, especially in Kandahar city. In this context, this research has been done to investigate the fundamental factors challenging online learning in Kandahar city. Keeping in mind the previous studies, in order to achieve the goals of this research, a purposeful sampling method was used to find and analyze the key issues raised, and as a result, the basic problems facing online learning in Kandahar city were investigated as much as possible. In the following, the necessary suggestions are also presented so that, by implementing it, the relevant practitioners and policy makers will solve the existing problems and provide the basis for sustainable and all-round development of Kandahar city, Afghanistan and the region.

Techno-economic configuration of an optimized resident microgrid: A case study for Afghanistan

The escalating demand for electricity and the imperative to reconstruct underprivileged areas in Afghanistan necessitates a resilient energy supply system. This study advocates for the implementation of a cost-effective and high-performing microgrid in a region situated in the northern of Kandahar City, Afghanistan. Utilizing a mix of diesel engines, batteries, wind, and solar energy sources, the microgrid aims to provide a sustainable and eco-friendly solution to meet the electricity requirements. Employing the HOMER software for comprehensive analysis, the proposed microgrid configuration comprises a 3.69 kW PV, a 1.50 kW diesel generator, and 27 units of 1 kWh LA batteries. The study investigates six different configurations to identify the optimal solution based on community-specific criteria. Factors such as energy generation, cost, and system performance are rigorously evaluated by the software, culminating in the selection of components that constitute the hybrid system. The optimal configuration includes a capital cost of 5962 $, a net present cost (NPC) of 10108$, operating and maintenance (O&M) costs amounting to 320.69$, and a cost of energy (COE) at 0.190$/kWh. These results show the viability and economic feasibility of the proposed microgrid as a sustainable energy solution for the studied community in Afghanistan.

Prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths and associated risk factors among primary school children in Kandahar, Afghanistan: A cross-sectional analytical study.

Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are global health problem, especially in low-income countries. Main objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence and intensity of STH and its risk factors among school children in Kandahar city of Afghanistan. This was a school-based cross-sectional analytical study, with data collected during eight-month-period (May-December, 2022) from 6- and 12-years old school children in Kandahar city, Afghanistan. All the stool samples were examined by saline wet mount method and Kato-Katz technique. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, Chi square test, and multivariate logistic regression. A total of 1275 children from eight schools of Kandahar city were included in this study. Mean age of these children was 8.3 years with 53.3% boys. The overall prevalence of any intestinal parasitic infection was 68.4%. The overall prevalence of STH infection was 39.1%, with Ascaris lumbricoides (29.4%) as the most prevalent STH species. Mean intensity of overall STH infection was 97.8. Multivariate logistic regression revealed playing barefoot (AOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.2), not washing hands after defecating and before eating (AOR 1.3, 95% CI 1.0-1.7), having untrimmed nails (AOR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.8), and belonging to poor families (AOR 1.3, 95% CI 1.0-1.7) as the risk factors associated with the predisposition of school children for getting STH in Kandahar city of Afghanistan. There is high prevalence of STH among school children of Kandahar city in Afghanistan. Most of the risk factors are related to poverty, decreased sanitation, and improper hygiene. Improvement of socioeconomic status, sanitation, and health education to promote public awareness about health and hygiene together with periodic mass deworming programs are better strategies for the control of STH infections in Afghanistan.

The Civility of Mandigak is the Heritage of the Ancestors

Mandigak, the most proud ancient region of Afghanistan, is located 50 kilometers northwest of Kandahar City. Kandahar province, with famous historical sites such as Mandigak Hill, etc., are places that have mostly attracted the attention of archaeologists, tourists and domestic and foreign researchers. Each of these places has a story from the distant past and shows the religious conditions religious, political, social and cultural of this province. In addition to that, the existence of such historical places represents the living conditions of the past people in our minds to some extent; this region had a good climate and fertile land; therefore, it created a very good environment for the life of the old tribes. The purpose of this research is to identify a number of ancient and historical features of Mandigak, which have been less discussed or debated so far. Introducing the real image of the ancient site of Mandigak to consolidate the country's rich history not only for the country's residents; It includes the most important and fundamental goal of this article, and the materials prepared in this article will be considered useful and valuable as a curriculum for improving the scientific capacity of students. In the research method section of this article, considering the library method of authentic domestic and foreign books and materials, authentic journals and internet sites, analyzing historical data using modern methods with methods of analysis and analysis is a research work to prove a large number of desired materials for writing materials.

Investigating the Maximum Electrical Demand of Arghandab and Shah Wali-kot Districts in Kandahar City

It is necessary to study the possibilities for the sale of electric power by considering the plans for development, the probable number of consumers, the power requirements of each type of load, the time at which loads might be required, the types of loads to be supplied, and various other factors that determine the total power that should be made available at the power station to cope with the need. The maximum power consumption demand of Arghandab and Shahwali-kot districts of Kandahar province has been assessed in this paper using the load survey method and computer-based for four seasons. In the spring season, the maximum demand, average load, and load factor of Arghandab and Shahwali-kot districts per home in a 24-hour period are 1450 W, 388 W, and 0.27 or 27%, respectively. For the summer season maximum demand, the average load and load factor are 1500 W, 636 W, and 0.42 or 42%, respectively. For the fall season maximum demand, the average load and load factor are 1250 W, 340.5 W, and 0.27 or 27%, respectively. And for winter season maximum demand, the average load and load factor are 1960 W, 465.5 W, and 0.24 or 24%, respectively.

A Survey of Waste Management Analysis in Afghanistan

Sharp increases in the rate of social and economic factors, has increased the rate of urbanization in most of cities around the world. This global phenomenon is one of the primary reasons for waste generation cities. The basic purpose of this descriptive study is, to analyze and identify waste management problems in Kandahar city, and propose decent solutions. The study is based on primary and secondary data, which were collected through a structure questionnaire, interview and other tools of data collection. The data were analyzed with the help of various means of descriptive statistic. The finding shows that that people are not satisfied with current waste management services. The study suggests that municipality should improve the design and number of trash bins, increase the number of tracks hire more employees, hire a team of evaluation, set up modern technology and improve research skills.

Antibiotic Resistance among Patients with Urinary Tract Infections in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Antimicrobial resistance is a global public health threat. Highest burden of resistance is reported from low- and middle-income countries. To investigate and report the current scenario of increased antibiotic resistance of uropathogens among symptomatic urinary tract infection patients in Kandahar, Afghanistan. From January 2018 to December 2021, this retrospective study was carried out at two main hospitals in Kandahar City, Afghanistan. Here, culture and sensitivity profiles of uropathogens were studied among symptomatic Bacteriuria in the presence of genitourinary symptoms (i.e., dysuria, suprapubic pain or tenderness, frequency, or urgency) (UTI) patients. Among urine samples of 1589 patients, 1047 (65.9%) were culture positive and included in this study. Most of these patients (626/1047 [59.8%]) were females, with majority (818 [78.1%]) having age between 19 and 39 years. Gram-negative bacteria were the most prevalent (840/1047 [80.2%]), with E. coli (653/1047 [62.4%]) as the most common isolated uropathogen. Overall gram-negative bacteria had higher resistance against commonly used antibiotics of cotrimoxazole (62.8%), ciprofloxacin (56.0%), levofloxacin (47.5%), cefixime (44.5%), fosfomycin (41.5%), and even ceftriaxone (48.3%). Kandahar province has higher resistance rates against commonly used empirical antibiotics like norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and cefixime. Nitrofurantoin should be used as the first-line antibiotic in treating UTI patients. Public health authorities should make strict regulations and policies to reduce irrational use, inappropriate prescription, and over-the-counter availability of antibiotics in Kandahar.

Kandahar Province In the political and military conflict between India and Iran during the reign of Shah Jahan Mughali (1628-1658)

The political relations of each country at a certain historical stage can be a criterion for knowing the strength and weakness of that state in the fields (political, economic, or military). The Indian Mughal Empire during the reign of Shah Jahan had the lowest relations with neighboring countries on a general level and with the Safavid state on a Private level.The relations between the two countries over Kandahar deteriorated to the point of reaching a military confrontation, and although the result of the military confrontations was not reassuring for Shah Jahan from the political and military sides, he did not despair throughout his reign from his attempts to persist in the confrontation to control Kandahar, and this It is one of the prominent political features of his reign.The research included dealing with special features related to Kandahar in terms of the importance of the city and the reasons behind the interest of the Indian Mughal Empire in this city and clarifying the challenges and developments of the war on the city during the reign of Shah Jahan. This study consists of four axes, the first axis entitled (The Indian Mughal Empire's control of Kandahar in the year 1638) and sheds light on the city of Kandahar and its importance for the Mughal Indian Empire and the Safavid state, both economically and militarily, and then emphasizing the role of (Ali Mardan Khan Zik) in handing over Kandahar to the Mughal Indian Empire, and at the end of the axis, the political and military challenges that faced both countries after controlling Kandahar were highlighted. As for the second axis, it was devoted to discussing the conditions of the city of Kandahar during the period in which calm prevailed between the Mughal Indian Empire and the Safavid state. In the beginning, the political and diplomatic steps of Shah Jahan were discussed regarding his attempts to reduce tension in his relations with the Safavid state after the death of Shah Safi I, especially In the fourth year of the reign of Shah Abbas II.As for the third axis entitled the Safavid state’s control of Kandahar in 1649, in this axis, the military steps of Shah Abbas II were discussed with the aim of returning the Kandahar state to the grip of the authority of the Safavid state.In the fourth axis and at the end of the study, the trends and developments of the war in Kandahar and its surrounding areas were highlighted after it returned to the rule of the Safavid state and its effects, as well as the desperate attempts of Shah Jahan to restore his power throughout his reign. Key word: Kandahar, Indian Mughal Empire, Safavid, Shah Jahan Mughali, shah Abbas II, politics, relations.

Analysis of Air Temperature and Precipitation Trends in Kandahar city, Afghanistan from 1990-2019

This study aims to analyze trends of three, annual average temperature, annual average T-max, annual average T-mini, and precipitation over the last 30 years 1990-2019 in Kandahar City, the western part of Afghanistan. For the purpose of analysis, available data from Afghanistan Meteorological Department (AMD) and Power Data Access Viewer dataset were used. First, daily average temperature and precipitation data were converted to monthly average data, then converted to annual average data for statistical calculation. The linear regression equation and trend magnitude was applied to identify the trend of temperature and precipitation. Analysis of the data demonstrated an upward trend in average temperature, average T-max, average T-mini, and downward precipitation, the most upward trend obtained in an annual average of T-mini and less upward trend in an annual average of T-max. Simultaneously, by increasing temperature, precipitation decreased which indicates dry and hot temperatures. The ongoing climate change affects various factors, especially agriculture, and socioeconomics. On this basis, it is recommended that the result could serve as a key in making plans and policies for those authorities involved in the planning. Further research is needed to identify other climatic parameters for a comprehensive understanding of the current and future climatic situation of the study area. Keywords: Air temperature, Precipitation, Climate change, Kandahar city, Trend line

Https://habibiaislamicus.com/index.php/hirj/article/view/236

This article titled “Shi’ism and its creedal impact on society in Afghanistan” has been elaborated and explained in detail that the people of Afghanistan converted to Islam early, and they were on the belief of the Sunnis. The political shiism appeared in them against the Umayyad State and increased in Timurid-Mongol and Safavid era. After the succession of Iranian Revolution, the Iranian regime helped the Shiite minority in Afghanistan and trained them in all fields. The Shiites are spread in most of the Afghanistan provinces, the percentage of them is different from one province to another. They are concentrated in the Afghan capital, Kabul, the city of Herat, Kandahar and Mazar Sharif, and most of the residents of Daikandi and Bamyan are Shiites, and they have no presence in the eastern provinces. The Hazaras are recorded first in shiism, then the Qizilbash, then in the rest of the of the Tajiks, Pashtuns, and Turkmen, and it is hardly mentioned in the statistics. The ignorance of many people in Afghanistan about the reality of the Shiite sect has led to the recognition of the Ja’fari sect, the support of its false beliefs, the misrepresentation of truth to the common people, the spread of various kinds of heresies, funerals, and parties, and even the participation of some Sunnis in them. Shiite Iran shares the Persian language, Persian nationalism, and the Shiite minority with Afghanistan, and thus supports them creedal, economically, and culturally, and the Sunnis are influenced by them, so they ask for help from the dead and shrines, and the phenomenon of building on graves spread. Many of the Sunni scholars, intellectuals, tribal sheikhs, and political persons were influenced by Shiite movements and activities, so they continued to support them in word and deed and shared their sorrows and joys. Also, the curriculum books of Logic and Philosophy in religious schools of Afghanistan are written by Shiite authors, and they have a great influence in turning people away from the Book, the Sunnah, and the correct belief. Building Husseiniyas and cultural centers is one of the most important methods for spreading Shiite thought, its corrupt beliefs, and plans. In recent years, Shiites have been able to open hundreds of Husseiniyas and dozens of cultural centers, and they perform all their sectarian rituals in them freely. Rather, they invite the negligent Sunnis to increase their masses. Dissemination of superstitions among their children. The research describes the presence of Shiite in Afghanistan and Its influence on the People in the of creed and culture.

Energy Consumption from Transport Sector and CO₂ Emission: A Case of Kandahar City

This paper is concerned with the prospective estimation of energy consumption in the transport sector. To determine the long-term energy consumption targets for transport in Kandahar city. Later on CO2 emission is calculated based on energy consumption in transport sector of Kandahar city from year 2017 to 2020 and the amount of emission is forecasted till 2030. Upon conducting this research it is found out that transport demand has increased during the last few years due to change in population growth and GDP. As a result, traffic congestion, road accidents, parking problems and air quality are worsening. In addition to those, lack of proper transport management system, public transport infrastructure and insufficient road capacity are adding growing energy demand and environmental problems of Kandahar transport sector. In order to avoid such problems, this research is conducted to focus on the energy demand and CO2 emission only in transport sector of the Kandahar city.
 This study has focused on energy demand and emission of CO2 from passenger transport sector of Kandahar city from 2017 to 2020. If there is no policy intervention, energy demand can reach from 5.5 TJ in 2017 up to 14.8 TJ in 2030. Again gasoline passenger vehicles contributes the most in energy demand and emission. CO2 emission can reach from 381 Thousand metric tons in 2020 up to 860.9 Thousand metric tons in 2030.
 Out of all vehicle types of transportation, private cars are responsible for 26% of energy share, motorbikes consuming the most and reaching up to 35%.

Evaluating the effects of passive cooling and heating techniques on building energy consumption in Kandahar using CLTD method

Insulation plays a very important rule in thermal comport. Recently different materials are used as insulation in building for heat prevention. Years before, the buildings were made of very thick muddy walls and roofs to eliminate the extreme effects of summer and winter. In contrast, today’s buildings are built from burnt bricks and concrete which require too much energy for insuring thermal comfort. To insure thermal comfort without consuming too much energy in today’s built building, four effective heating and cooling techniques were assessed in this paper on the computer based model of media operational center building located in Kandahar University. The current structure (wall thickness one brick and single glaze window with no overhang) of the building was kept as the first case (reference case), which requires 40,307 kWh energy for cooling and heating the building per year. In the second case, 5 cm cavity was added to the walls. In the third case cavity was replaced by 5 cm insulation. In addition to that, single glazed windows were replaced by double glazed windows in the fourth case and overhangs were added to windows in the fifth case. By adding the mentioned four techniques to the building structure, the heating and cooling annual energy consumptions of the building reduced to 38,435 kWh, 35,886 kWh, 33,948 kWh and 33,211 kWh respectively. Which shows 4.65%, 11%, 15.78% and 17.6% reduction of energy, respectively. The results show that the application of mentioned techniques in Kandahar city will have a positive effect on the economy and thermal comfort of people.

Factors Associated with Health Facility Delivery in the 12th District of Kandahar City, Kandahar, Afghanistan: A community-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Background:Maternal mortality and morbidity are increasing public health concerns in Afghanistan. Even more worrying is maternal death due to causes that can be prevented through maternal healthcare services utilization during pregnancy and delivery.Objectives:We sought to investigate the magnitude of women giving birth in a health facility and its associated factors in the 12th district of Kandahar city, Kandahar province, Afghanistan.Materials and Methods:A community-based cross-sectional study of women who gave birth in the last 2 years in the 12th district of Kandahar city was conducted in early 2021. We used a systematic random sampling method to enroll 850 women. We collected data on sociodemographics, reproductive characteristics, and delivery practices of respondents. Factors associated with health facility delivery were identified using a multivariable logistic regression model.Results:The proportion of women who gave birth at health facilities was 71.8% (confidence interval [CI]; 68.61%–74.77%). In this study, health facility delivery was associated with husbands’ education (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.07, 95% CI: 1.50–6.31), antenatal care (ANC) services utilization (AOR = 17.84, 95% CI: 11.86–26.8), and history of complications in previous births (AOR = 3.65, 95% CI: 2.32–5.74).Conclusion:In this study, the utilization of a health facility for delivery was slightly lower than reported on the national level. Our study found potential factors such as ANC visits, husbands’ education, and history of complications in previous births, for which interventions aimed at enhancing the proportion of health facility deliveries.

PREVALENCE OF TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS IN KANDAHAR CITY: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease with a life long duration and generally of gradual progression. Beside the upward trend in the prevalence rate, diabetes and its complications also have a significant economic impact on countries and their health systems. This study was aimed to assess the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its association with socioeconomic status (SES) in the urban population of Kandahar city. A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2019 to May 2019 in the urban area of Kandahar province. A total of 1308 subjects, 837 (64%) women and 471 (36%) men, were included in the study. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, medical history, dietary intake and physical activity were collected in a standardized questionnaire. Diagnosis of diabetes was established according to the WHO criteria. Mean age (SD) was significantly higher in men than in women (50.3 (14.4) vs. 44.9 (11.4) years). The difference in BMI was not significant between men and women (28.1 vs. 28.7 kg/m2). Majority of the study population was aged 40-54 years (46.3%), married (86.7%), illiterate (87.4%), and obese (39%). 6.6% were tobacco smokers, higher in men (13.6%) than in women (2.6%). The prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity and central obesity was 15.2%, 25.5%, 39%, and 67.1%, respectively. In this study population, it could be suggested that socioeconomic factors are associated with T2DM and socioeconomic status is worth further investigation nationwide to properly understand the role of SES.

The Availability of Improved Sanitation Facilities and Its Associated Factors in the 12th District of Kandahar City, Afghanistan.

Background The majority of people practicing open defecation and utilizing unhealthy sanitation facilities are in the developing world. The utilization of unimproved sanitation facilities remains the primary risk factor for many diseases, including nutritional diseases, diarrheal diseases, typhoid, cholera, and dysentery, particularly among children. Objectives This study was carried out to assess the availability of improved sanitation facilities and factors associated with it in the 12th district of Kandahar city, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. Methods The study is a cross-sectional survey, conducted between September and October 2019. A structured questionnaire was used to gather self-reported information of the respondents, including sociodemographic information, household characteristics, and behavioral and environmental characteristics of the available sanitation facilities. Factors associated with the availability of the improved sanitation facility were determined using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results In this study, the availability of improved sanitation facilities was 85.7% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 77.6%–92.1%). It was significantly influenced by living in a private house (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.99 (95% CI; 1.43–6.26)); inside location of latrine (AOR = 14.31 (95% CI; 3.59–56.99)); individual household latrine (AOR = 2.03 (1.04–3.95)); and the number of latrines in the household (AOR = 5.04 (2.45–10.35)). Conclusion The availability of improved sanitation facilities was higher compared to the national level in the study area. This study provides significant evidence on approaches in line with the World Health Organization's (WHO) Joint Monitoring Program and Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs) for enhancing the availability of improved sanitation facilities in Kandahar city.

CHILD LABORERS ACCESS TO EDUCATION IN KANDAHAR CITY

This study describes the child laborers’ access to education in Kandahar city. We present the methodology followed in the study, study area and type of data collected to estimate to dimensions of child laborers access to education in the city. Data collected contains information about sociodemographic characteristics, Child laborer access to education, negative impacts of working on children’s education and Head of household education. It is hoped that this study would intensify a debate on main barriers to education that could tie in with analysis and commentary on providing education and related facilities to marginalized groups like child laborers and girls in society. Readers are encouraged to consider how to understand the landscape that child laborers are confronting, while also asking critical questions about the socio-political circumstances and inefficiency of educational system in which we all participate as we fight to eliminate marginalization and illiteracy in the society. Finally, it is recommended that there is a need to re-vision of the schooling system in order to evolve ways and means of offering education that is inclusive and relevant for working children in Kandahar city and other similar context.  

Magnitude and Determinants of Antenatal Care Utilization in Kandahar City, Afghanistan.

Background Women's and children's health is a crucial public health concern that epitomizes the universal platform for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Appropriate and timely care during pregnancy can improve maternal and child health. Objectives The present study aimed at determining the magnitude and determinants of antenatal care services' utilization in Kandahar city. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study involving 850 women with at least one delivery in the last 2 years was carried out in Kandahar city from January to February 2021. Questionnaires to record information on sociodemographic, reproductive, and antenatal care- (ANC-) related characteristics were administered. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21.00 statistical software. We used descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentages to present the data. Determinants of antenatal care services' utilization were determined using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results Among all study participants, 589 (69.3%, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 66.0%–72.4%) of study participants utilized antenatal care services at least once. However, only 22% of the women were utilizing the recommended ≥4 ANC visits. Factors that remained significantly associated with antenatal care services' utilization in multivariable analysis included women's educational status (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.0–4.3), pregnancy intention (AOR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.1–3.4), and place of residence (AOR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.1–2.6). Conclusion This study has found high rates (vs. the national level) of antenatal care services' utilization among women who had at least one delivery in the last 2 years. However, the rate of recommended ≥4 ANC visits was low. Factors determining antenatal care utilization such as educational status of the mother, pregnancy intention, and place of residence hold the key to address the issue of ANC services lower utilization and consequently improve maternal and fetal health.

The Archaeological Expeditions to Afghanistan (1949-1951) by the American Museum of Natural History (New York) and their Orphaned Archaeological Collections

This article examines the research potential of archaeological collections gathered in 1949–1951 in southern Afghanistan and currently stored in the United States. Included in these materials is an unpublished archaeological survey from the area south of the modern-day city of Kandahar, as well as assemblages from test excavations at the sites of Deh Morasi Ghundai and Said Qala, which have not been studied. An argument is made for a new study of this material along with a reanalysis of the Shamshir Ghar collection in order to question the paradigm of Afghanistan as only a reflection of other cultures in the ancient world.

A STUDY ON THE LAND USE TRANSFORMATION AND PRESERVATION OF THE HISTORICAL HERITAGES OF THE KANDAHAR OLD CITY

Kandahar is the second-largest city of Afghanistan, located in the southwestern part. It has experienced a drastic population increase and a dramatic expansion over the last two decades. Ahmad Shahi is an area which is located in the CBD of Kandahar city; it is famous for the historical dome houses and traditional urban fabric. The buildup area illegally expanded in violation of the master plan and caused a massive transformation in the land use from residential to commercial, which certainly affected the ancient architecture, culture and urban fabric of the area.