Districts Of Punjab Research Articles

Quality analysis of groundwater and surface water bodies around the selected brick kilns in Fatehgarh Sahib and Rupnagar Districts in Punjab, India

Brick production is a business that benefits many people, such as providing building materials, employment, and interest to the business owners. However, it has been associated with many adverse impacts various components of ecosystem.Thepresent studyaimed to determine the impact of isolated brick kilns onthe pollution levelof water bodies in Fatehgarh Sahib and Rupnagar Districts of Punjab, India. Physicochemical and microbiological parameters of water were evaluated. The results revealed that the isolated brick kilns partially impacted the water bodies, as the concentration of heavy metals waspresent in surface water near the study area. Parameters such as electrical conductivity (EC), Turbidity, total dissolved solids (TDS), Chloride (Cl), alkalinity and chemical oxygen demand (COD) estimated for surface water samples showed high contamination levels, except for pH, which was acidic (6.2) for surface water. The groundwater was alkaline with pH estimated to be 7.6. The alkalinity and COD levels of groundwater were 693.3 mg/l and 12.4,respectively, as the peak values, and both values were beyond the permissible limits for drinking water. Total coliforms were present in all samples at low health risk (13/15), except two surface water ponds, which showed a health risk. One-third of groundwater was highly contaminated by Escherichia coli, whereas only one of the twelve samples was contaminated withE.coli. The changes of all estimated water parameters in groundwater with distance did not follow any spatial pattern. They could partially be attributed to the lithology of the soil and prominent agricultural activities in the region. The WQI was highly influenced by heavy metals, notably arsenic (As) from both lithologic and brick kilns' origins and lead (Pb) from burning fuels in the brick kilns.

Metarhabditis amsactae: A potential biopesticide isolated from Punjab (India) with potent insecticidal activity and immunomodulatory effects against Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

A survey was undertaken to isolate entomopathogenic nematodes from Amritsar district of Punjab, India. Out of 20 soil samples collected, two were found positive for the presence of nematodes. 18S and ITS rDNA gene sequencing revealed their identity as Metarhabditis amsactae. To assess its biocontrol potential, Galleria mellonella larvae were treated with concentrations of 20, 40, 80 and 160 IJs/L (infective juveniles/larva) and mortality was recorded from 24 h up to 96 h of nematode exposure. Distilled water without nematodes was used as an untreated control. M. amsactae showed potent larvicidal activity against G. mellonella that was found to be concentration and time dependent. Nematode infection caused 93.33 % larval mortality at 80 IJs/L after 72 h of treatment. 100 % mortality was observed after 96 h. No mortality was observed in control. To evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of M. amsactae, G. mellonella larvae were infected with 100 IJs/L and activities of antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes viz., superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APOX), phenol oxidase (PO), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and acetylcholine esterase (AChE) were appraised after 12, 24, 36 and 48 h of nematode exposure. Malondialdehyde content was also determined. The results obtained demonstrated a significant elevation in all the enzyme activities at all time intervals in treated larvae when compared with untreated control. MDA levels were also enhanced in response to nematode infection. Thus, the present study revealed high insecticidal potential and immunomodulatory effects of M. amsactae on G. mellonella that should be further explored on other insect pests as well.

Bottlenecks analysis using analytic hierarchy process (AHP) throughout the value chain of small ruminants in India

Bottlenecks are the obstacles that impede the accomplishment of an intended purpose and consequently, endure a dampening effect on the chain's effectiveness and profitability. This study was aimed to explore the bottlenecks confronted by small ruminant farmers in the value chain in India. A total of 385 small ruminant farmers from 11 districts of Punjab were selected purposively, proportionate to the population of small ruminants using the snow ball sampling technique. Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to identify and rank the criteria and factors of the constraints. The study revealed that among overall constraints, “processing and transportation constraints” (Priority weight: 0.278) were the major bottlenecks encountered by the respondents. Pertaining to input supply constraints, “lack of access to credit, subsidy, and insurance support” was perceived as the utmost substantial challenge by the respondents (Global priority score: 0.097). High cost of concentrate feed (Global priority score: 0.071) and non-uniform methods of selling animals (Global priority score: 0.069), were topmost waivers in context of production constraints and marketing constraints, respectively. Among processing and transportation constraints, inadequate slaughtering facilities at village level (Global priority score: 0.105) was ranked first by the respondents. Low dressing percentage of local breeds of sheep and goats (Global priority score: 0.033) was perceived as the strongest constraint among miscellaneous constraints. The study concluded that the efficiency and profitability of small ruminant’s value chain is impaired by several kinds of bottlenecks. Collaboration among various stakeholders, including government, research institutions, private sector entities, and farmer organizations, is necessary to overcome these bottlenecks and unlock the potential of the small ruminant’s value chain in India.

An Assessment On The Knowledge Level Of Farmers Regarding Paddy Straw Management In Ludhiana, Punjab

Managing paddy straw in conservation agriculture is crucial for long term sustainability of agriculture. Rice straw, which is often scattered or burned in the fields, serves multiple purposes like mushroom production, fuel for cooking, ruminant fodder, stable bedding, and paper making. The study has put forth the knowledge level of farmers regarding paddy straw management. The present study was carried out in the Ludhiana district of Punjab purposively on the basis of availability of rice growers using multistage sampling technique with 100 respondents. The study revealed that 47 per cent belong to middle age group ranging from 35-50 years. Among all, 39 per cent of the farmers have completed senior secondary education. Agriculture was the major occupation of the respondents. It has been reported that more than half of the farmers belonged to nuclear families and majority of farmers had small sized family of 2 to 5 members. The operational land holding data of the respondents was categorized into marginal, small, semi-medium, medium and large categories and the majority of farmers have large land holdings of more than 25 acres. Notably, maximum respondents demonstrated a medium knowledge level regarding paddy straw management. The overall result regarding paddy straw management indicates a mixed level of awareness. While the majority of farmers were knowledgeable about certain aspects such as preferred rice variety for extending time period for straw management and the use of a baler. The study established a positive and highly significant relationship between knowledge level and and factors like education and training.

Modelling the Predictors of Mobile Health (mHealth) Adoption among Healthcare Professionals in Low-Resource Environments

This study was conducted with objectives to measure and validate the unified theory of the acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model as well as to identify the predictors of mobile health (mHealth) technology adoption among healthcare professionals in limited-resource settings. A cross-sectional survey was conducted at the six public and private hospitals in the two districts (Lodhran and Multan) of Punjab, Pakistan. The participants of the study comprised healthcare professionals (registered doctors and nurses) working in the participating hospitals. The findings of the seven-factor measurement model showed that behavioral intention (BI) to mHealth adoption is significantly influenced by performance expectancy (β = 0.504, CR = 5.064, p < 0.05) and self-concept (β = 0.860, CR = 5.968, p < 0.05) about mHealth technologies. The findings of the structural equation model (SEM) showed that the model is acceptable (χ2 (df = 259) = 3.207; p = 0.000; CFI = 0.891, IFI = 0.892, TLI = 0.874, RMSEA = 0.084). This study suggests that the adoption of mHealth can significantly help in improving people’s access to quality healthcare resources and services as well as help in reducing costs and improving healthcare services. This study is significant in terms of identifying the predictors that play a determining role in the adoption of mHealth among healthcare professionals. This study presents an evidence-based model that provides an insight to policymakers, health organizations, governments, and political leaders in terms of facilitating, promoting, and implementing mHealth adoption plans in low-resource settings, which can significantly reduce health disparities and have a direct impact on health promotion.

Is Brucella excreted in cattle faeces? – Evidence from Punjab, India

Brucellosis is a neglected zoonosis that affects animals and people in much of the underdeveloped world. The disease is endemic in cattle in Punjab, India and controlling it is a public health challenge. Dairy farmers and farm labour commonly handle cattle faeces with bare hands and personal protective equipments are not used. No studies have been conducted about the shedding of Brucella species in faeces of sero positive cattle in the state. This study aimed to isolate and identify the Brucella species from faeces of sero positive cattle in Punjab, India. Faecal samples were collected from 350 Brucella sero positive cattle in Ludhiana district of Punjab, India. Isolation was performed using a pre-enriched Brucella selective broth medium as well as Brucella selective medium agar plates containing horse serum and Brucella selective supplements. Isolates were identified using Gram staining technique and rapid slide agglutination test, and then confirmed by using bcsp31 and 16s rRNA genus specific PCR. Isolates were further identified up to species level by using Bruce-Ladder multiplex PCR. Fourteen Brucella species were isolated, all of which showed coccobacilli on gram staining, positive rapid slide agglutination test and amplification of bcsp31 and 16s rRNA genes. Of the 14 isolates, 11 were identified as Brucella abortus and 3 were identified as Brucella melitensis. The study demonstrates that animal faeces could pose a potential risk for animal and human health and faeces of seropositive cattle must be handled with care.

Severity of Agricultural Injuries and Its Economic Consequences in Border Belt of Gurdaspur District of Punjab, India.

This study collected data related to agricultural injuries, analyzed their causes, and suggested possible remedial actions. Few studies from developing countries have investigated this important topic. Such investigations are extremely important and are required to frame national policies. A well-designed structured form was developed to collect and evaluate data on agricultural incidents, their causes, the severity of injuries, and possible prevention methods. The authors followed a door-to-door survey methodology to collect data with the help of local village leaders. Less educated and older adults in the age group 31 to 45 years were more prone to agricultural incidents (p < .05). The mean age of the victims was 35.02 years (95% CI 32.7 to 37.3); 124 (91.18%) of the victims were men; and 21 (15.4%) of the cases were fatal. Tractor rollovers caused most of the deaths. Chaff cutters were responsible for most of the incidents that required amputation. Eighteen (45%) of the chaff-cutter incidents occurred in the evening between 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM, and 12 (30%) of these incidents occurred due to fatigue. The authors strongly recommend that rollover protective structures (ROPS) for tractors and seat belts should be made mandatory in India. Public guidelines emphasizing mandatory higher education for farmers and a model curriculum for both schools and colleges that focuses on the safety of rural populations should be developed. Special training should be provided on the safe operation of machinery and a definitive work - rest schedule should be followed to prevent fatigue and protect agricultural workers from incidents.

Relationship of stunting with water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices among children under the age of five: a cross-sectional study in Southern Punjab, Pakistan

BackgroundReasons for undernutrition are food insufficiency, impaired child care, limited access to healthcare, and maternal lack of health literacy. In addition, there are several environmental factors, such as drinking water quality, poor sanitation, and hygienic practices that can lead to poor nutritional status in children. The present study aimed to compare household-associated risk factors, including water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices of mothers, with children’s stunting under the age of five.MethodsA face-to-face cross-sectional survey was conducted with mothers of children under the age of five in the Dera Ghazi Khan district in southern Punjab, Pakistan. World Health Organization criteria for stunting were used to identify the participants. A sociodemographic questionnaire was used to collect information from consented parents/guardians on children’s age, feeding, and WASH practices. Pearson’s chi-square, simple regression, and hierarchical regression models were applied for data analysis.ResultsA total of 204 mothers of children of both genders participated in this study. The children’s mean (SD) age was 15.67 (± 10.2) months, their weight was 5.44 (± 1.45) kg, their height was 67.69 (± 10.05), and their mid-upper arm circumference was 9.75 (± 1.30) cm. Children’s stunting was mild (z-score > -2) at 17.6%, moderate (z-score − 2 to -3) at 16.7%, and severe (z-score < -3) at 65.7% of participants. A simple regression model showed a strong association, r2 = 0.062, p = 0.013, with age as the most significant sociodemographic factor. The hierarchical regression model showed a combined value of r2 = 0.0128, p = 0.027, with hand pump and tank water as the significant source of drinking water that was related to stunting among children.ConclusionStunting can be associated with several risk factors, including WASH parameters. This study concluded that children aged under five years are susceptible to stunting in southern Punjab, Pakistan. The contamination of hand pumps and tank water resources was found to be the major contributing factor to stunting.

Guardians of the Herd: Molecular Surveillance of Tick Vectors Uncovers Theileriosis Perils in Large Ruminants.

Theileria sp. (Piroplasmida: Theileriidae) is one of the most widely known infections transmitted by hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) and has been linked to significant economic losses across the globe. The study's main emphasis was theileriosis, a disease that is common in Pakistan and has an incidence ranging from 0.6% to 33%. Through DNA screening of the vector ticks and host blood, this study sought to determine the risk of tick-borne theileriosis in populations of buffalos (Bubalus bubalis) and cattle (Bos indicus) in Toba Tek Singh district of Punjab, Pakistan. Identified tick species include Hyalomma anatolicum (35.4%), Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (30.2%), and R. sanguineus (25%). Tick specimens were collected from animals and their respective microenvironments. PCR assays targeting Theileria annulata were used to investigate the infection in the DNA extracted from the collected blood samples from large ruminants and salivary glands (SGs) of the Hyalomma ticks. The 18S rRNA of T. annulata was amplified using specific primers. Positive T. annulata amplicons were sequenced and verified using BLAST analysis. Overall, 50% of SGs contained T. annulate DNA. Female ticks, and those collected from cattle and from riverine environments had significantly higher (p < 0.05) rates of Theileria infection in their acini. Overall prevalence of Theileria infection was 35.9% in blood collected from large ruminants. Cattle had a substantially greater frequency of bovine theileriosis (43.2%) than buffalos (28.7%). Age and sex of large ruminants were significantly positively associated (p < 0.05) with Theileria infection. Furthermore, compared to non-riverine cattle (35%) and buffalo (19.5%), riverine cattle (52.2%) and buffalo (36.2%) showed a considerably higher prevalence. The results of this study, which is the first in Pakistan to examine the blood of large ruminants and vectorial function of Ixodid ticks in the transmission of T. annulata along with associated risk factors, offer an important insight for risk assessment of Theileria infection in livestock using vectorial infectivity.

Covid Impact on Children's Education: A Case Study of Punjab, India

Covid-19 has had an unforgettable effect on the world and disrupted the whole of society. It has a major effect on the health system of the society which disrupts the economic system as well. Resulting in a disruption in the normal life of the people. Sudden lockdowns and restrictions on mobility have made sudden changes in the society. To curb the spread of COVID-19, social distancing and lockdown also followed in India. This causes a serious effect on the education system as shuts down all schools, colleges, and universities. The new system of online education was initiated to tackle the situation. Thus, the present study has a main objective to understand the problems and challenges faced by parents and children with this new norm. For this, the data was collected from 100 households through a semi-structured interview schedule from the Bathinda district of Punjab. The study found that there was a shift of schools from private to government after the lockdown because of shutdown of the economic sector. Various parents faced economic crises and low wages that caused non-affordability of school fees and other expenditures. Parents faced serious setbacks and disruptions in their daily routines also. Similarly, children have become addicted to phones and the internet. Children started watching YouTube and cartoons that hampered their education.

Prevalence of Exposure to Brucella Species in Lactating Cattle in the Ludhiana District of Punjab, India

Prevalence of Exposure to Brucella Species in Lactating Cattle in the Ludhiana District of Punjab, India

Mapping the stability of febrile illness hotspots in Punjab from 2012 to 2019- a spatial clustering and regression analysis

IntroductionFebrile illnesses (FI) represent a typical spectrum of diseases in low-resource settings, either in isolation or with other common symptoms. They contribute substantially to morbidity and mortality in India. The primary objective was to study the burden of FI based on Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) data in Punjab, analyze geospatial and temporal trends and patterns, and identify the potential hotspots for effective intervention.MethodsA retrospective ecological study used the district-level IDSP reports between 2012 and 2019. Diseases responsible for FI on a large scale, like Dengue, Chikungunya, Malaria (Plasmodium Falciparum, P. Vivax), Enteric fever, and Pyrexia of Unknown Origin (PUO), were included in the analysis. The digital map of Punjab was obtained from GitHub. Spatial autocorrelation and cluster analysis were done using Moran’s I and Getis-Ord G* to determine hotspots of FI using the incidence and crude disease numbers reported under IDSP. Further, negative binomial regression was used to determine the association between Spatio-temporal and population variables per the census 2011. Stable hotspots were depicted using heat maps generated from district-wise yearly data.ResultsPUO was the highest reported FI. We observed a rising trend in the incidence of Dengue, Chikungunya, and Enteric fever, which depicted occasional spikes during the study period. FI expressed significant inter-district variations and clustering during the start of the study period, with more dispersion in the latter part of the study period. P.Vivax malaria depicted stable hotspots in southern districts of Punjab. In contrast, P. Falciparum malaria, Chikungunya, and PUO expressed no spatial patterns. Enteric Fever incidence was high in central and northeastern districts but depicted no stable spatial patterns. Certain districts were common incidence hotspots for multiple diseases. The number of cases in each district has shown over-dispersion for each disease and has little dependence on population, gender, or residence as per regression analysis.ConclusionsThe study demonstrates that information obtained through IDSP can describe the spatial epidemiology of FI at crude spatial scales and drive concerted efforts against FI by identifying actionable points.

Protocol for a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of digital health interventions in improving non-communicable disease management during the pandemic in rural Pakistan.

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed gaps in global health systems, especially in the low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Evidence shows that patients with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are at higher risk of contracting COVID-19 and suffering direct and indirect health consequences. Considering the future challenges such as environmental disasters and pandemics to the LMICs health systems, digital health interventions (DHI) are well poised to strengthen health care resilience. This study aims to implement and evaluate a comprehensive package of DHIs of integrated COVID-NCD care to manage NCDs in primary care facilities in rural Pakistan. The study is designed as a pragmatic, parallel two-arm, multi-centre, mix-methods cluster randomised controlled trial. We will randomise 30 primary care facilities in three districts of Punjab, where basic hypertension and diabetes diagnosis and treatment are provided, with a ratio of 1:1 between intervention and control. In each facility, we will recruit 50 patients who have uncontrolled hypertension. The intervention arm will receive training on an integrated COVID-NCD guideline, and will use a smartphone app-based telemedicine platform where patients can communicate with health providers and peer-supporters, along with a remote training and supervision system. Usual care will be provided in the control arm. Patients will be followed up for 10 months. Our primary indicator is systolic blood pressure measured at 10 months. A process evaluation guided by implementation science frameworks will be conducted to explore implementation questions. A cost-effectiveness evaluation will be conducted to inform future scale up in Pakistan and other LMICs. Our study is one of the first randomised controlled trials to evaluate the effectiveness of DHIs to manage NCDs to strengthen health system resilience in LMICs. We will also evaluate the implementation process and cost-effectiveness to inform future scale-up in similar resource constrained settings. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier-NCT05699369.

SAFER-ET based assessment of irrigation patterns and impacts on groundwater use in the central Punjab, Pakistan

The excessive pumping of groundwater during the dry season in Pakistan is identified as a significant concern for groundwater sustainability. Farmers encounter difficulties in efficiently managing irrigation, and adopting the outputs of Irrigation Advisory System (IAS) to improve irrigation practices. Upgrading the existing IAS can help to identify the regions with over-irrigation issues and optimize outreach efforts. To solve these issues, we define the new concept of integrating Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) total water storage anomalies (TWSA) and Landsat 8 imageries, which can enhance the IAS efficiency by accurately identifying regions facing groundwater depletion by estimating actual crop water consumption through application of the Simple Algorithm For Evapotranspiration Retrieving (SAFER) on Landsat 8 data and Penman-Monteith (PM) method was used to calculate crop water demand using meteorological forcing data from Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) over the five selected districts of Punjab during the dry seasons of year 2013–2020. Comparing actual water consumption (SAFER evapotranspiration (ET)) with in-situ groundwater depth, strong correlations were found between them that are supporting the use of Landsat 8 data for irrigation monitoring. Further, compared SAFER ET was with PM ET to calculate the percentage of over/under irrigated regions, and the results revealed that most of the selected districts were over-irrigated, indicating the potential for excessive irrigation water savings. Our results show that the integration of GRACE TWSA and Landsat 8 data enhance the efficiency of operational IAS and can lead to potential savings of 81% (equivalent to 155 million m3) of groundwater during the dry season in the Central Punjab, Pakistan. Satellite data integration globally enhances IAS implementation, aiding regions with unsustainable dry season irrigation. This empowers farmers to optimize agriculture through precise IAS outputs.

Usage Of Social Media Trends Among Adolescents: A Demographic Perspective

Over the recent years, Social media has attracted millions of users, its usage has enhanced generally throughout the world and many of them have integrated these sites into their daily practices for various reasons and purposes. India is on second rank in terms of number of internet users in the world, with a versatile social media and mobile audience. The present study examined social media usage among adolescents in relation to demographic variables on a sample of 1200 students in four districts of Punjab. Data was collected by using social media usage scale prepared by investigator herself. The findings of the study illuminate many noteworthy trends. Firstly, a significant difference in social media usage found between boys and girls, indicating that gender plays a role in shaping adolescents' engagement with these platforms. Secondly, there is a notable difference in social media usage patterns among students from urban and rural areas, underlining the influence of geographic location on adolescents' digital habits. These findings of the present study contribute to our understanding of the evolving landscape of social media usage among adolescents in the context of India, a nation with a substantial online presence. The study underscores the need to consider demographic factors such as gender and geographic location when examining social media usage among adolescents. This knowledge can be valuable for educators, parents, and policymakers as they seek to navigate the implications of social media usage for the holistic development and well-being of young individuals in India.

Impact of landuse systems on soil organic carbon and its projection in northwestern India

AbstractThe evaluation of the impact of landuse on soil organic carbon (SOC) is required to understand the long‐term productivity and possible sustainability of a landuse system. The effect of landuse on SOC was studied in the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district of Punjab (India). Surface (0–15 cm) and subsurface (15–30 cm) soil samples were collected under different land uses (cropland, forest, scrubland, and plantation) using stratified random sampling. Soil samples were analyzed for soil texture, bulk density, pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, Olsen P (available P), NH4OAc–extractable K (available K), and CaCl2 extractable S (available S) using standard methods. Ordinary kriging was used to study the distribution of soil properties in different land uses. Soil organic carbon under future climate was simulated using Rothamsted carbon (RothC) model with current landuse and management practices. Organic carbon in surface and subsurface soils was in the order: Forest &gt; scrubland &gt; plantation &gt; cropland. The content of organic carbon, available P, K, and S decreased with increasing soil depth. The simulated SOC content in cropland soils under future climate may reduce, and in soils under forest, plantation and scrubland may increase by the year 2100. These results suggest that the landuse system is one of the major factors affecting SOC stocks. The study of organic carbon in different landuses could help the famers and policy makers to take measures for increasing SOC stocks to mitigate the climate change and also for sustainable agriculture.

Co-occurrence of geogenic uranium and fluoride in a semiarid belt of the Punjab plains, India

The inordinate presence of uranium (U) and fluoride (F−) in shallow aquifers of arid/semi-arid regions in northern India has raised a serious health concern; the Muktsar district of Punjab is one such example. In the present study, a total of 38 groundwater samples (17 from <100 ft (very shallow; VSL), 21 from >100 to 180 ft (shallow; SL)) were collected from this district to understand the current health risk associated with U and F− and the major factors/processes influencing these contaminants. Groundwater in the study area is mostly alkaline and oxic in nature. The concentration of U ranged from 18.5 μg/L to 456 μg/L exceeding the WHO permissible limit (>30 μg/L) in 93 and 100% samples from VSL and SL respectively, while F− concentration (ranged from 0.3 to 14.4 mg/L) above the limit (>1.5 mg/L) were found in 75 and 57% samples from VSL and SL respectively. As per the depth-wise distribution of U and F−, there is no significant difference between VSL and SL samples, with a few exceptions. Spearman rank correlation (ρ) shows a significant positive correlation (p-value < 0.05) between U and F− (ρ = 0.5), and U with total dissolved solid (TDS) (ρ = 0.5), salinity (ρ = 0.6), and bicarbonate (HCO3−) (ρ = 0.7) and a positive association of F− with TDS (ρ = 0.3), salinity (ρ = 0.3), and HCO3− (ρ = 0.3), indicating these parameters are responsible for the co-occurrence of U and F−. Moreover, this geochemical signature is attributed to their geogenic origin. Uranium speciation data show that UO2(CO3)22− and UO2(CO3)34− are dominant species, while F− predominantly occurs as F− species. The regions with high concentration of U and F− in groundwater primarily have mixed type species (Na–HCO3 and NaCl type). Geochemical modelling revealed that the precipitation of calcite, dolomite, and aragonite is favourable for mobility of F− in groundwater. The hazard quotient (HQ) of F− for adults and children exceeds 1 in 57.8% and 65.7% of samples, respectively, while in case of U, 94.7% and 100% samples exceed 1, respectively, indicating the latter is having greater health impact on local people. The current data indicated an urgent demand to develop low-cost and effective remedial techniques to manage groundwater contamination in this region.

Strengthening Comprehensive Primary Health Care through Ayushman Bharat: Role of Demand and Supply-side Interventions.

Comprehensive primary health care (CPHC) is an effective way to respond to the challenges of changing epidemiology, growing population expectations, and universal health coverage. A set of demand and supply improvement strategies was developed to support primary health center provision and pilot tested in three model health and wellness centers (HWCs) in Punjab. The study aimed to assess the early effects of interventions on the inputs, processes, and outputs for optimal implementation of the AyushmanBharat-HWC (AB-HWC) program. Cross-sectional facility assessments were conducted using a standardized methodology at three time points to identify the changes in inputs and processes at subcenter-HWCs from 2019 to 2021. In addition, daily and month-wise service utilization data of model HWCs and nonmodel HWCs in the intervention block and control block in a district of Punjab from the AB-HWC portal were analyzed from May 2020 to April 2021. The difference-in-difference analysis indicated that the CPHC strengthening interventions in the model HWCs improved the mean number of people screened for noncommunicable diseases, mean newly diagnosed patients with hypertension and diabetes, mean hypertensive and diabetic patients on treatment, mean outpatient attendance, and mean number of wellness sessions by 265.71, 21.31, 29.48, 102.17, and 4.88 units per month, compared to control HWCs. The success of the initiatives can be attributed to an integrated approach encompassing multistakeholder planning of interventions, community involvement, empowerment of service providers, and consistent supportive supervision. The long-term success will be contingent on the quality of training, team dynamics, community participation, social accountability, and supervision support.

Spatial Disparities in Human Development Index across the Districts of Pakistan: An ESDA Analysis

Pakistan is spatially a diverse state in terms of the location of its economic activities, and regional disparities in human development level have been a vital concern in its history. The article aims to analyze the distribution of the development index across 97 districts of Pakistan through exploratory spatial data analysis for periods 2004-05 and 2014-15. For this purpose, an augmented development index is constructed for measuring development levels across districts. The index consists of three sub-indexes of education, health, and household welfare level, with each index further consisting of five indicators. The findings of the study indicate positive global autocorrelation, thus indicating that a district with a high (low) is linked spatially with bordering districts that also have a high (low) Development level. The results also display the HH quadrant in the scatterplot of the development Index, which includes most districts of Punjab and KP, while LL illustrates a cluster of most districts from Interior Sindh and Balochistan for both the 2004-05 and 2014-15 periods. Overall, the findings demonstrate the twofold structure of Pakistan’s economic geography, as explained by most of the previous studies. Since the geography of development matters, it is recommended to reduce inequalities across districts by developing the social and economic institutions and infrastructure in Balochistan and Interior Sindh.

Effectiveness of Promotion-linked Training on the Performance of Educational Leaders at their respective places of Working in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan

The present study aims to determine whether the professional development programs offered to educational leaders in Punjab, Lahore, positively impact their performance and whether promotion-linked training motivates participation. Specifically, this research endeavours to elucidate the effects of promotion-linked training on professional growth, leadership styles, decision-making capabilities, communication competencies, student outcomes, and institutional efficacy. Both quantitative and qualitative methodologies were employed to examine the performance of 82 male and female educational administrators in the Lahore district of Punjab. Data regarding research questions were collected via questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Results indicate that promotion-linked training exerts a significant positive influence on educational leaders' job performance. Such in-service development opportunities enhanced administrators' knowledge and skills, yielding improved institutional outcomes. In conclusion, this study underscores the instrumental role of promotion-based development programs in optimizing educational leaders' effectiveness.