Rate In Pakistan Research Articles

“Transfusion Associated Diseases and Complications of Blood Transfusion in Thalassaemia Patients”

Background: Transfusion Transmitted Infections (TTIs) are going to hit as a major risk factor in overpopulated regions of the world comprising thalassaemia as a main concern. The variety of infectious diseases that transfer from blood donors to thalassaemia patients leading complications which result in delay hemolytic transfusion reactions and different types of infections whose causative agents may be HBV, HCV, HIV and Syphilis etc. Epidemiology: The thalassaemia affects almost 4.4 of every 10000 births worldwide although its rate in Pakistan is 5000 to 10000 births per year with 5-7 % estimated carrier rate. The blood transfusion and transmissible infections ratio in low income countries is as, HIV presence is from 0.33% to 1.66%, HBV presence is from 2.00% to 4.50%, HCV presence is from 0.50% to2.23% and Syphilis presence is from 0.60% to 1.81%.Diagnostics: The Immuno-chromatographic tests are affordable and can be valid to be used for blood screening throughout world. Blood samples should be processed for a counter check via ELISA/ CLIA and NAT technique to eliminate risk of HBV, HCV, HIV and syphilis deadly infections.Management: Patients must be provided regular blood transfusion to keep average hemoglobin level at 10-12 g/dl. Other treatments include Iron Chelation therapy which is mandatory for better life expectancy as well as splenectomy, stem cell transplant and gene therapy.Conclusion: The blood transfusion infections based on ICT (Immuno-chromatographic technique) prove unreliable while CLIA (ChemiluminescenceImmunoassay) is reliable comparatively due to capturing weak positive and low titer infectious agents. In order to avoid the delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions it is enforced to detect the subgroups of blood like A (A1 and A2) and AB (A1B and A2B).

COVID-19 Incidence in Pakistan: Gender Disparity

Context:: The COVID-19 outbreak was first experienced in China and rapidly spread to 212 countries/regions of the world, including Pakistan. It has affected both males and females, but the incidence is higher in males than in females worldwide. Evidence Acquisition:: According to the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation, and Coordination of Pakistan, the female infection rate is much lower than the male infection rate in Pakistan (3.6% vs. 6.7%, respectively). What are the main possible reasons that created gender disparity in COVID-19 incidence in Pakistan? We reviewed different factors that created gender disparity in COVID-19 Incidence in Pakistan. Results:: The biological differences, social, professional, religious, psychological factors, cultural, and lifestyle aspects have created a gender disparity in COVID-19 incidence in Pakistan. Conclusion:: This study mainly focused on the main possible reasons (mentioned above) that COVID-19 has affected men more than women worldwide, especially in Pakistan.

ESTIMATES OF THE SEVERITY OF COVID-19: A COMPARISON OF PAKISTAN WITH OTHER DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-affected patients are 1,123,000 and counting while more than 59,000 corroborated mortalities have occurred around the globe, as depicted by the data gathered through Johns Hopkins University. More than 228,000 people have reportedly recovered from COVID-19 till April 4 2020. Italy has the second highest deaths of COVID-19 in the world. There is dire need to evaluate the pattern of COVID-19 in Pakistan and compared with other developed countries. World Health Organization has developed website to provide latest data in form of new reported cases, mortality and recoveries. In Pakistan, mortality rate was found less than other developed countries and this hypothesis may be wrong that Pakistan neither will nor effected with virus due to climate conditions.
 The presented study had two objectives. The first was to describe the latest situation if COVID-19 in Pakistan and other developed countries. Second objective was to determine the latest situation about mortility rate in Pakistan and other developed countries. Comparative data was sketched and presented in the form of graph for 5 countries including Pakistan. All the data was obtained form WHO websites and from Pakistan government officials websites. Data was collected from Jan-2020 to 4 April-2020.

Determinants of households' food insecurity with severity dimensions in Pakistan: Varying estimates using partial proportional odds model.

This study is conducted to determine the impact of some selected socioeconomic and demographic factors on households' food insecurity in Pakistan. Data are taken from national-level survey Household Integrated Income and Consumption Survey 2015-2016. Inclusion of gender dimensions of some important factors and estimation of varying estimates at four severity levels of households' food insecurity status using partial proportional odds model may be considered unique features of the study. It is concluded that household's income, employment, agricultural income, donations, parental education level and some households' characteristics are important factors for improving food security in Pakistan. Maternal education, and maternal paid employment compared to paternal education, and paternal paid employment show strong positive effects to improve severe food insecurity. Couple paid employment, livestock ownership and operating agricultural land seem to have the most effective role for improving food security. Social welfare programmes and religious institution of Zakat are helpful to cope with severe food insecurity in Pakistan. Some special efforts or development strategies are recommended to improve food insecurity of rural households and Baluchistan province. Moreover, the observed U-type quadratic impact of household size and the adverse impact of dependency ratio induce effective policies to control high birth rate in Pakistan. Hence, creation of employment opportunities especially for women, appreciation of couple paid employment, easy access to education for women, steps to raise level of education, growth of agricultural sector, rural development, social welfare and development schemes for Baluchistan, and continuation of Benazir Income Support Program are recommended to overcome severe and moderate level food insecurity in Pakistan. Since socioeconomic conditions and food insecurity issues of developing countries and especially in South Asian countries are homogeneous and therefore, the analysis in this study might be relevant to South Asian region.

Relationship Between Trade Balance and Real Exchange Rate (Marshal Lerner Condition): Evidence from Pakistan

The study analyzed the Marshal Lerner Condition implementation in Pakistan from the year 1961 to 2013, data gathered from the State Bank, World Bank and IMF statistics. We find the relationship between the trade balance and real exchange rate in Pakistan. On the annual time series data for the years 1961-2013 we used unit root test for stationarity, and johansen’s cointegration test for long-run equilibrium relationship between the variables for each model. The central outcomes of this study are: long run relationship exists between trade balance and exchange rate, these relationships are explaining that exports significantly affect with the exchange rate in short-run and in long-run also. The long run relationship also exists and devaluation of the currency improve the trade balance by increasing the exports and decreasing the imports. Keywords : Exchange rate, Trade balance DOI: 10.7176/JESD/11-7-01 Publication date: April 30 th 2020

Analyzing the Maturity wise Interest Rate Pass Through in Pakistan

This paper examines the degree of pass through and adjustment speed of maturity wise deposit rates in response to changes in the discount rate in Pakistan during the time period from 1978 to 2019. The study finds evidence of a long run relationship among maturity wise deposit rates and discount rate. However, the estimates of long run model proposed by Philips & Loretan (1990) and short run Error Correction Model indicate that pass through is incomplete and slow. This study confirms asymmetric adjustment of pass through and upward rigidity in deposit rates. Overall, the finding of less than complete and asymmetric pass through suggests limited efficiency of monetary policy in Pakistan.

KAP study regarding contraceptive use among married women in Hayatabad, Peshawar

Introduction: Population growth has great impact on economic development of a country. Despite population growth contraceptive prevalence rate in Pakistan is 35.4%. There is need to increase knowledge and awareness regarding contraception among people of Pakistan.
 Objectives: To determine the knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding contraceptive use among married women of Hayatabad, Peshawar, as well as the reasons for not adopting contraception.
 Materials & Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, from March to May 2019 on married women attending the Gynecology Outpatients, who were willing to provide data. Participants were interviewed through a structured questionnaire containing demographics, and relevant sections on Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of contraceptive use; a section on reasons for not using contraceptives was also included. SPSS version 24.0 and Microsoft Excel were used for descriptive data analysis.
 Results: A total of 200 married women were interviewed through structured questionnaires; 76.5% of them were uneducated. The most prevalent method of contraception was Oral Contraceptive Pills (23%); 31% of participants fell below the poverty line with monthly household income of PKR 20,000 or below. Majority (83.2%) of women showed positive attitude towards contraceptive use.
 Conclusion: There is a need to create awareness about the use of contraceptive methods as this awareness is crucial to improve contraceptive prevalence rate of Pakistan.
 Keywords: Contraceptive Agents; Contraceptive Prevalence; Family Planning Services.

A Cross-sectional Study of Group B Streptococcus–Associated Sepsis, Coinfections, and Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile in Neonates in Pakistan

Neonatal sepsis is a leading cause of morbidity and early-life mortality worldwide, and previous data have reported the highest neonatal mortality rate in Pakistan. The present study aimed to decipher the prevalence of group B Streptococcus (GBS)-associated sepsis, coinfections, and antibiotic susceptibility of isolated microbes in neonates. Blood samples of 100 cases of neonatal sepsis were subcultured on blood agar, GBS agar, and MacConkey agar for isolation of GBS and suspected microbes. Of 100 neonatal blood samples, 85 blood samples were culture-positive, including mixed culture growth (n = 18), 25 samples as early-onset neonatal sepsis (EONS) and 60 as late-onset neonatal sepsis (LONS). Staphylococcus aureus showed high percent positivity (31.4%), followed by Candida sp (16.5%), GBS (14.1%), Klebsiella (14.1%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (11.8%), Pseudomonas (9.4%), Acinetobacter (9.4%), Esherichia coli (8.2%), and Enterococcus (5.9%). GBS was isolated more frequently from EONS than from LONS with 50% coinfections. Mode of delivery, gender, and respiratory distress in neonates were significantly associated with culture-positive sepsis. GBS isolates were highly (91.7%) susceptible to vancomycin, cefotaxime, and chloramphenicol, followed by penicillin (83.3%), ampicillin, and tetracycline (75%). GBS isolates were resistant to erythromycin, clindamycin, ciprofloxacin, and linezolid. Our findings evidenced GBS-associated risk factors and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of neonatal sepsis, which will help clinicians in management, control, and treatment of neonatal sepsis. The epidemiological evidence of GBS-associated neonatal sepsis, demographic characteristics, risk factor data analysis, and drug resistance pattern has disease prevention implications in neonates in low-income countries including Pakistan.

Credit market conditions and impact of monetary policy in a developing economy context

This research examines the impact of monetary policy tools on macroeconomic variables through a nonlinear specification of threshold structural vector auto- regression (TVAR) using broad money and reverse repo rate as policy variables and output growth and inflation rate as macroeconomic variables. This research employs net domestic credit and interest rate spread as alternative threshold variables while segmenting the time 2001 m12-2018 m5 as easy and tight credit regimes in Pakistan. This research analyses the generalised impulse response functions for each threshold variable to specify the effects of monetary policy shocks. Current research finds that for one to two years’ time horizon; an increase in broad money has positive and long-time effect on output growth especially when interest rate spread is above its threshold value (i.e. easy credit regime). While a decrease in reverse repo rate brings a short-term positive effect on output growth whereas, an increase in reverse repo rate reduces the inflation for relatively longer time especially when economy is following an easy credit regime. This research identifies changes in broad money as an effective tool to enhance output growth and changes in reverse repo rate to control inflation rate in Pakistan.

Determinants of infant mortality in Pakistan: evidence from Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2017–18

The infant mortality rate was very high in Pakistan until the early 1990s, at 86 deaths/1000 live births. It has decreased 24 points and declined to 62 deaths/1000 in the last 3 decades, but Pakistan is still in the group of countries with highest infant mortality rate. The present study aimed to assess the magnitude of infant mortality in Pakistan and its causes and associated risk factors. For this study, data from the 2018 Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey were used. Risk factors for infant mortality were first examined in bivariate analyses. Chi-square test was employed to understand the significance level of the categorical difference of independent variables. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to account for potential confounders that function as risk factors for infant deaths. Large differentials in infant survival by socioeconomic and demographic factors indicate poor coverage of social and health schemes for the public. Mothers who did not use the ANC services experienced about 1.5 times higher infant mortality than those who did (52 vs. 36/1000 LB; p = 0.007). The hazard model shows that rich households experienced about 30% (HR = 0.735; 95% CI = 0.614–0.878) less infant mortality than poor ones. The rural-urban differential in public health services and gender inequities are the underlying causes of the stagnation of infant mortality in Pakistan. The low status of women’s education, poor economic conditions and low level of using public health care services are closely tied to higher infant death rates in Pakistan. Health interventions in Pakistan should be designed to reach the most under-served—women and children—especially in rural areas.

The Effects of Monetary Policy on Poverty Alleviation in Pakistan

This research analyzes the effect of monetary policy of central bank on the poverty alleviation. Monetary policy is the policy adopted by the monetary authority of a country that controls either the interest rate payable on very short-term borrowing or the money supply, targeting inflation or the interest rate to ensure price stability and general trust in the currency. This study is taking two variables in monetary policy namely interest rate and money supply. Effects of both variables examined on poverty rate in context of Pakistan. Moreover, association and effect examined between both variables (interest rate and money supply). This study comprises on quantitative research methodology as secondary data taken from world indicator from 2001 to 2017. Regression analysis applied on collected data. According to findings, if central bank increases in supply of money in economy, it cannot reduce poverty rate in Pakistan. It is because more money supply will bring inflation, which discourages investment of all types. If high interest rate set by central bank then it cannot bring significant reduction in poverty rate of Pakistan as it will reduces the investment and overall employment. If central bank set increased interest rate then it deceases the money supply in the economy of Pakistan, as funds will be, divert to banks for earning interest on deposits. Recommendations and conclusion are given at the end of this paper.

Hepatitis-C Infection: Are we really committed to eliminate? Could it become the second Polio for Pakistan?

Pakistan’s hepatitis C virus (HCV) burden is one of the highest in the world. Around eight million people live with HCV in Pakistan according to a National Hepatitis Survey. Most HCV-infected people are unaware of their infection status culminating in delayed diagnosis and treatment, progressing to end stage liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), thereby raising the disease load for a developing country with limited resources. Blood transfusions and injections with reused syringes lead to increased HCV rates in Pakistan. According to a survey viral infections like hepatitis C, hepatitis B and HIV were not screened in more than half of the blood transfusions done in Pakistan. Hepatitis C elimination requires financial support from the local government and private organizations, commitment from civil societies across the world and a dedicated political will. Without defining effective planning and strategy it is our fear that it could become the second Polio for Pakistan.

Association of breastfeeding cessation with health-related quality of life in working multiparous women of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Breastfeeding rates in Pakistan are the lowest in South Asia. Multiparous working women in Rawalpindi-Islamabad often think if cessation of breastfeeding will affect their and their baby's health. A descriptive cross sectional survey was conducted on 200 multiparous working women to evaluate the association between cessation of breastfeeding and health-related quality of life in multiparous working women and to determine the common reasons of breastfeeding cessation. A modified SF-36 QOL questionnaire was used. The mothers who breastfed their babies for less than or up to six months reported their general health worse at the time of study than one year ago, which accounts for 34(68%) of the entire data, 42(21%) women ceased to breastfeed their babies due to less milk production and 31 (15.5%) women due to the nature of their job. Chi-Square test showed that there is a significant association (i.e. p-value < 0.001) between health-related quality of life and early breastfeeding cessation.

Interdependencies of Stock Index, Oil Price, Gold Price and Exchange Rate: A Case Study of Pakistan

The core objective of the research conducted is to explore the interactions of stock index, gold price, crude oil price and exchange rate in Pakistan from September 1997 to April 2018. The interaction is examined by concurrent equations. For analyzing the trend of Pakistan economy, unit root test, correlation test, co-integration technique, vector autoregressive model, granger test is done. The result indicates absence of long run relationship among all of the variables. However, results demonstrate significant effect of crude oil price & Gold price on exchange rate. Whereas, Pakistan stock market is affected by exchange rate. Recommendations for the government are given to give more focus on economic policies for crude oil price, stock index, gold price and exchange rate to make them stable in the country. The study is tremendously beneficial for high authorities in business, policy and decision maker in the country and as well as investors because they can predicate and able to understand the fluctuation of these variables in the economy. Statistical software used for this study is EVIEWS 9th edition.

Association Between Exclusive Breastfeeding and Infant Health Outcomes in Pakistan

PurposeThe infant mortality rate in Pakistan is one of the highest in the world with most cases attributed to diarrheal or respiratory diseases. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life is recommended by the World Health Organization to achieve optimal growth and health, however, in Pakistan the rate of exclusive breastfeeding by mothers is <40%. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of exclusive breastfeeding, diarrhea, acute respiratory infections and fever among infants under the age of 6 months. Design and methodsThe cross-sectional study analyzed secondary data from the 2017–18 Pakistan Demographic and Health-Survey. The sampling frame for the current study consisted of last-born children who were under the age of 6 months. The study sample consisted of 1033 infants under the age of 6 months. ResultsThe prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was 53.6%. Compared to infants who were not breastfed exclusively, infants who were had lower odds of diarrhea, acute respiratory infection, and fever. The observed association was independent of potential confounders. ConclusionsExclusive breastfeeding reduces the odds of childhood illnesses. Plausible explanations for the observed association may be related to human milk's contents including necessary nutrients to fulfill an infant's needs within first months of life. Additionally, continued exposure to breastfeeding also reduces exposure to other contaminated foods to ensure adequate nutrition for the infant. Practice implicationsThe findings have important implications for educating families and healthcare providers about the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for optimal child health outcomes.

Job Finding Rate and Female Labor Supply- A Heterogeneity Perspective

Background: In contemporary labor economics, the concept of job finding rate is central as it defines the job search and measures the employment potential of the labor market. Considering this fact, economists primarily count on measuring the flows of labor between the labor market states. The study is an endeavour to design a conceptual framework to determine female labor supply considering these labor market flows and job finding rate in Pakistan.&#x0D; Methodology: The study evaluates various search models and provides a comprehensive review of literature taking into consideration job finding rate and female labor supply. Electronic databases including Google Scholar &amp; Medline were used. Articles, books, and conference proceedings were cited using keywords like Job Finding rate, female labor and labor market, etc. &#x0D; Result: The study has introduced the perspective of heterogeneity to incorporate the composition effect and dispersion effect of the labor market. The framework of the study provides a hint for policy makers to consider the relevant flows for improvement in female employment in Pakistan.&#x0D; Conclusion: The main conclusion stresses on including the inactive group to link up the job finding rate with female labor supply. Not doing so would bias the imputed importance of factors shaping aggregate participation and unemployment rates.&#x0D;

Female Continue to Face Challenges in Acquiring Higher Education in Pakistan

The present study aimed to investigate the challenges, which girls had to face to overcome the cultural obstructions in getting higher education. The study focused on a multitude of cultural barriers and challenges, financial problems, and academic issues that female had to face. Qualitative, as well as a quantitative research approach, was used to know about the experience of respondents which they experienced while getting admission in the university. Questioners were the essential tools to collect the data described by a percentage basis. The study was conducted in Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan (Punjab, Pakistan) because different rural areas surrounded it. The population of the present study consisted of the female students studying in BS (Hons) program and M.sc students of the university. The paper argues that financial constraints included the theme of the scarcity of resources allocated to girls. Due to poor economic conditions, parents preferred their son’s education as compared to the daughter’s school and suggested that due to limited resources, parents choose between daughter’s education and son’s education. “From these excerpts, it was also revealed that families did not invest in girl’s education due to their restricted productivity in generating income for the family. The results also show that various factors are responsible for the social exclusion of girls from the education sector of Pakistan. These factors include the conservative attitude of family and preference to boy’s education. The originality of this paper is that the conservative opinion of the family and community is the primary determinant of low enrollment rate of girls in higher education. In addition to this, the result of the research depicts that little parental education also results in a flat enrollment rate in Pakistan.

3Ts of low cure rate: taxonomy, themes and theory of low cure rate in Pakistan’s TB control programme and gathering a 360-degree perspective through qualitative, in-depth interviewing approach

ObjectiveWHO recommends cure of tuberculosis (TB) as the best prevention strategy; however, information about factors associated with low cure rate in patients with drug-susceptible TB is limited in Pakistan. Therefore,...

A Discrete Time Markov Chain Model for the Assessment of Inflation Rate in Pakistan

Markov chains epitomize a class of stochastic process for a wide range of applications. Specifically, discrete time Markov chains (DTMC) is employed to model the transition probabilities between discrete states with the help of the matrices. To examine and forecast the time series the Markov chain model is applied. The most important indicator in macroeconomics is inflation, which persisted in double digits in 1970s and also in last several years. Different states are checked with the model by using inflation rate data form July 2000 to April 2015. A simulation technique used for random sequences of inflation predefine states for one year and take 1 st quarter data from it and then model the estimates by maximum likelihood and maximum likelihood with Laplace smoothing methods and check the equilibrium distribution using both techniques. Estimates obtained by Laplace Smoothing technique are reliable because it control the variation on the Maximum Likelihood estimates. Keywords : Discrete Time Markov Chains, Maximum likelihood, Laplace Smoothing methods, Equilibrium distribution, Inflation DOI : 10.7176/MTM/9-5-03 Publication date :May 31 st 2019

Bayesian analysis of dynamic linkages among gold price, stock prices, exchange rate and interest rate in Pakistan

Understanding of complex relationships among economic variables has much significance for investors, researchers and policy makers alike. This study is conducted to examine dynamic linkages among gold price, stock prices, exchange rate and interest rate nexus using monthly data of Pakistan economy ranging from 2001-1 to 2014–12. Search of the best model motivates the use of Bayesian inference. Hence, the study is also used to compare performance of classical VAR model and Bayesian VAR model under four types of priors. It may be considered another significant contribution in terms of methodological framework. All the four variables are nonstationary at level but stationary at first difference. However, no long-run relationship among the variables is found by employing three cointegration tests, i.e. JJ test without considering structural break, GH test considering one unknown structural break and HJ test allowing two unknown structural breaks. Hence short-run relationship is analyzed in the study. Bayesian VAR model under independent normal inverse Wishart priors is selected as the best model which is then used to conduct impulse response analysis. Inverse bilateral relationships between stock prices and gold price as well as between rupee value and gold price are determined where as positive bilateral relationship between stock prices and rupee value is explored. It implies that stock prices and rupee value move downward during recessionary periods but gold becomes more pretty and vice versa also hold. Hence, gold is not only considered as safe haven but it is also considered as an alternative investment during adverse fluctuations in stock and foreign exchange markets of Pakistan. Changes in stock prices and rupee value are negatively responded by monetary policy makers in Pakistan but changes in gold prices are not considered by monetary authorities. Results also reveal that monetary policy actions significantly and adversely affect the three markets under consideration. Direct relationship between nominal interest rate and exchange rate in Pakistan conform to the International fisher effect theory.