Showing papers by "Syed Iqbal Azam published in 2003"

Are our people health conscious? Results of a patients survey in Karachi, Pakistan.

Abstract: Background: Life style is known to influence health and may be responsible for certain diseases. There is a need to document the life style on health among the Pakistani population. Methods: The study was conducted on patients visiting the Family Practice Center, the Aga Khan University, Karachi. A questionnaire was used to collect information on the demographic profile, and the life style on health. The ethical requirements for conducting the study were met. Results: 393 patients were surveyed. The majority were young married men, in either private or government service. Preference for consumption of fats/oils, sweets, spicy foods, salt, fruits/ vegetables, tea, coffee, cola drinks and alcohol was found among 103 (26%), 84 (22%), 86 (22%), 110 (28%), 239 (61%), 319 (81%), 117 (30%), 253 (64%) and 13 (03%) respondents respectively. Hand washing after defecation, before eating food and after work was seen among 341 (87%), 296 (75%) and 256 (65%) respondents respectively. Brushing of teeth after eating food, before breakfast and bedtime was seen in 56 (14%), 346 (88%) and 176 (45%) respondents respectively. Preventive dental check-up was practiced by 102 (26%) of the respondents. Sleep of less than 6 hours per day among 74 (19%), water consumption of less than 1 liter daily among 84 (21%) and fish consumption on once a week basis among 173 (44%) respondents was found. Tobacco and betel nuts use was found among 69 (17%) and 79 (20%) respondents. Conclusions: We have documented a clear need to raise public awareness on the issue of life style on health. There is a need and we strongly recommend debate and further research, along with interventional strategies in line with the available evidence on healthy life style. Key-words: Health behavior, Life style, Physical fitness, Diet

Women’s beliefs regarding food restrictions during common childhood illnesses: a hospital based study

Abstract: Background: Malnutrition continues to be a major problem in Pakistan. Inadequate nutrition contributes substantially to childhood death and disease. Restriction of diet during common childhood illnesses further compromises the nutritional status of the child. The present study aims to determine the beliefs and practices regarding food restrictions during common childhood illnesses. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at Community Health Centre (CHC), of The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi to understand the beliefs and practices regarding food restrictions in common childhood illnesses. Four hundred adult females were interviewed from July-September 2000. A self-administered questionnaire was filled by the respondent. Results : Major sources of information about restriction of various foods during different illnesses were relatives. Sixty five percent of the respondents believed that heavy food should be restricted during diarrhoea and oily food during jaundice. Sixty six percent of the respondents believed that cold food should be restricted during cold/cough and twenty three percent believed that oily food should be restricted during typhoid. Conclusion: Beliefs’ regarding food restrictions during illnesses plays a very important role on the nutrition status. Surprisingly, medical doctors and other health care givers were also the source of information for advising food restrictions in certain childhood illnesses. Therefore there is a need for educating the physicians and other health care workers along with the mothers about food concepts and feeding practices during health and diseases. Protein energy malnutrition can be reduced to some extent if wrong dietary beliefs about child feeding practices in a community can be removed with health education programme. Key Words: Food habits; food; cultural characteristics.

Women s perception about food properties in a tertiary care hospital.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE To understand the existing food beliefs regarding hot, cold and badi (gas-producing) properties of different food items and also to assess whether there is any relationship with education of women and these beliefs DESIGN A cross-sectional study PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY Community Health Center (CHC), The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi from July to September 2000 SUBJECTS AND METHODS Four hundred adult female respondents, who came to CHC as a patient or as an attendant, were interviewed after taking verbal consent A self-administered pre-coded and pre-tested questionnaire was filled by the respondent Descriptive frequencies and cross tabulation were computed to assess the existing food beliefs Chi-square test was used to assess the association between education level of women and belief regarding these food items RESULTS More than three-fourth of respondents were literate The percentages of respondents saying that certain foods were hot, cold and badi were 71%, 55% and 80% respectively Meat, either beef or mutton, fish, egg, chicken, was perceived as hot by majority of the respondents Majority of vegetables was perceived as cold foods in our study The other foods like rice, yogurt, banana, watermelon, milk and cold drink were also thought to be cold by many of the respondents Cabbage, cauliflower, potato, rice, gram and mash pulses (chane and mash-ki-dal) were highly rated as badi foods Level of education of women didn t show any statistically significant difference in keeping beliefs regarding hot, cold and badi properties of food items CONCLUSION A significant concept of different properties of food exists in our culture We recommend future studies to explore scientific basis for classifying hot, cold or badi foods and also to look into its impact on health by their restriction based on their beliefs