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Pakistan is a developing country with a huge healthcare related disease burden and challenges. Health indicators have improved over time but are still far from satisfactory and lagging behind other countries of the region. Infant mortality, less than five-year mortality and maternal mortality are still quite high and country is still not polio-free

Objective: Spiritual needs have been of great importance in care giving both religiously and culturally in our society. The aim of this study was to investigate the importance of spiritual needs of care givers and role of spiritual support in care giving. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted during July to September, 2015 at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Participants 18 years old and above, involved in care giving to a family member were consecutively recruited. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to assess information and SPSS was used for data analysis. Results: A total of 400 participants were recruited. About 54% of the participants were males. Most of the participants (80%) feel that care giving gets easy with spiritual support. Conclusion: Spiritual care has favorable impact on psychological and spiritual well being of care givers. Physicians need to be aware of the value held for religious beliefs and spiritual implementation by patients and their care givers.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted during August 2014 to October 2014, to identify the impact of cable television channels on lives of the people, in Karachi, Pakistan. Three hundred participants were selected through convenience sampling and a pre-tested structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was analyzed in SPSS version 19.0. About 15% of participants were more than 40 years. About 62% were females in the study sample. Regression analysis showed that viewing television at night impacts work performance (OR: 1.39; 95% CI: 0.81-2.37), sleep (OR: 1.07; 95% CI: 0.63-1.81), family life (OR: 1.52; 95% CI: 0.89-2.60) and social life (OR: 1.38; 95% CI: 0.78-2.42). To minimize the adverse impact of the cable television it is imperative to monitor and control individual screen time, to avoid its adverse impact work performance, sleep, social life and overall health.

Objective: To estimate the frequency of abnormal Pap smear and assessment of risk factors for cervicalcancer in an out-patient clinic of a tertiary care hospital Study Design: A cross sectional study Patients and Methods: All married female patients attending the preventive health check up (familymedicine) clinics, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi from December 2004 to April 2005 for generalcheckups and had Pap smear after informed consent, were included. Data were collected through a structuredquestionnaire administered to all participants and double entered in EPIDATA and analyzed in SPSS.Frequencies of all variables were generated. Means with standard deviations and ranges were also calculatedfor quantitative variables. Results: A total of 103 patients were enrolled. The mean age was 45.8 ± 10.7 years. Half of the studypopulation were menstruating at the time of interview. Mean age at marriage was 21.4 ±4.57 years. Meanage at first pregnancy was 22.6_± 4.4 years. A minority ofhusbands (2.9%) were uncircumcised. About onethird (30.8%) of patients had at least four full term deliveries while the mean number of deliveries were 3.3± 2.0 years. More than one third (36.9%) were practicing contraception, with 5% using oral contraceptivepills and the rest using barrier methods. About one third of the women complained about vaginal dischargewith foul smell, dysuria and dyspereunia in most patients. About two-third (63.1%) had at least one Papsmear in the past. None had any dysplasia or cancer. Reports of Pap smear findings showed that 16.5%patients had atrophic vaginitis, 37.9% had infective bacillary background diagnosed on histo pathology andthe rest were reported normal. Conclusion: The most frequent abnormality found in Pap smear study was infective bacillary back ground.None of the patients had any pre-cancerous or active cervical cancer. The study was limited by small samplesize and choice of Pap smear by the elite class population with self referral for general health checkup.

Objective: To compare the quality o f continuous wave obturation technique following preparation o f theapical third with three different NiTi rotary instrumentation systems. Methodology: Mesiobuecal canals o f 75 extracted human maxillary’ and mandibular molars were used in study. After instrumentation 25 canals each with GT P or file .06 and Light Speed, canals were obturated with continuous wave technique 3-5 mm from the working length. Roots were sectioned at 1mm, 2 mm,and 3 mm from the apex and stained with methylene blue. Two operators evaluated pictures o f each section(24X) for obturation quality. Grades of 1- good adaptation, thin sealer film; 2- irregularities with thick film of sealer separating gutta-percha for up to I 3 from the canal walls; 3- voids or thick film o f sealer separatinggutta-percha from the canal walls for more than 1/3 were assigned. Results: The average obturation grade at I mm was G T r 2 .16, Profile =1.96. Light Speed 1.80; at 2 mmGT =1.84. ProFile =1.52, LightSpeed =1.52; at 3 mm G T = I.4 0 , Profile = 1.40, Light Speed =1.20. Over all Light Spccd showed better results but Kniskal-Wallis test showed no differences among groups at all threelevels. Statistically significant improvements were revealed in the quality of tilling as the distance fromthe apex increased. Conclusion: Under the conditions of this study, root canals shaped by GT, Light Speed and Profiles revealedsimilar quality of root canal obturation. The quality of root canal obturation improved in all groups as thedistance from the apex increased.

Objective: To determine the knowledge, attitude and practice about immunization among family practice patients.

Objective: To determine the knowledge, attitude and practices of Karachi University students about reproductive health and rights. Design: Cross sectional study Methods: A survey was conducted from February to May 2005 to determine the understanding and knowledge related to reproductive health and rights among the students of the department o f Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Pakistan. A pre-coded questionnaire was developed and pre-tested. The questionnaire was introduced to those students, who agreed to participate in the study. Data collected was double entered and analyzed on SPSS and Epi-info latest version. Results: Fifty five percent (55%) of participants believed the reproductive rights to be as important as other human rights. About 80% o f participants thought that proper birth spacing can improve maternal and child health but very few Pakistani women have birth spacing rights. Quality of life o f women and men can be improved by knowing their reproductive rights in view o f 71% and 63 % o f respondents respectively. Conclusion: Although one third of participants claimed to be aware of their reproductive rights but majority were unable to identify what exactly comes under the domain o f reproductive rights. Majority knew that appropriate use of contraception and birth spacing can have positive impact on maternal and child health. The study recommends that awareness sessions should be conducted at all lev els of society and more efforts should be made to improve reproductive health and increase awareness and the implementation of reproductive righ

Family medicine is an essential part of Primary Care that is considered a mandatory part of any successful health care delivery system.1,2 This is because of its front line position in health care delivery. This unique position allows Family Physicians to work in the community where patients and families live, offering easy access and equity in the health care delivery system.3, 4 Focus of Family Medicine on holistic approach including preventive, curative and rehabilitative services ensures that high quality and cost effective health care services are offered to communities and families.5 A trusting relationship between Patients and Family Doctors ensures a favorable impact on health seeking behavior of Patients and their families. Family Medicine alone cannot function without functioning secondary, tertiary and quaternary health care services.

Pakistan is a developing country with a huge healthcare related disease burden and challenges. Health indicators have improved over time but are still far from satisfactory and lagging behind other countries of the region. Infant mortality, less than five-year mortality and maternal mortality are still quite high and country is still not polio-free

Objective: To determine the knowledge, attitude and practices of Karachi University students about reproductive health and rights. Design: Cross sectional study Methods: A survey was conducted from February to May 2005 to determine the understanding and knowledge related to reproductive health and rights among the students of the department o f Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Pakistan. A pre-coded questionnaire was developed and pre-tested. The questionnaire was introduced to those students, who agreed to participate in the study. Data collected was double entered and analyzed on SPSS and Epi-info latest version. Results: Fifty five percent (55%) of participants believed the reproductive rights to be as important as other human rights. About 80% o f participants thought that proper birth spacing can improve maternal and child health but very few Pakistani women have birth spacing rights. Quality of life o f women and men can be improved by knowing their reproductive rights in view o f 71% and 63 % o f respondents respectively. Conclusion: Although one third of participants claimed to be aware of their reproductive rights but majority were unable to identify what exactly comes under the domain o f reproductive rights. Majority knew that appropriate use of contraception and birth spacing can have positive impact on maternal and child health. The study recommends that awareness sessions should be conducted at all lev els of society and more efforts should be made to improve reproductive health and increase awareness and the implementation of reproductive righ

Research is necessary for progress and mandatory for the success of any nation. With the advancement in science and technology in today’s world, maintaining highest ethical standards in research 1 s becoming a challenging task and increases responsibilities of investigators. 1 Protection of human subject’s rights is of paramount importance in conducting any research involving hum an b eings.