12 results on '"Adnan, Ahmad"'
Search Results
2. Optimizing immunization services: A Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) of child immunization facilities in Pakistan.
- Author
-
Taimoor Ahmad, Muhammad Ibrahim, Olan Naz, Mujahid Abdullah, Ayesha Khan, Maisam Ali, Elizabeth Bunde, Soumya Alva, Wendy Prosser, and Adnan Ahmad Khan
- Subjects
Medicine ,Science - Abstract
IntroductionChild immunization, though cost-beneficial, experiences varying costs influenced by individual facility-level factors. A real-time solution is to optimize resources and enhance vaccination services through proper method to measure immunization facility efficiency using existing data. Additionally, examine the impact of COVID-19 on facility efficiency, with the primary goal of comprehensively assessing child immunization facility efficiency in Pakistan.MethodsUtilizing survey data collected in four rounds from May 2018 to December 2020, the research focuses on doses administered and stock records for the preceding six months in each phase. In the initial stage, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is utilized to compute facility efficiency, employing two models with varied outputs while maintaining consistent inputs. Model 1 assesses doses administered, encompassing three outputs (pentavalent vaccine 1, 2, and 3). Meanwhile, Model 2, focuses on stock used featuring a single output (total doses used). The inputs considered in both models include stock availability, staff members, cold chain equipment, vaccine carriers, and vaccine sessions. The second stage involves the application of two competing regression specifications (Tobit and Simar-Wilson) to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and external factors on the efficiency of these facilities.ResultsIn 12 districts across Punjab and Sindh, we assess 466 facilities in Model 1 and 455 in Model 2. Model 1 shows 59% efficiency, and Model 2 shows 70%, indicating excess stock. Stock of vaccines need to be reduced by from 36% to 43%. In the stage, COVID-19 period reduced efficiency in Model 1 by 10%, however, insignificant in Model 2.ConclusionsThe proposed methodology, utilizing DEA, emerges as a valuable tool for immunization facilities seeking to improve resource utilization and overall efficiency. Model 1, focusing on doses administered indicates facilities low efficiency at average 59% and proves more pertinent for efficiency analysis as it directly correlates with the number of children vaccinated. The prevalent issue of overstocking across all facilities significantly impacts efficiency. This study underscores the critical importance of optimizing resources through the redistribution of excess stock with low efficiency. more...
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
Catalog
3. Integrated study of quaternary aquifer for hydrostratigraphy and groundwater quality assessment in central Thal Doab, Punjab, Pakistan.
- Author
-
Irfan Raza, Perveiz Khalid, Qazi Adnan Ahmad, Shahbaz Muhammad, Muhammad Irfan Ehsan, Bakhtawar Farooq, and Jahanzeb Qureshi
- Subjects
Medicine ,Science - Abstract
The groundwater resources in different areas of Pakistan are heading towards depletion along with the deterioration of quality due to over-abstraction and urbanization. The main focus of this study is to map the current hydrostratigraphical and hydraulic conditions of the late Quaternary aquifers in the central part of Thal Doab of Punjab Plains. To achieve the target, a comprehensive approach was employed combining geophysical investigations using electrical resistivity surveys (ERS) and physiochemical analysis of groundwater specimens collected from the study area. Careful calibration of resistivity models was performed by comparing them with lithologs to ensure their accuracy. The current groundwater conditions were assessed through thirty vertical electrical soundings (VES) using the Schlumberger electrode configuration up to 300m of AB/2. The interpreted results revealed the presence of four to six geo-electric sublayers comprising the intermixing layers of clay, silt, sand, gravel, and kankar inclusions. These layers exhibited very low (230 Ω-m) resistivity zones at various depth intervals. The developed 2D/3D models of aquifer systems identify the promising areas of good/fresh quality groundwater in the regions characterized by medium to very high resistivity mainly within the sand with gravel layers. However, lower resistivity values indicate the presence of marginally suitable/fair and saline/brackish groundwater showing the existence of fine sediments such as clays/silts. Additionally, twenty groundwater samples were collected to assess various parameters including pH, TDS, arsenic, fluoride, iron, nitrate, and nitrite. The spatial distribution of these parameters was visualized using 2D maps. The suitability of the groundwater for drinking consumption was evaluated in accordance with WHO guidelines. more...
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
4. Geospatial interpolation and hydro-geochemical characterization of alluvial aquifers in the Thal Desert, Punjab, Pakistan.
- Author
-
Irfan Raza, Perveiz Khalid, Muhammad Irfan Ehsan, Qazi Adnan Ahmad, Shahzada Khurram, Rabia Zainab, and Salman Farooq
- Subjects
Medicine ,Science - Abstract
This study seeks to assess the hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater in the southern part of Thal Desert of Pakistan. The primary focus lies in identifying potential sources of contamination and evaluating their impact on groundwater and the ecosystem. Groundwater samples were collected from diverse sources including shallow hand pumps, tubewells, and dug wells, with depths ranging from 11 to 28 m. A comprehensive analysis was performed to scrutinize the physical, chemical, and microbial attributes of the samples. Utilizing visual aids like the Piper, Durov, and Gibbs diagrams, as well as Pearson correlation, scatter plots, Schoeller diagrams, and pie charts, the study evaluated the groundwater quality and its suitability for consumption. Results indicate that mineral infiltration from rainfall, domestic waste, and industrial effluents significantly affects groundwater quality, leading to widespread salinity. Weathering processes and ion exchange were identified as key factors contributing to elevate levels of bicarbonates, sodium, magnesium, and chloride ions. Employing the Water Quality Index (WQI) on 40 groundwater samples, findings reveal that 52.5% of samples demonstrated poor to not suitable quality, with 27.5% categorized as poor, 2.5% as very poor, and 22.5% not suitable consumption. Conversely, 47.5% of samples showcased good to excellent quality, with 25% rated as good and 22.5% as excellent. These findings provide valuable insights for hydrogeologists to develop appropriate strategies for water treatment and address any concerns related to groundwater quality. more...
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
5. COVID-19 in Pakistan: A national analysis of five pandemic waves
- Author
-
Taimoor Ahmad, Mujahid Abdullah, Abdul Mueed, Faisal Sultan, Ayesha Khan, and Adnan Ahmad Khan
- Subjects
Medicine ,Science - Published
- 2023
6. Community engagement to increase vaccine uptake: Quasi-experimental evidence from Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan
- Author
-
Mujahid Abdullah, Taimoor Ahmad, Twangar Kazmi, Faisal Sultan, Sabeen Afzal, Rana Muhammad Safdar, and Adnan Ahmad Khan
- Subjects
Medicine ,Science - Abstract
Developing countries have been facing difficulties in reaching out to low-income and underserved communities for COVID-19 vaccination coverage. The rapidity of vaccine development caused a mistrust among certain subgroups of the population, and hence innovative approaches were taken to reach out to such populations. Using a sample of 1760 respondents in five low-income, informal localities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan, we evaluated a set of interventions involving community engagement by addressing demand and access barriers. We used multi-level mixed effects models to estimate average treatment effects across treatment areas. We found that our interventions increased COVID-19 vaccine willingness in two treatment areas that are furthest from city centers by 7.6% and 6.6% respectively, while vaccine uptake increased in one of the treatment areas by 17.1%, compared to the control area. Our results suggest that personalized information campaigns such as community mobilization help to increase COVID-19 vaccine willingness. Increasing uptake however, requires improving access to the vaccination services. Both information and access may be different for various communities and therefore a “one-size-fits-all” approach may need to be better localized. Such underserved and marginalized communities are better served if vaccination efforts are contextualized. more...
- Published
- 2022
7. Impact of Covid-19 on informal employment: A case study of women domestic workers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
- Author
-
Adnan Ahmad Dogar, Ikram Shah, Tahir Mahmood, Noor Elahi, Arif Alam, and Urooj Gul Jadoon
- Subjects
Medicine ,Science - Abstract
COVID-19 indiscriminately impacted all the segments of the global society. Due to the unstructured job market, women in the informal sector were at high risk to experience the adverse effects of the pandemic. This paper aims to explore the impact of COVID-19 on women domestic workers and their families. Semi structured interviews conducted with fifty-four women domestic workers in three districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan were analyzed in five themes: disruption caused by lockdown, loss of livelihood, economic hardships, social support mechanism, and challenges faced during the pandemic. The study underlines that the pandemic left severe impacts on access to basic services, employment, food security at household level and pattern of expenditures. The plummeting economic activities led to sudden drops in earnings that forced families to sell their assets and incur debts. Respondents lamented over the social support system and considered it a necessary but not sufficient condition for uplifting the lives of the poor. Strains in marital relationships led to stress, anxiety and domestic violence among families. The utmost concern was the restoration of economic activities and urgent policy interventions to strengthen social safety measures for the vulnerable segments of society. more...
- Published
- 2022
8. Optimizing immunization services: A Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) of child immunization facilities in Pakistan.
- Author
-
Ahmad, Taimoor, Ibrahim, Muhammad, Naz, Olan, Abdullah, Mujahid, Khan, Ayesha, Ali, Maisam, Bunde, Elizabeth, Alva, Soumya, Prosser, Wendy, and Khan, Adnan Ahmad
- Abstract
Introduction: Child immunization, though cost-beneficial, experiences varying costs influenced by individual facility-level factors. A real-time solution is to optimize resources and enhance vaccination services through proper method to measure immunization facility efficiency using existing data. Additionally, examine the impact of COVID-19 on facility efficiency, with the primary goal of comprehensively assessing child immunization facility efficiency in Pakistan. Methods: Utilizing survey data collected in four rounds from May 2018 to December 2020, the research focuses on doses administered and stock records for the preceding six months in each phase. In the initial stage, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is utilized to compute facility efficiency, employing two models with varied outputs while maintaining consistent inputs. Model 1 assesses doses administered, encompassing three outputs (pentavalent vaccine 1, 2, and 3). Meanwhile, Model 2, focuses on stock used featuring a single output (total doses used). The inputs considered in both models include stock availability, staff members, cold chain equipment, vaccine carriers, and vaccine sessions. The second stage involves the application of two competing regression specifications (Tobit and Simar-Wilson) to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and external factors on the efficiency of these facilities. Results: In 12 districts across Punjab and Sindh, we assess 466 facilities in Model 1 and 455 in Model 2. Model 1 shows 59% efficiency, and Model 2 shows 70%, indicating excess stock. Stock of vaccines need to be reduced by from 36% to 43%. In the stage, COVID-19 period reduced efficiency in Model 1 by 10%, however, insignificant in Model 2. Conclusions: The proposed methodology, utilizing DEA, emerges as a valuable tool for immunization facilities seeking to improve resource utilization and overall efficiency. Model 1, focusing on doses administered indicates facilities low efficiency at average 59% and proves more pertinent for efficiency analysis as it directly correlates with the number of children vaccinated. The prevalent issue of overstocking across all facilities significantly impacts efficiency. This study underscores the critical importance of optimizing resources through the redistribution of excess stock with low efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
9. COVID-19 in Pakistan: A national analysis of five pandemic waves.
- Author
-
Ahmad, Taimoor, Abdullah, Mujahid, Mueed, Abdul, Sultan, Faisal, Khan, Ayesha, and Khan, Adnan Ahmad
- Subjects
COVID-19 pandemic ,COVID-19 ,COMMUNICABLE diseases ,COVID-19 testing ,EPIDEMICS ,BRAIN waves ,H7N9 Influenza - Abstract
Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic showed distinct waves where cases ebbed and flowed. While each country had slight, nuanced differences, lessons from each wave with country-specific details provides important lessons for prevention, understanding medical outcomes and the role of vaccines. This paper compares key characteristics from the five different COVID-19 waves in Pakistan. Methods: Data was sourced from daily national situation reports (Sitreps) prepared by the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) in Islamabad. We use specific criteria to define COVID-19 waves. The start of each COVID-19 wave is marked by the day of the lowest number of daily cases preceding a sustained increase, while the end is the day with the lowest number of cases following a 7-days decline, which should be lower than the 7 days following it. Key variables such as COVID-19 tests, cases, and deaths with their rates of change to the peak and then to the trough are used to draw descriptive comparisons. Additionally, a linear regression model estimates daily new COVID-19 deaths in Pakistan. Results: Pakistan saw five distinct waves, each of which displayed the typical topology of a complete infectious disease epidemic. The time from wave-start to peak became progressively shorter, and from wave-peak to trough, progressively longer. Each wave appears to also be getting shorter, except for wave 4, which lasted longer than wave 3. A one percent increase in vaccinations decreased deaths by 0.38% (95% CI: -0.67, -0.08) in wave 5 and the association is statistically significant. Conclusion: Each wave displayed distinct characteristics that must be interpreted in the context of the level of response and the variant driving the epidemic. Key indicators suggest that COVID-19 preventive measures kept pace with the disease. Waves 1 and 2 were mainly about prevention and learning how to clinically manage patients. Vaccination started late during wave 3 and its impact on hospitalizations and deaths became visible in wave 5. The impact of highly virulent strains Alpha/B.1.1.7 and Delta/B.1.617.2 variants during wave 3 and milder but more infectious Omicron/B.1.1.529 during wave 5 are apparent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
10. Impact of Covid-19 on informal employment: A case study of women domestic workers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
- Author
-
Dogar, Adnan Ahmad, primary, Shah, Ikram, additional, Mahmood, Tahir, additional, Elahi, Noor, additional, Alam, Arif, additional, and Jadoon, Urooj Gul, additional
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
11. Community engagement to increase vaccine uptake: Quasi-experimental evidence from Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan
- Author
-
Abdullah, Mujahid, primary, Ahmad, Taimoor, additional, Kazmi, Twangar, additional, Sultan, Faisal, additional, Afzal, Sabeen, additional, Safdar, Rana Muhammad, additional, and Khan, Adnan Ahmad, additional more...
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
12. Correction: Community engagement to increase vaccine uptake: Quasi-experimental evidence from Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
- Author
-
Abdullah, Mujahid, Ahmad, Taimoor, Khan, Ayesha, Kazmi, Twangar, Sultan, Faisal, Afzal, Sabeen, Safdar, Rana Muhammad, and Khan, Adnan Ahmad
- Subjects
VACCINATION status ,SCHEDULING - Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
Discovery Service for Jio Institute Digital Library
For full access to our library's resources, please sign in.