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The definition on poverty has progressed into a multidimensional concept focusing more on socio-economic dimensions than being a mere measure of financial deprivation. Corresponding to this advancement, this study investigated the incidence of multidimensional poverty (MDP) in the Rawalpindi region of Pakistan, taking into account three dimensions, i.e. education, health and housing. Findings revealed an inconsistent declining trend of MDP over time. This inconsistency was mainly attributed to observed fluctuations in deprivation levels of education, health and housing in the region. Over time, education deprivation showed a significant net increase. Notably, the magnitude of MDP in rural areas was higher than in urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objectives: To determine the frequency of electrolyte imbalance in pediatric COVID-19 patients and their impact on the severity of disease and outcome. Methods: A retrospective observational study was done from January 2021 to July 2021 on 61 children admitted in Benazir Bhutto Hospital Rawalpindi, a tertiary care teaching hospital affiliated with Rawalpindi Medical University (RMU) Pakistan. The age of the patients ranged from infants to 12 years. All the children who were PCR positive or those whose HRCT was suggestive of COVID-19 were included in the study. Results: During the study period of 7 months, 61 confirmed COVID-19 patients were admitted. 37(60.7%) were males and 24 (39.3%) were females. The age of the patients ranged from infants to 12 years with a mean age of 27.25 months. Out of 61 admitted cases, 28 children (45.9%) had moderate & 33(54.1%) patients had severe disease. 46(75%) patients were discharged while 15(25%) patients expired. A number of electrolyte abnormalities were observed. A total of 30 patients (49.2%) were hyponatremic &13 patients (21.3%) were hypernatremic. Hypokalemia was observed in 34(55.7%) & hyperkalemia was found in 2 patients (3.3%), hypochloremia was observed in 13(21.3%) while hyperchloremia was present in 3(4.9%) patients. Hypocalcemia was found in 9(14.7%) patients. 11(18%) patients with Hyponatremia and 6(9.8%) patients with hypernatremia expired. The potassium abnormalities were also associated with significant mortality.14(22.9%) patients with hypokalemia and 2(3.2%) with hyperkalemia expired. Hypocalcemia was found in 9(4.9%) patients who expired. Conclusions: Hypokalemia and hyponatremia were frequent electrolyte disorders in children with COVID-19. These electrolyte abnormalities were associated significantly with severity of disease and a higher risk of death in children with COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was initially identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The virus affects almost all countries of the world. It has infected humans of all age groups, ethnicities. COVID-19, in patients with underlying health conditions or comorbidities, has an increasingly rapid and severe progression, often leading to death. This study is designed to evaluate the impact of comorbidities on the severity and outcome of COVID- 19 infection in children. Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted at the Pediatric Department, Benazir Bhutto Hospital Rawalpindi from March 2020 to September 2021. Every confirmed COVID-19 admitted case according to inclusion criteria was enrolled for the study. Data were retrieved from hospital records and was recorded on a predesigned study questionnaire, entered and analyzed in SPSS version 24 for descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis. Results: 109 children were enrolled with confirmed COVID-19, of these 64(58.7%) were males and 45(41.2%) were females. The age of the patients ranged from infants to 12 years with a mean age of 27.25 months. Comorbidities were present in 70 patients (64.2%).CHD was the most common comorbid condition (n=18, 16.5%). Most of the patients experienced mild to moderate symptoms (n=64.2%) while severe symptoms were found in (n=35.8%) patients. 27 patients (24.8%) required Ventilatory support, and of these 20 patients (18.3%) had underlying comorbidity. The total number of patients who expired was 27(24.7%), and 30.3% of patients who expired had comorbid conditions. The patients with comorbid conditions had a longer stay in the hospital. 35 patients (32.1%)with underlying comorbidity remained admitted more than a week and 13 patients(9%) more than two weeks. Conclusion: Pediatric patients with comorbidities have a higher risk of severe COVID-19 and associated mortality than children without underlying disease. Children with underlying conditions need to be carefully assessed and closely monitored. Further data is required to define these associations and to develop adequate guidelines to manage high-risk children with COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on hospital visits and admissions of non-COVID-19 patients in 2020 compared to 2019. Material and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in 2021 at the Department of Pediatrics, Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi comparing the data of non-COVID-19 patients visits and admissions from January to December 2019 with non-COVID-19 patients visits and admissions from January to December 2020. The relevant data was retrieved from the Pediatric Department record on a pre-designed study questionnaire. Data was entered and analyzed in SPSS version-24 for descriptive statistics and analysis. Results: The total OPD visits in 2019 were 112682 patients compared to 63859 patients in 2020 showing a 43.33% reduction. The total number of patients who visited pediatric emergency were 80274 in 2019 and 41182 in 2020, showing a decline of 48.65%. There were a total of 6151 admissions in the paediatric ward in 2019 compared to 2778 admissions in 2020 recording a decline of 54.84%. The admissions in the Neonatal Unit were 5544 in 2019 and 3528 in 2020 with a reduction of 36.36%. The admissions in PICU in 2019 were 2685 and in 2020 the admissions decline to 2011 which is a 25.1% reduction. Conclusion: There was a significant decline in both hospital visits and admissions in 2020 compared to those in 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study was done to find out the main causes and magnitude of neonatal mortality in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi over a period of five years. Material and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was done from June 2014 to July 2019. The registration book of admitted neonates was reviewed by using a checklist to collect data. Data was analyzed in SPSS 24 for descriptive and bi-variate analysis applying the chi-square test and presented in text, frequencies, tables, and percentages. Results: The study assessed a total of 24,459 neonates admitted to the NICU at Benazir Bhutto Hospital over a span of five years (June 2014 to July 2019). The mean birth weight was 2432 grams ± 740 g (range: Between 800 and 6000 g). Male neonates accounted for 59.8% with male to female ratio of 1.5:1. 67.5% male neonates and 32.5% female neonates expired. Overall 19,832 neonates (81.1%) were discharged, while 4636 (18.9%) died, making a Neonatal Mortality Rate of 18.9% (189 per 1000 admissions). 86.21% of these deaths were early neonatal that occurred in the first week of life. The causes of death were pre-maturity/low birth weight (LBW), suspected sepsis, birth asphyxia, neonatal jaundice, and meconium aspiration syndrome, accounting for 32%, 31%, 30%, 4%, and 3% respectively. Conclusion: In our NICU the neonatal mortality is high with prematurity/low birth weight (LBW), birth asphyxia (BA), neonatal jaundice (NNJ), and meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) accounting for most of the deaths. These deaths are largely preventable with better antenatal, perinatal, and neonatal care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Mortality of children is the prime indicator of a country's health status and its development. Understanding child mortality among different age groups is one of the valuable public health insights. Therefore, studies regarding child mortality patterns are essential for re-evaluating existing health services. Objective: The objective of this study is to describe the pattern of paediatric mortality in our hospital. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was done with the medical records of Pediatric patients (up to 12 years) who died in the Pediatrics department of Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi from 1st Jan 2018 to 31st Dec 2018. Results: A total of 15,500 children were admitted to the Paediatric department from 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2018. A total of 1738 deaths were recorded. The overall mortality of 11.3% was noted in the cases admitted to the Paediatric Department. Conclusion: Septicemia, Acute respiratory infection(ARI)/Pneumonia, Birth asphyxia, and low birth weight (LBW)/prematurity were the major causes of paediatrics mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]