Safe blood transfusion practices in blood banks of Karachi, Pakistan

BACKGROUND

Since 1997, legislations pertaining to safe blood transfusion (SBT) have evolved considerably in Pakistan. The objective of this study was to evaluate the SBT practices in the blood banks of Pakistan.

METHODS

Twenty-three blood banks were randomly selected from a list of registered 40 in Karachi, the largest city in Pakistan. To evaluate the SBT practices in the selected blood banks, a questionnaire and a checklist were administered during 2007-2008.

RESULTS

Of the 23 blood banks surveyed, 4 (17%) were affiliated with government or a semi-government institution; 16 (70%) blood banks had a healthy donor recruitment program and 2 (9%) of the blood banks agreed that they recruited remunerated (paid) blood donors. Donors were screened for HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and syphilis by all 23 blood banks, whereas malaria was screened by all blood banks but one.

CONCLUSION

SBT practices in Karachi have improved since 1995; an active role by the government in policy-making has proven effective.

Determining the risk factors and prevalence of osteoporosis using quantitative ultrasonography in Pakistani adult women

INTRODUCTION

Osteoporosis-related bone fractures are a significant public health problem. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of osteoporosis among Pakistani women and identify modifiable risk factors.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in an obstetrics / gynaecology setting during March-April 2007 in Quetta, Pakistan. A total of 334 women older than 20 years of age underwent quantitative ultrasonography and were interviewed to find out the risk factors for osteoporosis. Bone mineral density was assessed by the speed of sound using a quantitative ultrasound device. The sociodemographic characteristics of normal, osteopenic and osteoporotic women were compared using the chi-square test for categorical variables and ANOVA for continuous variables. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the independent predictors of being osteopenic or osteoporotic.

RESULTS

146 (43.7 percent) women were reported to be normal, 145 (43.4 percent) were osteopenic and 43 (12.9 percent) were osteoporotic. The mean age and standard deviation of the participants were 36.7 years +/- 13.0 years, with a body mass index (BMI) of 25.81 (standard deviation 5.10) kg per square metre. In the univariate analysis, factors that were associated with osteoporosis / osteopenia included age, parity, BMI, smoking (pack years), consumption of calcium-rich food/week, personal and family history of osteoporosis, education and socioeconomic status (p-value is less than 0.05). Using binary logistic regression with osteoporosis / osteopenia as an outcome compared to normal individuals, BMI, smoking pack years, a family history of osteoporosis / fracture and house ownership were found to be independent predictors of the outcome.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia is high, especially among young Pakistani women, and is associated with modifiable risk factors.