BackgroundDiabetes mellitus is a chronic illness which is becoming more prevalent in developing countries, and it is being managed mostly in hospitals or clinics in underdeveloped nations. Other strategies for treatment delivery in emerging nations must be considered as the number of diabetic patients grows. Community pharmacists are a valuable choice for diabetes care. However, only developed countries have data on community pharmacists' diabetes treatment practices. MethodologyA non-probability consecutive sampling strategy was used to gather a self-administered questionnaire from 289 community pharmacists. Six points Likert scale was employed to score current practices and pharmacists' perceived role. A response rate of 55% was attained. Characteristics associated with present behaviors and perceived roles were analyzed using Chi-square and logistic regression. ResultsThe majority of the respondents were males, 234 (81.0%). Out of 289, 229 (79.2%) were of 25-30 years of age and were pharmacists as well as qualified persons (QP) 189 (65.4%). A QP is one who has the legal authority to sell drugs to customers. The majority had <5 years of working experience as a community pharmacist, 268 (92.7%), and did not have diabetes training, 237 (82.0%). Most community pharmacies were stand-alone, 110 (38.1%), and had a single or a group of proprietors, 248 (85.8%). Open hours of most of the pharmacies were 16-20 hours per day, 202 (69.8%), and most had one pharmacist, 243 (84.1%), i.e., working as a pharmacist as well as a qualified person. Approximately 203 (70.2%) of the pharmacies had customers >2000 in a month and >100 customers purchased anti-diabetes medications per month. Only 44 (15.2%) community pharmacies had a designated room or space for patient counselling. The majority of pharmacists were also in favor of providing services other than dispensing such as counselling the patients about prescribed medicines, direction of use, use of devices for insulin administration, training on self-monitoring of glucose, and healthy lifestyle and diet practices. Pharmacy setting, ownership, patient counseling area, and the number of customers per month were key factors in the provision of diabetes services. The main obstacles identified were a lack of pharmacist availability and academic competency. ConclusionIn Rawalpindi and Islamabad, most community pharmacies only provide a basic dispensing service for diabetes patients. Most of the community pharmacists agreed to extend their duties. The expansion of pharmacist professional responsibilities would help control the rising diabetes burden. The facilitators and hurdles identified would serve as a foundation for the introduction of diabetic care in community pharmacies.

Health authorities in Pakistan in collaboration with local and foreign non-government organizations are working hard to achieve the targets set by World Health Organization in 2012, that is, to reduce anemia prevalence and its related factors. However, due to the prevailing COVID-19 crisis, all resources and attention were diverted toward it, which led to ignorance of existing basic health issues. This study assesses anemia prevalence and its related factors among women of childbearing age in the period of global pandemic. A time-lagged, cross-sectional survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire among 1,702 volunteer women aged between 15 and 49 years across five major cities of Pakistan from January 2021 to December 2021 using the non-probability consecutive sampling technique. Blood sample results were analyzed to determine prevalence and anemia severity. The chi-squared test and multiple logistic regression were performed to examine the relationship and effect of related factors with hemoglobin levels using SPSS version 26. Among the 1,702 respondents, 788 (46.3%) were non-anemic and 914 (53.7%) were anemic. Anemia prevalence in Karachi was slightly greater (n=294, 55.48%) compared to other cities, and the mean hemoglobin level was 11.98 ± 0.92 g/dL. The chi-square test and multiple logistic regression indicated that the respondents’ employment status, mother’s profession, family income, living conditions, chronic health conditions, use of iron and folic acid supplements, junk food, source of drinking water, and knowledge about anemia and its preventive measures were associated significantly with anemia during the pandemic. Results confirmed that anemia is a multi-factor health problem and that it was totally ignored during the COVD-19 pandemic, as the prevalence increased during the pandemic. Therefore, more attention should be paid to anemia surveillance, anemia awareness programs, and mobilization of community health workers and volunteers to reach a wide range of the population, including women of childbearing age even during the pandemic. Keywords: COVID-19, anemia, related factors, women of childbearing age, prevalence, Pakistan

Background and aimChronic patients with thalassemia major were mainly recognized as more prone to poor mental health during this global pandemic. This study aims to evaluate causal relationships leading to poor outcomes and how they manage to tackle this. MethodsIn-depth face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 thalassemia patients selected through probability consecutive sampling from Pakistan Thalassemia Welfare Society Centers. The following criteria served as the basis for the interview: (1) solitude at home, (2) interruption of transfusion services, (3) alteration of appetite and interests, (4) lack of control and uncertainty, (5) extensive media coverage, (6) deterioration of pre-existing health issues, difficulty in sleeping, (7) practicing gratitude, (8) participation in activities and hobbies, (9) connectivity with others, and (10) ability to recognize social support. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed with reflexive thematic analysis. ResultsThe commonly described mental health conditions were depression and concern about the overall health status. The following seven elements associated with the pandemic contributed to the deterioration of mental health: (1) isolation at home, (2) disruption in transfusion services, (3) change in appetite and interests, (4) lack of control and uncertainty, (5) intensive media reporting, (6) worsening of pre-existing health problems, and (7) difficulty in sleeping. The following four coping strategies were identified for maintaining mental issues: (1) practicing gratitude, (2) involvement in activities and hobbies, (3) connectivity with others, and (4) discerning social support. ConclusionsThalassemia major patients had been negatively affected during the pandemic. Only a small number of people modified their management techniques to maintain steady well-being.

BackgroundHealth authorities in Pakistan in collaboration with local and foreign non-government organizations are working hard to achieve the targets set by World Health Organization in 2012, that is, to reduce anemia prevalence and its related factors. However, due to the prevailing COVID-19 crisis, all resources and attention were diverted toward it, which led to ignorance of existing basic health issues. ObjectiveThis study assesses anemia prevalence and its related factors among women of childbearing age in the period of global pandemic. MethodsA time-lagged, cross-sectional survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire among 1,702 volunteer women aged between 15 and 49 years across five major cities of Pakistan from January 2021 to December 2021 using the non-probability consecutive sampling technique. Blood sample results were analyzed to determine prevalence and anemia severity. The chi-squared test and multiple logistic regression were performed to examine the relationship and effect of related factors with hemoglobin levels using SPSS version 26. ResultsAmong the 1,702 respondents, 788 (46.3%) were non-anemic and 914 (53.7%) were anemic. Anemia prevalence in Karachi was slightly greater (n=294, 55.48%) compared to other cities, and the mean hemoglobin level was 11.98 ± 0.92 g/dL. The chi-square test and multiple logistic regression indicated that the respondents' employment status, mother's profession, family income, living conditions, chronic health conditions, use of iron and folic acid supplements, junk food, source of drinking water, and knowledge about anemia and its preventive measures were associated significantly with anemia during the pandemic. ConclusionResults confirmed that anemia is a multi-factor health problem and that it was totally ignored during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the prevalence increased during the pandemic. Therefore, more attention should be paid to anemia surveillance, anemia awareness programs, and mobilization of community health workers and volunteers to reach a wide range of the population, including women of childbearing age even during the pandemic.