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M Younus

Publications and source records attributed to M Younus.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Socio-economic and demographic factors associated with injecting drug use among drug users in Karachi, Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the socio-economic and demographic factors associated with injecting drug users (IDUs) in Karachi. METHODS: We recruited 242 IDUs (taking drugs through sub-dermal routes) and 231 non-IDUs (taking drugs other than sub-dermal routes) from February through June 1996. IDUs were interviewed regarding sociodemographic factors, economic condition, and social network (marital status, living with spouse). In addition, information regarding location of drug users within the city (districts of Karachi) and current history of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) were gathered. Moreover, blood samples were also obtained for HIV testing. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis showed that the income generation via illegal modes [AOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.0-2.6], non-sharing of income with family (AOR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.7) and presence of suicidal thoughts (AOR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1-3.8) were associated with the use of drugs through injections. Further, drug users from districts West, East and Central were more likely to use drug through injection as compared to drug users from district South. The history of genital herpes was also found to be associated with injecting drug use. One IDU was found seropositive for HIV. CONCLUSION: The high-risk behaviors, such as illegal modes of earning and presence of suicidal thoughts, among IDUs suggest that the group needs rehabilitation programme. Moreover, non-sharing of income suggest that IDUs are isolated from social network, therefore primary prevention activities with focus on improving socio-economic conditions and social networking can reduce drug use through injections. Focused interventions on target districts would be helpful in reducing IDU (JPMA 53:511; 2003).

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Hepatitis C virus infection in asymptomatic male volunteer blood donors in Karachi, Pakistan.

The objectives of this study were to assess the proportion of hepatitis C virus (HCV) reactors and to identify risk factors associated with HCV infection in volunteer blood donors in Karachi, Pakistan. Between 1 January 1998 and 31 December 2002, consecutive blood donations tested at two blood banks were used to assess the proportion of HCV sero-reactors donors. To evaluate the potential risk factors, a case-control study design was implemented to select cases and controls between 15 October 2001 and 15 March 2002. The overall seroprevalence of HCV in these blood donors was 1.8% (6349/35 1309). Trend analysis revealed a significant (P < 0.001) linear increase in proportions of HCV-seropositive donors from 1998 to 2002. Final multivariate logistic regression model showed that the cases were more likely than controls to have reported past hospitalization or to have received multiple injections. When a glass syringe was used to give therapeutic injections, it increased the adjusted odds of being HCV seropositive significantly more among cases than in controls and this relationship was stronger when injection was given by general medical practitioner than if the injection was given in hospital setting. Cases were more likely than controls to have reported sexual contact with multiple sexual partners. Primary prevention programmes focused on identified risk factors might help to curtail the spread of HCV infection in this community and in other similar settings in developing countries.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Socio-economic and demographic factors associated with injecting drug use among drug users in Karachi, Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the socio-economic and demographic factors associated with injecting drug users (IDUs) in Karachi. METHODS: We recruited 242 IDUs (taking drugs through sub-dermal routes) and 231 non-IDUs (taking drugs other than sub-dermal routes) from February through June 1996. IDUs were interviewed regarding sociodemographic factors, economic condition, and social network (marital status, living with spouse). In addition, information regarding location of drug users within the city (districts of Karachi) and current history of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) were gathered. Moreover, blood samples were also obtained for HIV testing. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis showed that the income generation via illegal modes [AOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.0-2.6], non-sharing of income with family [AOR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.7] and presence of suicidal thoughts [AOR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1-3.8] were associated with the use of drugs through injections. Further, drug users from districts West, East and Central were more likely to use drug through injection as compared to drug users from district South. The history of genital herpes was also found to be associated with injecting drug use. One IDU was found seropositive for HIV. CONCLUSION: The high-risk behaviors, such as illegal modes of earning and presence of suicidal thoughts, among IDUs suggest that the group needs rehabilitation programme. Moreover, non-sharing of income suggest that IDUs are isolated from social network, therefore primary prevention activities with focus on improving socio-economic conditions and social networking can reduce drug use through injections. Focused interventions on target districts would be helpful in reducing IDU.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Factors affecting unsuccessful referral by the Lady Health Workers in Karachi, Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the proportion of patient referral and to identify the factors associated with unsuccessful referral in Karachi, Pakistan. METHODS: In a cross-sectional survey, a total of 347 patients referred to different health care facilities by the LHWs were interviewed. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire, on demographic characteristics of patients (age, sex, income etc) and potential factors (seriousness of medical condition, distance of health facility, attitude of health center staff etc) that can affect patient referral outcome. RESULTS: An overall referral rate of 55% was found in this study. Out of a total of 347 patients interviewed, 265 (76.4%) were successful while 82 (23.6%) were unsuccessful referrals. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that objection to referral (Adjusted OR, 2.96; CI: 1.44-5.52), never referred before (Adjusted OR, 1.25; CI: 1.34-6.90), not visited the referral site before (Adjusted OR, 4.04; CI: 2.50-6.08) and no knowledge of who to meet at the referral site (Adjusted OR, 1.30; CI: 1.01-2.96) were the factors associated with unsuccessful referral. Other factors found significant were duration of the illness of the patient, anyone not known at the referral site and failure of LHW to follow up. CONCLUSION: Our study found that a significant proportion of patients seen by the LHWs are referred to different health facilities. Improved management skills of LHWs for simple medical problems would probably reduce the number of referrals. Efforts should also be directed to enhance the communication and counseling skills of LHWs, which may reduce a significant proportion of unsuccessful referrals.

Communication↗
PubMed2001

The energy gap law for triplet states in Pt-containing conjugated polymers and monomers.

The energy gap law established for aromatic hydrocarbons and rare earth ions relates the nonradiative decay rate to the energy gap of a transition through a multiphonon emission process. We show that this energy gap law can be applied to the phosphoresce of a series of conjugated polymers and monomers for which the radiative decay rate has been enhanced through incorporation of a heavy metal. We find that the nonradiative decay rate from the triplet state T(1) increases exponentially with decreasing T(1)-S(0) gap for the polymers and monomers at 300 and 20 K. Comparison of the nonradiative decay of polymers with that of their corresponding monomers highlights the role of electron-lattice coupling.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1987

Monostotic fibrous dysplasia of the temporal bone.

Fibrous dysplasia is a rare but interesting benign condition of the bones which affects either a single bone or multiple bones, with or without endocrine abnormalities. Only 75 cases affecting the temporal bone have been reported in the world literature, and to these we add another case. Although systemic involvement in the form of endocrine abnormalities and skin pigmentation has been reported in the past, no case has yet been reported with a congenitally absent kidney in the monostotic form of the disease.

Fibrous Dysplasia of Bone↗
PubMed1986

Leprosy in ENT.

Two cases of leprosy are reported, one of which was admitted as a case of acute tonsillitis and was referred only later to the ENT surgeons with hoarseness after a diagnosis had been made by biopsy of the lymph node; the other was referred with a possible facial paralysis. This is a rare diagnosis but it should still be kept in mind, particularly in the immigrant population of the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia and particularly of the Saudis from the southern provinces.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Nasal glioma and encephalocele: two separate entities. Report of two cases.

The term "nasal glioma" is a confusing misnomer as it implies a neoplastic condition with malignant potential, which it is not. Nasal glioma is a rare development abnormality and should be differentiated from glioma, which is a malignant tumor of the brain, and from a primary encephalocele, which is herniation of the cranial contents through a bone defect in the skull, through which it retains an intact connection with the central nervous system. Two cases of nasal glioma, one with and one without intracranial connections, are described and the literature is reviewed.

Child, Preschool↗