Kabol

Early childhood development, especially the first 1000 days of life, is crucial for a childs future health and brain development. Responsive caregiving during this early period helps build trust, social and cognitive growth, and a sense of security. This research evaluates the impact and adaptation of a newborn parenting education program in primary health care settings in Pakistan and Afghanistan to support responsive caregiving where such initiatives are limited. The study compares two groups one receiving only a self-study pictorial module and another receiving a 6-month intervention with one session at birth plus five monthly sessions and self-study handouts. The program is based on well-established nurturing care and caregiving frameworks and will be adapted from tertiary to primary care settings. Health care providers will be trained and assessed for knowledge and skills, and system readiness for national scale-up will be explored. Participants will be followed until the infant reaches 6 months, with assessments at baseline and study completion. Researchers will measure quality of life, parenting confidence, responsive interactions, and early child development through validated scales. Data will be collected at birth and at 6 months to evaluate the programs impact. The study aims to build evidence for wider implementation and advocate for responsive caregiving support at the national level.

Researchers are evaluating a Participatory Learning and Action PLA based intervention aimed at preventing and controlling Type II Diabetes Mellitus TIIDM in rural Kabul, Afghanistan. TIIDM is a growing global health emergency, especially in low- and middle-income countries like Afghanistan, where many cases remain undiagnosed. This study aims to adapt and test a culturally appropriate intervention based on evidence from a successful trial in Bangladesh, focusing on the unique social and health challenges in rural Afghan communities. The study involves two groups one receiving the PLA intervention through group sessions lasting about 2 to 3 hours, designed to engage community members with TIIDM and improve diabetes-related outcomes and a control group receiving usual care and information about the project but no PLA sessions. Participants in the intervention group will be evaluated 10 months after starting the sessions to assess feasibility and outcomes. Participants will be involved in scheduled meetings and assessments before, during, and after the intervention, using structured and validated checklists to measure feasibility, acceptability, and implementation factors of the PLA approach. The study will also monitor the frequency of Type 2 Diabetes and intermediate hyperglycaemia over 12 months. Overall participation may last up to 12 months, with ongoing evaluation of barriers and facilitators to implementing the intervention in the community.

The ICU-related Out-of-Pocket Expenses ICOPE study is a multinational, prospective observational study conducted in African and Asian countries to understand the financial impact of ICU care on patients and their families. The study focuses on measuring out-of-pocket expenses and the occurrence of catastrophic health expenditure among patients who stay in the ICU for more than 24 hours, including those who receive mechanical ventilation and those who do not. The study addresses the rising cost burden related to ICU care in low- and middle-income countries LMICs and aims to identify factors contributing to financial hardship. Participants include all patients admitted to participating ICUs during a 14-day recruitment period, with a planned sample size of at least 354 patients. The study compares groups of patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation with those who do not, tracking their ICU-related expenses. The follow-up period extends from ICU admission to discharge, with additional assessments at 30 days and 6 months, spanning a total study duration of 18 months. During the study, researchers will collect detailed information about direct and indirect costs associated with ICU care, including medical and non-medical expenses. They will also examine how families cope with these costs and identify risk factors for catastrophic health expenditure. The primary outcomes include out-of-pocket cost per patient episode and the relative risk of catastrophic health expenditure by ICU discharge. Secondary outcomes include risk factors for catastrophic expenditure and the frequency of various coping strategies used by families.

Researchers are evaluating the safety and tolerability of Empagliflozin, with or without metformin, in patients with Type II Diabetes Mellitus within the Pakistani population. This open-label, prospective, observational, single-arm, multi-center post-marketing surveillance study aims to monitor side effects such as hypoglycemia, dehydration, urinary tract infections, and gastrointestinal symptoms. The study is sponsored by Getz Pharma and includes adults aged 18 to 65 years with uncontrolled diabetes despite oral antidiabetic treatment and lifestyle modifications. Participants will receive Empagliflozin alone or combined with metformin in varying doses. The study includes three follow-up visits after starting therapy the first at 4 to 6 weeks, the second at 12 weeks, and the third at 24 weeks. Laboratory tests such as HbA1c, fasting blood glucose, renal function tests, and urine routine examination will be conducted at reputable clinical labs, with participants receiving discounts for these tests. During the study, participants will be closely monitored for safety and efficacy outcomes over six months from enrollment. Assessments include clinical evaluations and laboratory investigations to track diabetes control and potential side effects. The total study duration is 12 months, with the primary outcomes focusing on safety and tolerability at six months and secondary outcomes on efficacy. Participants health will be carefully observed throughout the follow-up period.