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Baba-e-Urdu Road Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan

School of Public Health (SPH)


 

The School of Public Health (SPH) was founded in 2012, where Public Health Researchers, Academicians, and Graduates are expected to play a vital role in shaping the future of healthcare in Pakistan.

Research & Development

 

Research at the School of Public Health (SPH) is focused on understanding and solving complex public health issues through economically, practical and innovative options. The SPH has an integrated and inter-linked professionals in the areas of public health areas that addresses complex public health issues through education, research and community engagement. We at SPH foster a unique environment in which multidisciplinary research can flourish. The research at the institute encompasses a broad range of public health issues, including adolescent health, violence prevention, obesity, food insecurity, malnutrition, substance abuse, maternal and child health, social and behavioral communication strategy and communicable and non-communicable diseases. Our faculty is committed to high-quality research and translating research into community actions.

 

Current Areas of Research at SPH:

The SPH is currently working in the area of public health sciences to advance health and wellbeing, thereby contributing to Dow University’s vision of being a pre-eminent academic institution committed to changing and saving lives. Below is the list of some Researches at SPH:

  • Assessing the prevalence and impact of mental health disorders amongst flood affected population across Pakistan: A translational approach to public health practice. Dr. Zafar Iqbal Hydrie, Dr. Maria Atif, Ms. Nadia Shah & their Team.

The aim of the study is to estimate the prevalence of most common mental health disorders among those affected by recent floods in Pakistan through a survey, and analyze the impact of flooding on flood-affected population across 8 districts of Pakistan. Moreover, through this research, We shall train primary healthcare providers as first-line responders to disaster-associated mental health crises in Pakistan. 

  • Use of Digital Technology for improving Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to develop mobile apps for Road Awareness and early response to Road Traffic Accidents. Dr. Zafar Hydrie, Dr. Owais Raza & their Team.

This project aims to develop a model using local resources on technologies that might be used by EMS to improve patient care, systems operations, and performance measurement for road traffic accidents victims through an app. In addition the project long term implication will entail policy, legal, organizational, and regulatory challenges that must be addressed before the use of new digital data, medical devices and software applications

  • Assessing the effectiveness of an mHealth intervention versus the usual standard of care for improving medication adherence and self-management among type II diabetics in Pakistan: A randomized controlled trial. Dr Maria Atif & her team.

The objective of this project is to develop a culturally adapted mobile app in Urdu to ensure better treatment adherence and self-management among Diabetics, to validate its effectiveness against the routine standard of Diabetes care and to evaluate its economic cost-effectiveness in a low resource setting like Pakistan.

  • Metabolic Syndrome and Risk for Cardiovascular Disease in Apparently Healthy Subset of Pakistani Adult Population. Dr. Kashif Shafique, Syed Omair Adil, Dr Fareedudin & Dr. Mansoor Ahmed Mahar.

The study is being conducted at various areas of Karachi, Pakistan with the aim to screen the apparently healthy individuals for metabolic syndrome using demographic factors, lifestyle behaviours, anthropometric & clinical indictors. In addition, the study will also identify the risk of cardiovascular disease in 8-10 years in the newly diagnosed cases of metabolic syndrome using Framingham Risk Score and Globorisk Score. The study is being jointly supported by various funding agencies including; Sindh Research Support Programme (SRSP) of Sindh Health Care Commission, PharmEvo Research & Development Forum &  Health Research Institute of National Institute of Health, Islamabad.

  • Mental health capacity-building for primary healthcare providers to promote good health & well-being. Dr. Kashif Shafique & Dr. Iqra Ansari

The focus of the project is the capacity-building of general physicians (GPs) practicing in the province of Sindh, Pakistan to address the prevalent mental health disorders in their community. This project will not only address the public health needs of the population, improve the population health status, train the workforce but also aid the policymakers to create a strategic plan to integrate mental health into the primary healthcare system of Pakistan. This research is supported by Funded by Conservation Food and Health Foundation (USA).

  • The WHO 10 group classification system to reduce unnecessary cesarean sections: evidence from a multicenter study in Karachi, Pakistan. Dr Maria Atif & her team:

This project aims to assess the effectiveness of using the WHO 10 group classification system in identifying unnecessary cases of Cesarean sections and use this evidence to recommend the adaptation of globally implemented interventions for reducing unnecessary C-sections in the Pakistani socio-cultural context.

  • Development of biological control approaches using epiphytic yeast to maintain post-harvest quality and control fruit rot of mango, citrus & tomato. Dr Habiba Shah, Dr Syed Ehtesham ul Haq, Dr. Shahina Naz & Dr. Kashif Shafique.

  • Effect of oral hygiene and Nutrition education (using telehealth) on nutrition and oral health literacy of the caregivers of the children with autism in Karachi, Pakistan. MSPH student ( Dr. Aliya Haider) research with university funding and supervised by DRs Zafar Hydrie & Sumaira Naseem

This project aims to assess the knowledge of caregivers of children with Autism regarding oral and nutritional health and the burdens they encounter in dealing with and caring for these children. The study also include intervention on educating caregivers on dietary diversity, healthy eating habits, and effective oral hygiene among autistic children that will reduce the burden the caregiver face.

  • Development of gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) Management App "Maa love 2B" for Pakistani pregnant Mother: A randomized Control Trial to evaluate the impact of app use on maternal health and pregnancy outcomes. Prof. Kashif Shafique & his team including Nida jawed, Tooba Zaidi and Tahreem Hussain.

The objective is to develop, implement and assess the usefulness of culturally specific GDM Management App for pregnant women in Pakistan using clinical and biomarkers relevant to GDM.

  • Impact of Ketogenic in Children with Refractory Epilepsy- A randomized control trial in Pakistan. Dr Mehraj Fatima, Dr Jawad-ul-Islam,& team members including Nida jawed, Tooba Zaidi and Tahreem Hussain from SPH.

The aim is to evaluate the efficacy of Ketogenic Diet and other dietary interventions among young children with refractory epilepsy vs. antiepileptic drugs.   

 

Partnerships and Collaborations

Developing collaborative partnerships regionally and globally for promoting public health initiative is a goal of the SPH. Collaborations between academics and different organizations can provide resources and competencies to nurture high quality research that can harness a positive impact on our communities. Together with our partners we can ensure that our research becomes tomorrow’s solutions.

 

National:
 
  • University of Karachi
  • NED University
  • Federal Urdu University International
  • Pakistan Nutrition & Dietetic Society
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International: