Shabina Ariff
Biographic Data
| ID | 5015001 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Shabina Ariff |
| GIVEN NAMES | Shabina |
| FAMILY NAME | Ariff |
| SIGNATURE | ARIFF S |
| AFFILIATIONS | Aga Khan University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-9627-2662 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 20 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 0 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 20 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2020 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 0 |
Rates and causes of neonatal and under-five mortality
Background: Neonatal and under-five mortality rates are critical indicators of a country's health status and progress toward Sustainable Development Goals. Despite a decline in mortality rates globally, preventable child deaths continue to occur, particularly in Pakistan, which has one of the highest child mortality rates in the world. In this analysis, we present the latest cause-specific neonatal and under-five mortality estimates determined th…
Understanding stillbirths and maternal deaths in Pakistan
Background: The global impact of stillbirths and maternal deaths is enormous, with over two million deaths occurring each year, affecting public health outcomes and global development practices. Despite Pakistan's commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, the country faces a substantial burden of stillbirths and maternal deaths. However, data on cause-specific mortality and the timing of deaths remains limited. In this context, we aimed to…
A district-based health facility assessment for maternal and newborn care across Pakistan
Background: The shift from home to facility births has not translated into substantial mortality reduction in Pakistan. Therefore, we assessed whether health care facilities (HCFs) offer or have the capacity to offer critical maternal and newborn interventions. We aimed to propose tailored facility-based maternal and newborn care strategies, especially for the perinatal period. Methods: We conducted an HCF assessment in 275 public and private HCF…
Maternal perinatal mental health and associated factors during the first postpartum year from a longitudinal birth cohort study in Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan
During the perinatal period, women in low- and middle-income countries experience high rates of common mental disorders (CMDs). We aimed to estimate CMD prevalence at 6 and 12 months postpartum in Rahim Yar Khan (RYK), Pakistan, and identify factors associated with postpartum mental health. We conducted secondary analysis of a longitudinal birth cohort study, which was nested within the control arm of a community-based, cluster-randomized trial t…
Point-of-care determination of the frequency of Rhesus(D)-negative blood types and the uptake of anti(D) immunoglobulin among Rh(D)-negative women in Dadu district, Sindh, Pakistan
Rhesus (Rh) disease remains a serious problem in low- and middle-income countries. Rh disease prevention requires early identification and prophylactic treatment of Rh(D)-negative women. We evaluated the feasibility of point-of-care identification of Rh(D)-negative women and timely administration of two doses of anti(D) immunoglobulin by lady health visitors in Dadu district, Sindh, Pakistan. Pregnant women were enrolled at two hospitals and foll…
Current landscape and future directions of policies addressing air quality improvement in Pakistan
Background: Pakistan ranks third in global air-pollution burden, yet evidence on how its air quality-related policies are implemented remains fragmented. We aim to map the existing air quality policies in Pakistan, identify barriers to policy implementation, and highlight policy priorities for improving air quality governance. Methods: We conducted a scoping review following Arksey-O'Malley and PRISMA-ScR guidelines to map national and provincial…
Evaluating the burden of respiratory tract infections among mortality cases in Karachi, Pakistan
Background: Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) significantly impact global health, but particularly affect low- and middle-income countries. They contribute to morbidity and mortality, especially among vulnerable populations. We evaluated the burden of RTIs in mortality cases in an urban slum of Karachi, Pakistan, during the post-COVID-19 pandemic period. Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study from September 2022 to October 2023…
Determining the cause of death through mortality surveillance using verbal autopsy in Karachi, Pakistan
Background: In Pakistan, cultural and religious beliefs restrict autopsies, limiting their prevalence. Additionally, many deaths occur at home, outside of hospital systems, making cause-of-death (CoD) determination challenging. This study aims to overcome these challenges by using a community-based verbal autopsy approach in Karachi to identify CoD. Methods: The research was conducted in two peri-urban communities within the Health Demographic Si…
Antibiotics for acute watery or persistent with or without bloody diarrhoea in children
Efficacy of probiotics for treatment of acute or persistent diarrhoea in children from birth till 10 years
Low-osmolarity oral rehydration solution for childhood diarrhoea
Zinc supplementation for acute and persistent watery diarrhoea in children
Association of Caffeine Daily Dose With Respiratory Outcomes in Preterm Neonates
Apnea and poor respiratory drive increase the risk of extubation failure (EF) and prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) in preterm neonates (pre-nates) with respiratory distress. Caffeine citrate (CC) is often prescribed for pre-nates in doses of 5-10 mg/kg in 24 h. This study aimed to evaluate the most effective dosage regimen (5 mg/kg/day vs >5-10 mg/kg/day) to prevent apnea and EF with minimal caffeine-associated potential side effec…
Community case management of fast-breathing pneumonia with 3 days oral amoxicillin vs 5 days cotrimoxazole in children 2-59 months of age in rural Pakistan
Background: Pneumonia is the leading cause of mortality in under-five children and most of these deaths occur in South-East Asia and Africa. Fast breathing pneumonia if not treated can progress to lower chest indrawing pneumonia. Treatment recommendation by the World Health Organization (WHO) for fast-breathing pneumonia includes oral amoxicillin and cotrimoxazole (as an alternative). Due to limited access to health care facilities and skilled he…
Exploring terminology for puerperal sepsis and its symptoms in urban Karachi, Pakistan to improve communication, care-seeking, and illness recognition
Puerperal sepsis is an important cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Awareness of local terminology for its signs and symptoms may improve communication about this illness, what actions to take when symptoms appear, timely care seeking, and clinical outcomes. This formative research aimed to improve recognition and management of postpartum sepsis in Pakistan by eliciting local terms used for postpartum illnesses and…
Newborn weight change and predictors of underweight in the neonatal period in Guinea‐Bissau, Nepal, Pakistan and Uganda
In low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), growth impairment is common; however, the trajectory of growth over the course of the first month has not been well characterised. To describe newborn growth trajectory and predictors of growth impairment, we assessed growth frequently over the first 30 days among infants born ≥2000 g in Guinea-Bissau, Nepal, Pakistan and Uganda. In this cohort of 741 infants, the mean birth weight was 3036 ± 424 g. For…
Maternal and Neonatal Morbidity and Mortality Among Pregnant Women With and Without Covid-19 Infection
Importance: Detailed information about the association of COVID-19 with outcomes in pregnant individuals compared with not-infected pregnant individuals is much needed. Objective: To evaluate the risks associated with COVID-19 in pregnancy on maternal and neonatal outcomes compared with not-infected, concomitant pregnant individuals. Design, Setting, and Participants: In this cohort study that took place from March to October 2020, involving 43 i…
Validation of community health worker identification of maternal puerperal sepsis using a clinical diagnostic algorithm in Bangladesh and Pakistan
BACKGROUND: Puerperal sepsis (PP sepsis) is a leading cause of maternal mortality globally. The majority of maternal sepsis cases and deaths occur at home and remain undiagnosed and under-reported. In this paper, we present findings from a nested case-control study in Bangladesh and Pakistan which sought to assess the validity of community health worker (CHW) identification of PP sepsis using a clinical diagnostic algorithm with physician assessm…
Evaluation the Effectiveness of Abridged IMNCI (7-Day) Course v Standard (11-Day) Course in Pakistan
An abridged IMNCI training is equally effective as the standard training. However, training for certain illnesses may be better delivered by the standard course
Effect of an integrated neonatal care kit on cause-specific neonatal mortality in rural Pakistan
BACKGROUND: In 2018, Pakistan had the world's highest neonatal mortality rate. Within Pakistan, most neonatal deaths occur in rural areas where access to health facilities is limited, and robust vital registration systems are lacking. To improve newborn survival, there is a need to better understand the causes of neonatal death in high burden settings and engage caregivers in the promotion of newborn health. OBJECTIVE: To describe the causes of n…
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Effect of an integrated neonatal care kit on cause-specific neonatal mortality in rural Pakistan
BACKGROUND: In 2018, Pakistan had the world's highest neonatal mortality rate. Within Pakistan, most neonatal deaths occur in rural areas where access to health facilities is limited, and robust vital registration systems are lacking. To improve newborn survival, there is a need to better understand the causes of neonatal death in high burden settings and engage caregivers in the promotion of newborn health. OBJECTIVE: To describe the causes of n…
Maternal and Neonatal Morbidity and Mortality Among Pregnant Women With and Without Covid-19 Infection
Importance: Detailed information about the association of COVID-19 with outcomes in pregnant individuals compared with not-infected pregnant individuals is much needed. Objective: To evaluate the risks associated with COVID-19 in pregnancy on maternal and neonatal outcomes compared with not-infected, concomitant pregnant individuals. Design, Setting, and Participants: In this cohort study that took place from March to October 2020, involving 43 i…
Validation of community health worker identification of maternal puerperal sepsis using a clinical diagnostic algorithm in Bangladesh and Pakistan
BACKGROUND: Puerperal sepsis (PP sepsis) is a leading cause of maternal mortality globally. The majority of maternal sepsis cases and deaths occur at home and remain undiagnosed and under-reported. In this paper, we present findings from a nested case-control study in Bangladesh and Pakistan which sought to assess the validity of community health worker (CHW) identification of PP sepsis using a clinical diagnostic algorithm with physician assessm…
Evaluation the Effectiveness of Abridged IMNCI (7-Day) Course v Standard (11-Day) Course in Pakistan
An abridged IMNCI training is equally effective as the standard training. However, training for certain illnesses may be better delivered by the standard course
Community case management of fast-breathing pneumonia with 3 days oral amoxicillin vs 5 days cotrimoxazole in children 2-59 months of age in rural Pakistan
Background: Pneumonia is the leading cause of mortality in under-five children and most of these deaths occur in South-East Asia and Africa. Fast breathing pneumonia if not treated can progress to lower chest indrawing pneumonia. Treatment recommendation by the World Health Organization (WHO) for fast-breathing pneumonia includes oral amoxicillin and cotrimoxazole (as an alternative). Due to limited access to health care facilities and skilled he…
Exploring terminology for puerperal sepsis and its symptoms in urban Karachi, Pakistan to improve communication, care-seeking, and illness recognition
Puerperal sepsis is an important cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Awareness of local terminology for its signs and symptoms may improve communication about this illness, what actions to take when symptoms appear, timely care seeking, and clinical outcomes. This formative research aimed to improve recognition and management of postpartum sepsis in Pakistan by eliciting local terms used for postpartum illnesses and…
Newborn weight change and predictors of underweight in the neonatal period in Guinea‐Bissau, Nepal, Pakistan and Uganda
In low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), growth impairment is common; however, the trajectory of growth over the course of the first month has not been well characterised. To describe newborn growth trajectory and predictors of growth impairment, we assessed growth frequently over the first 30 days among infants born ≥2000 g in Guinea-Bissau, Nepal, Pakistan and Uganda. In this cohort of 741 infants, the mean birth weight was 3036 ± 424 g. For…
Antibiotics for acute watery or persistent with or without bloody diarrhoea in children
Efficacy of probiotics for treatment of acute or persistent diarrhoea in children from birth till 10 years
Low-osmolarity oral rehydration solution for childhood diarrhoea
Zinc supplementation for acute and persistent watery diarrhoea in children
Association of Caffeine Daily Dose With Respiratory Outcomes in Preterm Neonates
Apnea and poor respiratory drive increase the risk of extubation failure (EF) and prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) in preterm neonates (pre-nates) with respiratory distress. Caffeine citrate (CC) is often prescribed for pre-nates in doses of 5-10 mg/kg in 24 h. This study aimed to evaluate the most effective dosage regimen (5 mg/kg/day vs >5-10 mg/kg/day) to prevent apnea and EF with minimal caffeine-associated potential side effec…
Point-of-care determination of the frequency of Rhesus(D)-negative blood types and the uptake of anti(D) immunoglobulin among Rh(D)-negative women in Dadu district, Sindh, Pakistan
Rhesus (Rh) disease remains a serious problem in low- and middle-income countries. Rh disease prevention requires early identification and prophylactic treatment of Rh(D)-negative women. We evaluated the feasibility of point-of-care identification of Rh(D)-negative women and timely administration of two doses of anti(D) immunoglobulin by lady health visitors in Dadu district, Sindh, Pakistan. Pregnant women were enrolled at two hospitals and foll…
Current landscape and future directions of policies addressing air quality improvement in Pakistan
Background: Pakistan ranks third in global air-pollution burden, yet evidence on how its air quality-related policies are implemented remains fragmented. We aim to map the existing air quality policies in Pakistan, identify barriers to policy implementation, and highlight policy priorities for improving air quality governance. Methods: We conducted a scoping review following Arksey-O'Malley and PRISMA-ScR guidelines to map national and provincial…
Evaluating the burden of respiratory tract infections among mortality cases in Karachi, Pakistan
Background: Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) significantly impact global health, but particularly affect low- and middle-income countries. They contribute to morbidity and mortality, especially among vulnerable populations. We evaluated the burden of RTIs in mortality cases in an urban slum of Karachi, Pakistan, during the post-COVID-19 pandemic period. Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study from September 2022 to October 2023…
Determining the cause of death through mortality surveillance using verbal autopsy in Karachi, Pakistan
Background: In Pakistan, cultural and religious beliefs restrict autopsies, limiting their prevalence. Additionally, many deaths occur at home, outside of hospital systems, making cause-of-death (CoD) determination challenging. This study aims to overcome these challenges by using a community-based verbal autopsy approach in Karachi to identify CoD. Methods: The research was conducted in two peri-urban communities within the Health Demographic Si…
Rates and causes of neonatal and under-five mortality
Background: Neonatal and under-five mortality rates are critical indicators of a country's health status and progress toward Sustainable Development Goals. Despite a decline in mortality rates globally, preventable child deaths continue to occur, particularly in Pakistan, which has one of the highest child mortality rates in the world. In this analysis, we present the latest cause-specific neonatal and under-five mortality estimates determined th…
Understanding stillbirths and maternal deaths in Pakistan
Background: The global impact of stillbirths and maternal deaths is enormous, with over two million deaths occurring each year, affecting public health outcomes and global development practices. Despite Pakistan's commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, the country faces a substantial burden of stillbirths and maternal deaths. However, data on cause-specific mortality and the timing of deaths remains limited. In this context, we aimed to…
A district-based health facility assessment for maternal and newborn care across Pakistan
Background: The shift from home to facility births has not translated into substantial mortality reduction in Pakistan. Therefore, we assessed whether health care facilities (HCFs) offer or have the capacity to offer critical maternal and newborn interventions. We aimed to propose tailored facility-based maternal and newborn care strategies, especially for the perinatal period. Methods: We conducted an HCF assessment in 275 public and private HCF…
Maternal perinatal mental health and associated factors during the first postpartum year from a longitudinal birth cohort study in Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan
During the perinatal period, women in low- and middle-income countries experience high rates of common mental disorders (CMDs). We aimed to estimate CMD prevalence at 6 and 12 months postpartum in Rahim Yar Khan (RYK), Pakistan, and identify factors associated with postpartum mental health. We conducted secondary analysis of a longitudinal birth cohort study, which was nested within the control arm of a community-based, cluster-randomized trial t…
Medicine (11 works) · Pregnancy (8 works) · Global Maternal and Child Health (7 works) · Internal Medicine (5 works) · Cohort (4 works) · Cohort study (4 works) · Disease (4 works) · Pediatrics (4 works) · Demography (3 works) · Environmental health (3 works)