Arjumand Rizvi
Biographic Data
| ID | 5462301 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Arjumand Rizvi |
| GIVEN NAMES | Arjumand |
| FAMILY NAME | Rizvi |
| SIGNATURE | RIZVI A |
| AFFILIATIONS | Aga Khan University |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-4553-8130 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 26 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 2 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 26 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2009 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Antenatal interventions to support newborn survival
Background: Antenatal care strategies encompass a series of interventions delivered to expectant mothers to optimise both their health outcomes and those of their neonate. We summarise the most recent effect estimates for maternal immunisation, screening and management of infections, pre-existing chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, nutrition, psychosocial interventions for smoking cessation, pre-term pre-labour rupture of membrane…
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…
Exploring mortality patterns in Pakistani children and adolescents aged 5–19
Background: While under-five mortality has declined by approximately 50% globally since 2000, mortality among older children and adolescents has fallen by only 31% since 1990. The age group 5-19-year-olds constitute over a third of Pakistan's population, yet estimates of mortality in this population, which are necessary for identifying preventable causes of death and developing interventions to improve health outcomes, have been limited. We aimed…
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 verbal and social autopsy study to improve estimates of mortality determinants in Pakistan
Background: Reducing newborn, child, adolescent, and maternal mortality is a global priority, yet Pakistan continues to bear a high burden of preventable deaths. Routine civil registration does not capture causes or social determinants for most of these deaths. The verbal and social autopsy (VASA) methodology fills this gap by combining symptom-based identification of the cause of death with structured assessment of social and care-seeking factor…
Double burden of malnutrition and its associated factors among adolescents aged (10–19) years in a rural district of Pakistan
The double burden of malnutrition (DBM) is a growing concern in Pakistan, particularly among children and adolescents. This study assessed the prevalence and determinants of DBM in a rural district of Tando Muhammad Khan (TMK) in Pakistan. A representative cross-sectional study was conducted in a rural district of TMK using multistage cluster sampling. A total of 1,304 households were surveyed, and one eligible adolescent per household was select…
Prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea and its associated factors among adolescent girls in a rural setting of Pakistan
Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is prevalent among adolescent girls but understudied in rural Pakistan. This study examines the prevalence of PD and its associated factors among girls aged 10–19 in a rural district of Pakistan. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the district of Tando Mohammad Khan (TMK) among post-menarchal girls aged 10–19 using a multistage cluster random sampling. Analyses were conducted using STATA 15.0, with multivariable l…
A cross-sectional analysis of the impact of lady health worker visits in the prenatal and postnatal period on the uptake of continuum of care interventions and childhood mortality in Pakistan
Background: Community health workers are crucial in bridging the gap between health care facilities and the general population. In Pakistan, the lady health worker (LHW) program was launched in 1994 to enhance access to essential health care services. However, the overall quality of care provided by LHWs and its impact on population-level coverage of key maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) interventions and mortality remain insufficiently …
Diet and Care Mediate the Effects of Parenting and Nutrition Interventions on Childhood Infections
The effect of community-based multi-input interventions that promote health, nutrition, and development on childhood infections, and the pathways that explain these effects remain unclear. We conducted a secondary analysis of a factorial-designed clustered randomized controlled trial (N = 1489) conducted in rural Pakistan to estimate the effects of responsive stimulation and enhanced nutrition (responsive feeding and multiple micronutrient powder…
Common pediatric surgical conditions and associated health-seeking behaviors in Pakistan
Approximately five billion people do not have access to necessary surgical treatment globally and up to 85% of children in LMICs are affected with conditions requiring surgical care by the age of 15 years. It is crucial to identify common surgical conditions in children in Pakistan to inform healthcare professionals and policymakers for effective resource allocation. This representative cross-sectional household survey conducted on children aged …
Assessing the hidden burden and costs of Covid-19 pandemic in South Asia
The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected vulnerable populations. With its intensity expected to be cyclical over the foreseeable future, and much of the impact estimates still modeled, it is imperative that we accurately assess the impact to date, to help with the process of targeted rebuilding of services. We collected data from administrative health information systems in six South Asian countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, I…
Assessment of pediatric surgical needs, health-seeking behaviors, and health systems in a rural district of Pakistan
Surgical conditions are responsible for up to 15% of total Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALY) lost globally. Approximately 4.8 billion people have no access to surgical care and this studies aim is to assess the surgical disease burden in children under the age of five years. We used Surgeons OverSeas Assessment of Surgical Need (SOSAS) and Pediatric Personnel, Infrastructure, Procedures, Equipment, and Supplies (PediPIPES) survey tools in Tan…
Practices and predictors of menstrual hygiene management material use among adolescent and young women in rural Pakistan
Background: In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), women often use inappropriate materials to manage menstruation, which can threaten their health. Improper practices can also have critical downstream consequences beyond physiologic health, including restricting adolescent girls' access to academic pursuits. Methods: We used cross-sectional data collected through a structured questionnaire from the menstruating adolescents and young women 1…
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…
Characterizing Retail Food Environments in Peri-Urban Pakistan during the Covid-19 Pandemic
(1) Background: To date, there are limited data in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) that collect, monitor, and evaluate food environments in standardized ways. The development of a pilot survey tool, tailored to LMICs and focused on retail food environments, is necessary for improving public health nutrition. (2) Methods: A novel survey tool was developed and piloted in a sample of village retail food environments (n = 224) in Matiari, Pa…
Impact of conflict on maternal and child health service delivery – how and how not
Conflict has severely hampered the delivery of health services and a wholesome effort is desired involving coordination amongst various stakeholders. The multiple barriers in conflict contexts cannot be fully mitigated, but efforts should be made to negate these as much as possible with good governance, planning, efficiency and transparency in utilization of available resources
Impact of conflict on maternal and child health service delivery
RMNCAH&N service delivery has been significantly hampered by conflict in Afghanistan over the last several years. This has been further compromised by poor infrastructure, weak stewardship and poor capacity and collaboration at all levels. With the potential of peace and conflict resolution in Afghanistan, we would underscore the importance of continued oversight and integrated implementation of sustainable, grass root RMNCAH&N services with a fo…
Expenditure tracking and review of reproductive maternal, newborn and child health policy in Pakistan
Since 2001 substantial resources have been allocated to the reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health sector (RMNCH) in Pakistan. Many new programmes have been started and coverage of some existing programmes has been extended to un-served and rural areas. Despite these efforts the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4 and 5 were not achieved (2000-15). Maternal Mortality Ratio was reduced to 170 per 100 000 live births (target 100) by 201…
Stillbirths
Coverage and inequalities in maternal and child health interventions in Afghanistan
Afghanistan is a pervasively poor and conflict-prone nation that has only recently experienced a decade of relative stability. Though donor investments during this period have been plentiful and have contributed to rebuilding of health infrastructure in the country, glaring inequities remain. A resolution to scaling up health coverage in insecure and isolated regions, and improving accessibility for the poorest and marginalised populations, shoul…
Effect of integrated responsive stimulation and nutrition interventions in the Lady Health Worker programme in Pakistan on child development, growth, and health outcomes
Can available interventions end preventable deaths in mothers, newborn babies, and stillbirths, and at what cost?
Evidence-based interventions for improvement of maternal and child nutrition
Interventions to address deaths from childhood pneumonia and diarrhoea equitably
Impact on Health and Nutrition Outcomes in Sindh Province, Pakistan
We independently conducted the impact assessment of the Tawana Pakistan Project (a school-based feeding programme to improve the nutritional status of primary school girls in impoverished rural districts of Pakistan). The evaluation was conducted among school-going girls in four districts of Sindh, Pakistan. Pre- and post-intervention data was collected for anthropometric measurements, nutritional status and physical examination. Paired analysis …
Effects of the Crises on Child Nutrition and Health in East Asia and the Pacific
Experiences of the 1997 financial crisis in East Asia provide strong evidence that there are serious risks that the current food, fuel, economic and financial crisis will affect child health and nutrition in the region. Using information available on the 1997 crisis, this paper evaluates its effects on nutrition status, reportable diseases, immunization status and child mortality. These results are used to model plausible estimates of the potenti…
Effects of the Crises on Child Nutrition and Health in East Asia and the Pacific
Experiences of the 1997 financial crisis in East Asia provide strong evidence that there are serious risks that the current food, fuel, economic and financial crisis will affect child health and nutrition in the region. Using information available on the 1997 crisis, this paper evaluates its effects on nutrition status, reportable diseases, immunization status and child mortality. These results are used to model plausible estimates of the potenti…
Evidence-based interventions for improvement of maternal and child nutrition
Interventions to address deaths from childhood pneumonia and diarrhoea equitably
Impact on Health and Nutrition Outcomes in Sindh Province, Pakistan
We independently conducted the impact assessment of the Tawana Pakistan Project (a school-based feeding programme to improve the nutritional status of primary school girls in impoverished rural districts of Pakistan). The evaluation was conducted among school-going girls in four districts of Sindh, Pakistan. Pre- and post-intervention data was collected for anthropometric measurements, nutritional status and physical examination. Paired analysis …
Effect of integrated responsive stimulation and nutrition interventions in the Lady Health Worker programme in Pakistan on child development, growth, and health outcomes
Can available interventions end preventable deaths in mothers, newborn babies, and stillbirths, and at what cost?
Stillbirths
Coverage and inequalities in maternal and child health interventions in Afghanistan
Afghanistan is a pervasively poor and conflict-prone nation that has only recently experienced a decade of relative stability. Though donor investments during this period have been plentiful and have contributed to rebuilding of health infrastructure in the country, glaring inequities remain. A resolution to scaling up health coverage in insecure and isolated regions, and improving accessibility for the poorest and marginalised populations, shoul…
Expenditure tracking and review of reproductive maternal, newborn and child health policy in Pakistan
Since 2001 substantial resources have been allocated to the reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health sector (RMNCH) in Pakistan. Many new programmes have been started and coverage of some existing programmes has been extended to un-served and rural areas. Despite these efforts the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4 and 5 were not achieved (2000-15). Maternal Mortality Ratio was reduced to 170 per 100 000 live births (target 100) by 201…
Impact of conflict on maternal and child health service delivery – how and how not
Conflict has severely hampered the delivery of health services and a wholesome effort is desired involving coordination amongst various stakeholders. The multiple barriers in conflict contexts cannot be fully mitigated, but efforts should be made to negate these as much as possible with good governance, planning, efficiency and transparency in utilization of available resources
Impact of conflict on maternal and child health service delivery
RMNCAH&N service delivery has been significantly hampered by conflict in Afghanistan over the last several years. This has been further compromised by poor infrastructure, weak stewardship and poor capacity and collaboration at all levels. With the potential of peace and conflict resolution in Afghanistan, we would underscore the importance of continued oversight and integrated implementation of sustainable, grass root RMNCAH&N services with a fo…
Assessment of pediatric surgical needs, health-seeking behaviors, and health systems in a rural district of Pakistan
Surgical conditions are responsible for up to 15% of total Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALY) lost globally. Approximately 4.8 billion people have no access to surgical care and this studies aim is to assess the surgical disease burden in children under the age of five years. We used Surgeons OverSeas Assessment of Surgical Need (SOSAS) and Pediatric Personnel, Infrastructure, Procedures, Equipment, and Supplies (PediPIPES) survey tools in Tan…
Practices and predictors of menstrual hygiene management material use among adolescent and young women in rural Pakistan
Background: In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), women often use inappropriate materials to manage menstruation, which can threaten their health. Improper practices can also have critical downstream consequences beyond physiologic health, including restricting adolescent girls' access to academic pursuits. Methods: We used cross-sectional data collected through a structured questionnaire from the menstruating adolescents and young women 1…
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…
Characterizing Retail Food Environments in Peri-Urban Pakistan during the Covid-19 Pandemic
(1) Background: To date, there are limited data in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) that collect, monitor, and evaluate food environments in standardized ways. The development of a pilot survey tool, tailored to LMICs and focused on retail food environments, is necessary for improving public health nutrition. (2) Methods: A novel survey tool was developed and piloted in a sample of village retail food environments (n = 224) in Matiari, Pa…
Assessing the hidden burden and costs of Covid-19 pandemic in South Asia
The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected vulnerable populations. With its intensity expected to be cyclical over the foreseeable future, and much of the impact estimates still modeled, it is imperative that we accurately assess the impact to date, to help with the process of targeted rebuilding of services. We collected data from administrative health information systems in six South Asian countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, I…
Common pediatric surgical conditions and associated health-seeking behaviors in Pakistan
Approximately five billion people do not have access to necessary surgical treatment globally and up to 85% of children in LMICs are affected with conditions requiring surgical care by the age of 15 years. It is crucial to identify common surgical conditions in children in Pakistan to inform healthcare professionals and policymakers for effective resource allocation. This representative cross-sectional household survey conducted on children aged …
A cross-sectional analysis of the impact of lady health worker visits in the prenatal and postnatal period on the uptake of continuum of care interventions and childhood mortality in Pakistan
Background: Community health workers are crucial in bridging the gap between health care facilities and the general population. In Pakistan, the lady health worker (LHW) program was launched in 1994 to enhance access to essential health care services. However, the overall quality of care provided by LHWs and its impact on population-level coverage of key maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) interventions and mortality remain insufficiently …
Diet and Care Mediate the Effects of Parenting and Nutrition Interventions on Childhood Infections
The effect of community-based multi-input interventions that promote health, nutrition, and development on childhood infections, and the pathways that explain these effects remain unclear. We conducted a secondary analysis of a factorial-designed clustered randomized controlled trial (N = 1489) conducted in rural Pakistan to estimate the effects of responsive stimulation and enhanced nutrition (responsive feeding and multiple micronutrient powder…
Antenatal interventions to support newborn survival
Background: Antenatal care strategies encompass a series of interventions delivered to expectant mothers to optimise both their health outcomes and those of their neonate. We summarise the most recent effect estimates for maternal immunisation, screening and management of infections, pre-existing chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, nutrition, psychosocial interventions for smoking cessation, pre-term pre-labour rupture of membrane…
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…
Exploring mortality patterns in Pakistani children and adolescents aged 5–19
Background: While under-five mortality has declined by approximately 50% globally since 2000, mortality among older children and adolescents has fallen by only 31% since 1990. The age group 5-19-year-olds constitute over a third of Pakistan's population, yet estimates of mortality in this population, which are necessary for identifying preventable causes of death and developing interventions to improve health outcomes, have been limited. We aimed…
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 verbal and social autopsy study to improve estimates of mortality determinants in Pakistan
Background: Reducing newborn, child, adolescent, and maternal mortality is a global priority, yet Pakistan continues to bear a high burden of preventable deaths. Routine civil registration does not capture causes or social determinants for most of these deaths. The verbal and social autopsy (VASA) methodology fills this gap by combining symptom-based identification of the cause of death with structured assessment of social and care-seeking factor…
Double burden of malnutrition and its associated factors among adolescents aged (10–19) years in a rural district of Pakistan
The double burden of malnutrition (DBM) is a growing concern in Pakistan, particularly among children and adolescents. This study assessed the prevalence and determinants of DBM in a rural district of Tando Muhammad Khan (TMK) in Pakistan. A representative cross-sectional study was conducted in a rural district of TMK using multistage cluster sampling. A total of 1,304 households were surveyed, and one eligible adolescent per household was select…
Medicine (18 works) · Environmental health (17 works) · Global Maternal and Child Health (15 works) · Nursing (11 works) · Child Nutrition and Water Access (10 works) · Population (10 works) · Psychological intervention (10 works) · Public health (6 works) · Cross-sectional study (5 works) · Economic growth (5 works)