Socio-Economic Conditions of Home-Based Working Women: A Qualitative Study in Hyderabad, Sindh

This research paper focuses on socio-economic conditions of home-based working women in Hyderabad Division, of Sindh Pakistan. Main objectives of this research are (i) to analyze the Socio-economic condition of home-based working women (ii) to assess the poverty and home-based work (iii) to find out the illiteracy and home-based work (iv) to investigate the role of handicrafts and home-based work in cultural and economic development (v) to unearth the Sindhi culture of handicrafts in Hyderabad Division. To achieve research objectives qualitative research approach is adopted and data is collected by four case studies in Hyderabad division. All cases are selected randomly and analyzed by using thematic analysis method. Present study concluded that researched area is rich in handicrafts business. Women engaged themselves in home-based work due to poverty, unemployment and poor financial conditions of their families. This business has very low profit but female preferred this work due less skills and education required to carry handicrafts business. Home-based workers felt empowered due to having their own income and took part in decision making. In last it is recommended for policy makers and government agencies to give priority to this business because it has potential. It is necessary for economic development of families, culture and country.

Study of Bovine Subclinical Mastitis With Special Reference of Staphylococcus Aureus in Potohar Region of Punjab, Pakistan

Mastitis is a major concern for lactating animals causing mild to severe mammary gland infection. A questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in 30 commercial and subsistent farms in Pothohar region of Rawalpindi district, Punjab Pakistan. Where randomly 300 lactating bovine milk samples were tested to California Mastitis Test. Three hundred environmental samples were also collected from the immediate premises surrounding of the udder. Data entry and validation was performed through Epi-Data. Data analysis was performed through SPSS. Chi-square and regression analysis were conducted. For molecular epidemiology sequence analysis was conducted to genetically characterize the isolated bacterial strains. An overall prevalence of subclinical mastitis was 68.6% (cattle and buffalo) on California Mastitis Test (CMT). Several risk factors were identified as associated with the occurrence of subclinical mastitis. Penicillin group was found highly resistant (92.5%) while Quinolone (Moxifloxacin 95%) group was recorded to be the most sensitive (91.7%). On sequence analysis, our isolates (mecA/MRSA/Env/2018/Pak; mecA/MRSA/Bovines/2018/Pak) were found mostly like MRSA strains isolated from Pork samples in China and Humans in India. Our isolates showed unique substitutions in comparison to previously reported MRSA strains from different regions of the world. It can be concluded that the higher prevalence and emerging pattern of mecA gene carrying MRSA strains in farm animals is an alarming problem not only to animals but also for public health. Antibiotic failure in the veterinary field in the treatment of mastitis could be mostly contributed by the higher prevalence of MRSA strains in the field. These results highlight immediate attention to be focused on the control strategies to be implemented to control the spread of these pathogens amongst the animal population and also to the higher risk human population.