Hashmi S K.
A Socioeconomic and Service Audit of Oncology Unit at The National Institute of Child Health, Karachi.
J Pak Med Assoc Jan ;53(5):205-7.

Objectives: 1) To analyze the socio-economic status of the oncology patients; 2) to determine the satisfaction of the patients regarding facilities being provided at the Oncology Ward, National Institute of Child Health (NICH), Karachi; 3) determine whether patients deserve support from Child Aid Association or not. Place and Duration of Study: The Oncology Ward, NICH, during the month of August 2001. Subjects and Methods: It is a questionnaire based cross-sectional survey. Results: The average age of the patients was 7 years and they were usually part of a large household, comprising on an average 7 members. Most of the patients were financially quite disadvantaged, with 61 receiving total medical supplies from CAA. Of those who had started treatment at the time the survey was conducted, 99% expressed satisfaction. Conclusion: As most of the patients belonged to the low socio-economic class, a link can be established between socio-economic status and health and disease. Although, cancer is not necessarily prevalent in a certain social class, those receiving treatment at the Oncology Ward, NICH are genuinely poor and deserve support from donor agencies, like the Child Aid Association (JPMA 53:205;2003).

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