Benzodiazepine Use in Karachi, Pakistan
Author Information
Author(s): Iqbal Saleem P, Ahmer Syed, Farooq Salima, Parpio Yasmin, Tharani Ambreen, Khan Rashid AM, Zaman Mohammad
Primary Institution: Aga Khan University
Hypothesis
What is the frequency of benzodiazepine use and its associations with socio-demographic and clinical characteristics among adults in Karachi?
Conclusion
The study found a high prevalence of benzodiazepine use in Karachi, particularly among older females and those with lower education levels.
Supporting Evidence
- 14% of the sample were benzodiazepine users.
- Bromazepam was the most commonly used benzodiazepine.
- Users were significantly older than non-users, with a mean age of 51.3 years.
Takeaway
This study shows that many people in Karachi are using benzodiazepines, which can be harmful, especially since they can buy them easily without a prescription.
Methodology
A cross-sectional study was conducted using systematic random sampling to interview adults in two urban areas of Karachi about their benzodiazepine use.
Potential Biases
Potential under-reporting of unemployment and reliance on self-reported data may introduce bias.
Limitations
The study may not be representative of the entire city of Karachi and had a small sample of unemployed participants.
Participant Demographics
Participants were adults aged 18 and older from two urban settlements, with a significant number being older females and less educated individuals.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.001
Confidence Interval
1.06 (1.04-1.09)
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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