CURRICULUM VITAE
NAME: Sarah Saleem
POSITION TITLE: Associate Professor
Department of Community Health Sciences
Aga Khan University
EDUCATION/TRAINING
INSTITUTION AND LOCATION
Dow Medical College, Karachi Pakistan
University of Karachi, Pakistan
Aga Khan University Karachi
College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan
DEGREE
M.B.B.S
D.C.H.
(Diploma in
Child Health)
MSc in
Epidemiology
F.C.P.S.
MM/YY
FIELD OF STUDY
1980
Bachelor of Medicine &
Bachelor of Surgery
1989
Child Health
1998
Epidemiology
2002
Community Medicine
Dr Sarah Saleem is Associate Professor and Head of the Section of Population and Reproductive Health of the
Department of Community Health Sciences (CHS), Aga Khan Unoversity Karachi. The focus of her research has been the
reproductive health of Pakistani women. Her work on unsafe abortions and emergency contraception in Pakistan is
pioneering. She was the first to document community-based rates of induced abortion in Karachi. Her publications also
include community-based studies on emergency contraception, quality of care in family planning, role of inter-spousal
communication in use of family planning methods, gender perspectives on induced abortions in Karachi and effects of
socio-biological factors on reproductive behaviour in Karachi among others. Her research work has received support
from a variety of sources including the Word Bank, International Planned Parenthood Federation, John Snow Inc. (JSI),
The Population Council, The Asia Foundation and AKU Research Grant Commission, NIH USA. Dr Saleem was the
Principal Investigator for the grant ‘A randomized Trial of Chlorhexidine vaginal and infant washes to prevent perinatal
morbidity and Mortality’ funded by National Institute of Health USA implemented jointly by University of Alabama,
USA and the Aga Khan University in2005. Study is completed on 5000 subject and approximate 5 papers have been
published from this study.
Additionally Dr Saleem has worked as Principal Investigator for community based trials ‘Evaluation of an EmONC
Intervention Package to Reduce Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Low Resource Settings(The EmONC Trial) in Pakistan
site of the NICHD’s Global Network for Women’s and Children’s Health Research. The objective of the study was to
improve maternal and perinatal outcomes through improvement in the quality of the system of care. Currently, Dr Saleem
is administering Antenatal Corticosteroids Trial in Preterm Births to Increase Neonatal Survival in Developing Countries
(ACT) This trial is being conducted in District Thatta, Sindh, Pakistan (). It is a pragmatic trial to determine whether the
intervention is safe for women and their newborns, compared with standard delivery strategies already in place.
Dr Saleem has extensive field experience to conduct community based research in urban squatter settlements and rural
areas. She remained consultant to various national and international organizations such as JSI, United Nations Population
Fund (UNFPA), Population Council; providing training on reproductive health research methodologies. She had
completed an extensive review of the maternal health research in Pakistan in 2002. She serves as a reviewer for a number
of indexed and non-indexed local and international peer reviewed journals. She has served on the steering committee for a
national study on estimates of induced abortions by Population Council Islamabad and for HOPE, a local NGO working
on women's health. She directs a number of undergraduate medical and graduate courses in AKU.
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B. Positions and Honors
Positions:
Jan –Dec 1981
1982-1984.
1984-1987
1987-1990
Jan-July 1991
1991-1997
1998-2003
2004-2008
2009-to date
House Physician, Dow Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan
Resident Medical Officer at Medicare Hospital (Pvt)
Medical Officer Pediatrics OPD, Civil Hospital Karachi
Resident Medical Officer Department of Pediatrics Unit II, Civil Hospital Karachi
Consultant School Health Care Services
Instructor, Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi
Senior Instructor, Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi
Assistant Professor, Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi
Associate Professor and Head, Section of Population and Reproductive Health, Department of Community
Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi
Honors:
 International Family Planning Leadership award from Bill Gates & Packard Foundation, USA. 2001
 W A Burki Gold Medal for attaining highest marks in FCPS II examination in any discipline-for the year 2002
 Out Standing Teacher Award for CHS 2007
 Saleem S, Reza T, McClure EM, Pasha O, Moss N, Rouse DJ, Bartz J, Goldenberg RL Chlorhexidine vaginal and
neonatal wipes in home births in Pakistan: a randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2007 Nov;110 (5):968-9
This paper was awarded as being one of the seven best papers submitted to Society of Science Editors for the theme
Poverty and Human Development of 7000 papers submitted. I was invited by the Society and NIH USA to present
this paper at the launch of the theme in October , 2007 in Washington DC.
C. Selected Publications
1. Manasyan A, Saleem S, Koso-Thomas M, Goudar S, Patel A, Esamai F, Garces A, Wright L, Chomba
E, Carlo W, McClure E, Goldenberg R, Pasha O. Assessment of Obstetric and Neonatal Health Services
in Developing Country Health Facilities. Am J Perinatol. Accepted for publication 2012 Sep.
2. Sami N, Ali TS, Saleem S. Reproductive Tract Infections among married women in per-urban areas of
Karachi, Pakistan: A population-based study. National J of community medicine (Accepted, 2012).
3. R A Sameera, F Jalil, SI Azam, U Shamsi and S Saleem. Prevalence of menopause, chronic illnesses
and life style of middle aged women in Karachi, Pakistan. Al Ameen J Med Sc i 2012; 5(4) : 347-354
4. Raheel H, Karim MS, Saleem S, Bharwani S. Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Contraception
among Afghan Refugee Women in Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study. PLoS One. 2012;7(11):e48760.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0048760. Epub 2012 Nov 2.
5. Althabe F, Belizán JM, Mazzoni A, Berrueta M, Hemingway-Foday J, Koso-Thomas M,McClure E,
Chomba E, Garces A, Goudar S, Kodkany B, Saleem S, Pasha O et al. Antenatal corticosteroids trial in
preterm births to increase neonatal survival in developing countries: study protocol. Reprod Health.
2012 Sep 19;9:22. doi: 10.1186/1742-4755-9-22
6. Saleem S. Application of 4% chlorhexidine solution for cord cleansing after birth reduces neonatal
mortality and omphalitis. Evid Based Med. 2012 Jul 27. [Epub ahead of print]
7. Sami N, Ali TS, Wasim S, Saleem S.(2012) Risk factors for secondary infertility among women in Karachi,
Pakistan. PLoS One. 2012;7(4):e35828. Epub 2012 Apr 27.
8. Ayaz A, Saleem S (2010) Neonatal Mortality and Prevalence of Practices for Newborn Care in a Squatter
Settlement of Karachi, Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study. PLoS ONE 5(11): e13783.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0013783
9. Saleem S, McClure EM, Bux R, Shaheed A, Goldenberg RL, Pappas G. Pregnancy Behavior Of Pakistani Women
Over Their Reproductive Life Span. Al Ameen J Med Sci(2010)3 (3):228 -236
10. Saleem S, Rouse DJ, McClure EM, Zaidi A, Reza T, Yahya Y, Memon IA, Khan NH, Memon G, Soomro N,
Pasha O, Wright LL, Moore J, Goldenberg RL. Chlorhexidine vaginal and infant wipes to reduce perinatal
mortality and morbidity: a randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Jun;115(6):1225-32
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11. Shamsi U, Hatcher J, Shamsi A, Zuberi N, Qadri Z, Saleem S. A multicentre matched case control study of risk
factors for Preeclampsia in healthy women in Pakistan. BMC Womens Health. 2010 Apr 30;10(1):14.
12. Goldenberg RL, McClure EM, Saleem S, Reddy UM. Infection-related stillbirths. Lancet. 2010 Mar 9.
13. Farid M, Saleem S, Karim MS, Hatcher J. Spousal abuse during pregnancy in Karachi, Pakistan. Int J Gynaecol
Obstet. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2008 May;101(2):141-5. Epub 2008 Mar 4.
14. Farina G Abrejo, Babar T Shaikh, Sarah Saleem. ICPD to MDGs: missing links and common
grounds..Reproductive Health 2008, 5:4 doi:10.1186/1742-4755-5-4
15. McClure E, Saleem S , Jehan I, Pasha O, Goldenberg R. Stillbirths in developing countries Expert Review of
Obstetrics & Gynecology <http://www.expert-reviews.com/loi/eog> September 2008, Vol. 3, No. 5, Pages 657664
16. Saleem S, Reza T, McClure EM, Pasha O, Moss N, Rouse DJ, Bartz J, Goldenberg RL Chlorhexidine vaginal and
neonatal wipes in home births in Pakistan: a randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2007 Nov;110 (5):968-9
17. Goldenberg RL, McClure EM, Saleem S, Rouse D, Vermund S. Use of vaginally administered chlorhexidine
during labor to improve pregnancy outcomes. Obstet Gynecol. 2006 May; 107(5):1139-46.
18. FF Fikree, Saleem S and N Sami. A quality of care issue! Appropriate use and efficacy knowledge of five
contraceptives methods: views of men and women living in low socio-economic settlements of Karachi, Pakistan.
JPMA 2005 55(9):363-368
19. Saleem, S and F. Fikree . The quest for small family size among Pakistani women- is voluntary termination of
pregnancy a matter of choice or necessity?. JPMA 2005 55 (7):288-291
20. S.Saleem, M Isa. Facilitating inter-spousal communication for birth spacing--a feasibility study of Pakistani
couples for policy implications. J Pak Med Assoc. 2004 Apr;54(4):182-6.
21. Saleem S, Sami N, Hashmi S, WhiteF. Emergency contraception: experiences of 174 women from Squatter
settlements of Karachi. JCPSP Vol 12 No.04, April 2002 pp.232-35
22. Saleem, S and F. Fikree. Induced abortion in low socio-economic settlements of Karachi, Pakistan: rates and
women’s perspectives. JPMA 2001 51 (8):275-279
23. Fikree F, Rizvi N, Jamil S, and Hussain T. The Emerging Problem of Induced abortions in Squatter Settlements
of Karachi, Pakistan. Demography India 1996; 25 (1): 119-130.
D. Research Support
Ongoing research support
Antenatal Corticosteroids Trial in Preterm Births to Increase Neonatal Survival in Developing
Countries(ACT)in Thatta, Global Network for Women’s and Children’s Health
Funded by National Institute of Health USA
Role : In country Principal Investigator
May 2011-April
2013
Completed research support
Evaluation of an EmONC Intervention Package to Reduce Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes
in Low Resource Settings(The EmONC Trial)in Thatta, Global Network for Women’s
and Children’s Health.
Funded by National Institute of Health USA
Role : In country Principal Investigator
June 2008-Oct 2011
2008
Eliminating National Gaps—Advancing Global Equity (ENGAGE project)
by Population Reference Bureau USA
Role : Principal Investigator
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A randomized Trial of Chlorhexidine vaginal and infant washes to
prevent perinatal morbidity and Mortality.
Funded by National Institute of Health USA implemented jointly by
University of Alabama, USA and the Aga Khan University -2005- study
is completed on 5000 subject and data in under cleaning processRole : Principal Investigator
2005-2007
Effects of socio-biological factors on reproductive behavior in Karachi
Funded by the University Research Council.
Role : Co- Investigator
2002
Gender perspectives in Induced abortions; knowledge and perspectives
Funded by Population Council New York
Role : Principal Investigator
2001
Introductory emergency Contraceptive study in Pakistan
2000
funded by World Bank and IPPF.This project is concluded in collaboration with Family Planning Association of Pakistan
Role : Principal Investigator
Determinants of induced abortion in squatter settlements and tertiary hospitals of Karachi.
1997 -1998
funded John Snow, Inc./MotherCare Project and The Office of Health and Nutrition, Bureau for Global Field Programs.
Role: Principal Investigator
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