COVID-19, the pandemic caused by SARS- CoV-2 has affected more than 220 countries including Nepal, costing millions of lives around the globe. Despite the government's effort to contain the virus by initiating several public health measures, the exponential growth of COVID-19 cases has been noted in due course. Our review is focused on preventive health measures and the role of government in implementation, in the context of Nepal. We found that while the government did enact some policy and guidelines in response to COVID-19, the response was lacking in timely execution, coordination and monitoring, and was not in compliance with human rights principles.
Background: Reproductive health of women has been the central agenda of Cairo conference since its inception in 1999. As a signatory country for Cairo Conference, Nepal government is also committed for reproductive rights for Nepalese women. Despite this, reproductive health challenges do exist in Nepal. This prompted us to determine the reproductive health status of married women attending in cervical cancer screening in Kathmandu. Methods: Cross sectional study was designed to include retrospective data of married women, obtained during cervical cancer screening camp conducted by KIST Medical College at Laga Khala Clinic, Lagan, Kathmandu on 12-02- 2017. Among married women (131) attended cervical 100 women's records with complete set of data for reproductive health variables required for the study were included in this study. Statistical analysis was done descriptively. Results: Participant's age is between 21 years to 61 years, 83% are literate and 46% are employed. Adolescence marriage and pregnancy were two main problems noted. Cervical examination in relation showed 3% (3) VIA positive, 33% (33) Cervicitis, 10% (10) cervical polyp, 7% (7) atrophic vaginitis, 4% (4) cervical erosion and 43% (43) healthy cervix. Regarding Knowledge about risk factor majority 92% (92) had either no knowledge or only some extent of knowledge. Conclusions: Married women who lives in Kathmandu has significant reproductive health problem. Urban health program should address these issues.
Introduction: Around 25% of the total population in Nepal is adolescents (10 to 19 years old). Nutritional programs in Nepal are targeted to young children and pregnant women but neglected among adolescent. Such approach may result poor nutritional status among them. This will lead topoor health outcome and poor academic performance among school children. Thus we aimed tostudy the nutritional status assessment of adolescent school children in Solukhumbu.Material and Methods: It was a cross sectional study conducted over a period of two and halfmonths (May-July 2018) in a government school at Salleri, Solukhumbu, Nepal. Study participantsare 192 students, both male and female, from the age group 10 to 17 years old. Body Mass Indexand Height for age was determined by anthropometry. The interview was done by using structured questionnairesto elicit socio-demographic variables.Results: Among 192 students age 10-17 years old, 122(63.5%) were female and 70(36.5%) weremale. The majority was Janajati 160(83.3%), Major religion was Hindu 99(51.6%) and Buddhist93(43.2%), Agriculture was the major occupation of both parents. The literacy rate of the father is 63.2%and mother is 39.9 percent. The majority are underweight 53(27.6%), overweight 11 (5.7%) andobese 3(1.6%). Median Height for Age was 94 (±6.5) with a minimum of 76 and a maximum of 112 and99(51.6%) are stunted.Conclusions: Stunting, underweight and overweight were prevalent among adolescent children inthe school. The causes of these problems should be identified by doing further research and interventionshould be done accordingly.
Introduction: Reduced vision among school-going children is a global public health problem and uncorrected refractive error, the main causative factor is most prevalent in under-developed countries. Correction of refractive error can be easily done when diagnosed. Therefore regular eye health screening among school-going children and early correction is necessary to alleviate the problem and reduce its consequences. Materials and Methods: It was a retrospective cross-sectional stud and the data were retrieved from eye health screening camps conducted in different schools of Dudhkunda municipality in 2015 in collaboration with Solukhumbu Polytechnic Academy and District Community Eye Center Solukhumbu. Permission from respective authorities and ethical approval for the research was received from the institutional review committee of the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology. Out of 3097 records, 2517 records were analyzed to identify the prevalence of refractive error. Results: Age of the children ranged from 6 to 18 years and most of the children were studying in grade 1 to 7, from government school and janajatis. Most common eye disorder noted was refractive error and prevalence was 3.5% (87). Refractive error was higher among older children compared to younger children. Higher proportion of students from private schools had refractive error compared to students from government schools. Both the findings were statistically significant. Conclusions: Refractive error among school children in our study is lower than that of other studies conducted in Nepal and it may be due to the representation of younger age groups in our study.
