Recent estimates report a high incidence and prevalence of HIV among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Malaysia. Mobile apps are a promising and cost-effective intervention modality to reach stigmatized and hard-to-reach populations to link them to HIV prevention services (e.g.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: From 1996 to 2006, Nepal experienced a decade-long armed conflict that adversely impacted survivors of torture. The conflict posed threats to various facets of their lives, such as men-tal health, socio-economic status, human rights, and the process of reintegration into their original communities. This study was done with the survivors of torture from the armed conflict.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Globally, transgender women have been disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic, including in Malaysia, where an estimated 11% of transgender women are living with HIV. Available interventions designed specifically to meet transgender women's needs for HIV prevention are limited. Mobile health, particularly smartphone mobile apps, is an innovative and cost-effective strategy for reaching transgender women and delivering interventions to reduce HIV vulnerability.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLimited health literacy is linked to unhealthy behaviors, adverse health outcomes, poor quality of life and financial burdens on society. However, little is known about the level of health literacy, especially among school-going children. This cross-sectional study assesses health literacy levels and their determinants in 354 school children from Kathmandu Metropolitan City, utilizing a multi-stage cluster sampling method.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Depression and anxiety are significant contributors to the global burden of disease among young people. Accurate data on the prevalence of these conditions are crucial for the equitable distribution of resources for planning and implementing effective programs. This study aimed to culturally adapt and validate data collection tools for measuring depression and anxiety at the population level.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective method for prevention of HIV transmission. Female sex workers (FSW) in Malaysia are at substantially increased risk of acquiring HIV compared to the general female population, yet little is known about this population's current HIV prevention practices or acceptance of PrEP. This study aims to inform the culturally relevant implementation of PrEP through the qualitative exploration of (1) the potential need for PrEP in this population and (2) the factors that determine FSW willingness to use oral PrEP.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMobile technology growth in Nepal offers promising opportunities for using mobile health (mHealth) interventions to facilitate HIV prevention efforts. However, little is known about access and utilization of communication technology and their willingness to use mHealth for HIV prevention services in Nepal. We conducted a cross-sectional respondent-driven sampling survey of 250 MSM in Kathmandu Valley of Nepal from October to December 2022.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Previous studies have indicated the association between stigma and depressive symptoms among frequently stigmatized groups, such as men who have sex with men (MSM). While this association has been suggested in the literature, there is a dearth of evidence that examines whether food insecurity statistically mediates the relationship between stigma and depressive symptoms.
Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted between October and December 2022 among a sample of 250 MSM in Kathmandu, Nepal, recruited through respondent-driven sampling.
This paper describes the development process of a mobile app-based version of the World Health Organization mental health Gap Action Programme Intervention Guide, testing of the app prototypes, and its functionality in the assessment and management of people with mental health conditions in Nepal. Health workers' perception of feasibility and acceptability of using mobile technology in mental health care was assessed during the inspiration phase ( 43); the ideation phase involved the creation of prototypes; and prototype testing was conducted over multiple rounds with 15 healthcare providers. The app provides provisional diagnoses and treatment options based on reported symptoms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study assessed perception and experience of trained primary health care workers in using a mobile app-based version of the WHO mental health gap action programme (mhGAP) Intervention Guide in the assessment and management of people with mental health conditions in primary care in Nepal. A qualitative study was conducted with primary healthcare workers who were trained in using the WHO mhGAP mobile application in Jhapa, a district in eastern Nepal. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 15 healthcare workers (3 females and 12 males) nine months after the training.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a highly effective biomedical prevention strategy that remarkably reduces HIV transmission risk. Although PrEP has been available in Nepal since 2019, very little is known about PrEP use among MSM in Nepal. This study aimed to examine PrEP awareness and its use among Nepali MSM and the factors influencing its adoption.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims: Depression and anxiety are the leading contributors to the global burden of disease among young people, accounting for over a third (34.8%) of years lived with disability. Yet there is limited evidence for interventions that prevent adolescent depression and anxiety in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where 90% of adolescents live.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe monkeypox virus (MPOX) poses a major threat to the health of people, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM). However, the knowledge regarding MPOX among MSM in Nepal is poorly understood. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the knowledge of human monkeypox among Nepalese MSM.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMen who have sex with men (MSM) in Malaysia are disproportionately affected by HIV. As pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is being introduced, we assessed population-based PrEP delivery preferences among MSM in Malaysia. We conducted a discrete choice experiment through an online survey among 718 MSM.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Mental wellbeing encompasses life satisfaction, social connectedness, agency and resilience. In adolescence, mental wellbeing reduces sexual health risk behaviours, substance use and violence; improves educational outcomes; and protects mental health in adulthood. Mental health promotion seeks to improve mental wellbeing and can include activities to engage participants in sport.
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