Health literacy and its determinants among school-going children: a school-based cross-sectional study in Nepal.

Limited 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.

User satisfaction with the National Health Insurance Program: A community-based survey from the Ilam district of Nepal.

Background: The Government of Nepal initiated a family-based National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) in April 2016, aiming to ensure universal health coverage (UHC) by enhancing access to and utilization of quality health services. However, NHIP, in its initial years of implementation, encountered challenges such as low population coverage, a high dropout rate, and concerns among the insured regarding the quality of healthcare services. There is a dearth of information regarding user satisfaction with the NHIP in Nepal.

Procurement process and shortages of essential medicines in public health facilities: A qualitative study from Nepal.

Ensuring access to essential medicines remains a formidable challenge in Nepal. The specific reasons for the shortage of essential medicines within Nepal have not been extensively investigated. This study addresses challenges associated with access to essential medicines, procurement process difficulties, and functionality of inventory management systems at different levels of public health facilities.

Effectiveness of interventions for emergency care of hypoglycaemia and diabetic ketoacidosis: A systematic review.

Aim: This systematic review aims to provide evidence on effectiveness of interventions used in emergency care of hypoglycaemia and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).

Methodology: This is a systematic review of randomized controlled trials and analytical studies. We selected studies based on eligibility criteria.

Prevalence of Microalbuminuria in Non-diabetic Hypertensive Patients and its Correlation with Changes in Left Ventricular and Left Atrial Characteristics.

Background: Microalbuminuria is urinary albumin excretion in the range of 30-300 mg per 24 hours and is considered as an abnormal albumin excretion rate. Microalbuminuria is associated with epithelial dysfunction and have a high risk for target organ damage resulting in stroke, retinopathy and adverse cardiovascular events. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of microalbuminuria in non-diabetic hypertensive patients and its correlation with cardiovascular changes.

Sleep quality and its correlates among undergraduate medical students in Nepal: A cross-sectional study.

Poor sleep quality has been found to affect students' learning abilities, academic performance, and interpersonal relationships. However, little is known about this issue in Nepal. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with poor sleep quality among undergraduate medical students in Nepal.

Factors affecting health insurance utilization among insured population: evidence from health insurance program of Bhaktapur district of Nepal.

Background: The Government of Nepal introduced the family-based health insurance program in 2016 to increase financial protection and improve access to health care services. The study aimed to assess factors associated with the utilization of health insurance among the insured population in an urban district of Nepal.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey using face-to-face interviews was conducted in 224 households in the Bhaktapur district of Nepal.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Tobacco Use among High School Students.

Background: Tobacco use is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Tobacco use among school-level students is a growing a public health problem in Nepal. A number of factors may be associated with tobacco use, but there is lack of literature showcasing an in-depth understanding of the growing prevalence of tobacco use in the Nepalese context.

Medical abortion drug dispensing practices among private pharmacy workers in Nepal: A mystery client study.

Background: Pharmacies are the first point of contact for women seeking medical abortion (MA) and act as important sources of information and referral in Nepal. Over the counter sale of MA drugs is not currently allowed in Nepal. This study aimed to assess the MA drug dispensing practices of pharmacy workers using mystery clients in Nepal.

Corona virus fear among health workers during the early phase of pandemic response in Nepal: A web-based cross-sectional study.

Health workers involved in the COVID-19 response might be at risk of developing fear and psychological distress. The study aimed to identify factors associated with COVID-19 fear among health workers in Nepal during the early phase of the pandemic. A web-based survey was conducted in April-May 2020 among 475 health workers directly involved in COVID-19 management.

Risk Factors of Preterm Birth in Nepal: A Hospital-Based Matched Case-Control Study.

Preterm birth is a significant cause of neonatal death globally. Nepal is in the 20th position in the world, with the highest rate of preterm deliveries. The risk factors of preterm birth have not been fully identified and established in Nepal.

May Measurement Month 2019: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Nepal.

May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global initiative to screen high blood pressure (BP) in the community and increase awareness at the population level. High BP is the leading risk factor for mortality worldwide and in Nepal. This study presents the results of the 2019 MMM in Nepal.

An outbreak investigation of scrub typhus in Nepal: confirmation of local transmission.

Background: Scrub typhus is a largely ignored tropical disease and a leading cause of undifferentiated febrile illness in the areas of tsutsugamushi triangle caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi. It is frequently diagnosed in South Asian countries, although clear epidemiological information is not available from Nepal. After the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, a sudden upsurge in scrub typhus cases was reported.

Health related quality of life among haemodialysis and kidney transplant recipients from Nepal: a cross sectional study using WHOQOL-BREF.

Background: Very less is known about health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among patients with kidney diseases in Nepal. This study examined HRQOL among haemodialysis and kidney transplant recipients in Nepal.

Methods: The Nepali version of World Health Organization Quality of Life Instruments -(WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire was administered using face to face interviews among end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, from two large national referral centers in Nepal.

Mental health impacts among health workers during COVID-19 in a low resource setting: a cross-sectional survey from Nepal.

Background: Health care workers exposed to COVID-19 might be at increased risk of developing mental health problems. The study aimed to identify factors associated with anxiety, depression and insomnia among health workers involved in COVID-19 response in Nepal.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional web-based survey conducted between April 26 and May 12, 2020.

Addressing Emerging Public Health Issues through Interdisciplinary Research.

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Mitigating violence against women and young girls during COVID-19 induced lockdown in Nepal: a wake-up call.

Nepal, a South Asian country, was in nationwide lockdown for nearly three months in 2020 with partial restrictions still in place. Much worryingly, COVID-19 induced restrictions have confined women and young girls in their home, increasing the risk of domestic violence. The available support system to respond to violence against women and girls (VAWG) has also been disrupted during this period.

Cardiometabolic risk factors among patients with tuberculosis attending tuberculosis treatment centers in Nepal.

Background: The co-morbidity of cardiometabolic diseases in patients with Tuberculosis adds a significant burden in current health systems in developing countries including Nepal. The main objective of this study was to explore cardiometabolic risk factors among patients with Tuberculosis.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among patients with tuberculosis in 12 tuberculosis treatment centers from eight districts of Nepal between May and July 2017.

May Measurement Month 2018: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Nepal.

Raised blood pressure (BP) is a leading risk factor for mortality globally and in Nepal. May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global initiative aimed at screening for hypertension and raising awareness on high BP worldwide. This study provides the results of the 2018 MMM (MMM18) in Nepal.

G6PD deficiency in malaria endemic areas of Nepal.

Background: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is currently a threat to malaria elimination due to risk of primaquine-induced haemolysis in G6PD deficient individuals. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends G6PD screening before providing primaquine as a radical treatment against vivax malaria. However, evidence regarding the prevalence and causing mutations of G6PD deficiency in Nepal is scarce.

An urgent call to address the nutritional status of women and children in Nepal during COVID-19 crises.

Due to the ongoing nationwide lockdown in Nepal, women and children face a greater risk of malnutrition and eventually leading to mortality and morbidity. To harness the progress made so far in improving the nutritional status of women and children, a focus on nutrition should be a part of the COVID-19 response plan.