Progress in Reducing Inequalities in Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Services in Nepal.

Background: Equity has emerged as a cross-cutting theme in the health sector, and countries across the world are striving to ensure that all people have access to the health services they need without undue financial hardship and educational, social, cultural and geographical barriers. In this context, this analysis has attempted to analyse Nepal's progress in reducing inequalities in reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health services based on economic status and place of residence.

Methods: In this analysis, we have used data available from the web version of the Health Equity Assessment Toolkit, a data visualisation tool developed by the World Health Organisation.

Mortality and risk factors of disease in Nepal: Trend and projections from 1990 to 2040.

Background: Between 1990 and 2017, Nepal experienced a shift in the burden of disease from communicable, maternal, neonatal and nutritional (CMNN) diseases to non-communicable diseases (NCDs). With an increasing ageing population and life-style changes including tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption, unhealthy diets, and insufficient physical activity, the proportion of total deaths from NCDs will continue to increase. An analysis of current diseases pattern and projections of the trends informs planning of health interventions.

Determinants of home delivery in Nepal - A disaggregated analysis of marginalised and non-marginalised women from the 2016 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey.

Introduction: In Nepal, a substantial proportion of women still deliver their child at home. Disparities have been observed in utilisation of institutional delivery and skilled birth attendant services. We performed a disaggregated analysis among marginalised and non-marginalised women to identify if different factors are associated with home delivery among these groups.

Targeting NF-κB-mediated inflammatory pathways in cisplatin-resistant NSCLC.

Objectives: The majority of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) present with advanced stage disease, at which time chemotherapy is usually the most common treatment option. While somewhat effective, patients treated with platinum-based regimens will eventually develop resistance, with others presenting with intrinsic resistance. Multiple pathways have been implicated in chemo-resistance, however the critical underlying mechanisms have yet to be elucidated.

Strategic targeting of the PI3K-NFκB axis in cisplatin-resistant NSCLC.

Chemoresistance is a major therapeutic challenge to overcome in NSCLC, in order to improve the current survival rates of<15% at 5 years. We and others have shown increased PI3K signaling in NSCLC to be associated with a more aggressive disease, and a poorer prognosis. In this study, targeted inhibition of three strategic points of the PI3K-NFκB axis was performed with the aim of exploiting vulnerabilities in cisplatin-resistant NSCLC cells.

Changes in STI services following a community based STI-intervention project in Cambodia.

The aim of this study was to assess changes in sexually transmitted infections (STI) related care following a STI project with a particular focus on registered brothel-based (direct) female sex workers (DFSWs) in four border provinces of Cambodia. A survey of health care facilities providing STI care was undertaken and the results compared with a baseline survey done two years previously. The main components of the project were: renovation of the STI clinics, STI training, formation of mobile teams, provision of STI drugs, and the introduction of basic laboratory tests at STI clinics.

Community action for preventing HIV in Cambodia: evaluation of a 3-year project.

The 'Community Action for Preventing HIV/AIDS Project' was implemented in four provinces in Cambodia (2001-04) to support a comprehensive set of HIV prevention efforts. Implementation was strictly monitored in terms of inputs, outputs and outcomes. We examine changes in these variables during the project period to assess the extent to which they were related to the project.

Impact of a community sexually transmitted infection/HIV intervention project on female sex workers in five border provinces of Vietnam.

Objectives: To determine changes in the prevalence of sexually transmitted infection (STI)/HIV in female sex workers (FSWs) after a community HIV prevention intervention project in five border provinces of Vietnam.

Methods: The project focused on providing user-friendly STI services for FSWs using mobile teams operating at multiple sites depending on local client preferences. 911 FSWs were enrolled at baseline and 982 in the exit survey.

Five myths about the HIV epidemic in Asia.

Godwin and colleagues say that there are several myths about the HIV epidemic in Asia, myths that are disseminated in both public and professional discourse and that often dominate policy and political debate.

An evaluation of sexually transmitted infection case management in health facilities in 4 border provinces of Cambodia.

Background: Cambodia has reported the highest prevalence of HIV in the general population in Asia. Sex work and high sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevalences are thought to be major contributory factors.

Goal: The goal of this study was to assess standards of STI care through a survey of public sector health facilities in 4 border provinces of Cambodia.