Examining the availability and readiness of health facilities to provide cervical cancer screening services in Nepal: a cross-sectional study using data from the Nepal Health Facility Survey.

Objective: We assessed the availability and readiness of health facilities to provide cervical cancer screening services in Nepal.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: We used secondary data from a nationally representative 2021 Nepal Health Facility Survey, specifically focusing on the facilities offering cervical cancer screening services.

Human papillomavirus vaccine coverage among immigrant adolescents in Alberta: a population-based cohort study.

Background: Little is known about human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among immigrant children in Canada. We conducted a study in Alberta, Canada to assess HPV vaccine coverage among school-aged immigrant children compared with non-immigrant children.

Methods: This cohort study analysed population-based linked administrative health data to measure HPV vaccine coverage for 346 749 school-aged children, including 31 656 immigrants.

Patterns in COVID-19 vaccination among children aged 5-11 years in Alberta, Canada: Lessons for future vaccination campaigns.

Objectives: In Alberta, Canada, the COVID-19 vaccination program for children aged 5-11 years was launched on November 26, 2021. Our objectives were to determine the cumulative vaccine coverage, stratified by age, during the first thirteen months of vaccine availability, and investigate factors associated with vaccine uptake.

Study Design: This retrospective cohort study used population-based administrative health data.

Incidence and risk factors for revision and contralateral anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A population-based retrospective cohort study.

There is a limited data on epidemiology of primary and recurrent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) in Canada. The objectives of this study were to examine the incidence and factors associated with recurrent ACLR (revision and contralateral ACLR) in a western Canadian province of Alberta. We conducted a retrospective cohort study with an average follow up of 5.

School immunization coverage in adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic: A retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Few studies have assessed the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on immunization coverage for adolescents, and little is known about how coverage has changed throughout the pandemic. We aimed to: (1) assess the change in coverage for school-based vaccines in Alberta, Canada resulting from the pandemic; (2) determine whether coverage differed by geographic health zone and school type; and (3) ascertain whether coverage has returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Methods: Using a retrospective cohort design, we used administrative health data to compare coverage for human papillomavirus (HPV) and meningococcal conjugate A, C, Y, W-135 (MenC-ACYW) vaccines between pre-pandemic (2017-2018 school year) and pandemic (2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years) cohorts (N = 289,420).

COVID-19 vaccine coverage among immigrants and refugees in Alberta: A population-based cross-sectional study.

Background: Studies have shown that immigrants have lower vaccination rates than the Canadian-born population. We sought to assess COVID-19 vaccine coverage and factors associated with uptake among foreign-born immigrants relative to the non-immigrant population in Alberta, Canada.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we analysed population-based linked administrative health data from Alberta to examine vaccine coverage for 3 931 698 Albertans, of which 731 217 were immigrants.

The influence of place on COVID-19 vaccine coverage in Alberta: A multilevel analysis.

While there is evidence of urban/rural disparities in COVID-19 vaccination coverage, there is limited data on the influence of other place-based variables. In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed population-based linked administrative health data (publicly-funded health insurance database and province-wide immunization repository) to examine vaccination coverage for 3,945,103 residents aged 12 years and above in Alberta, Canada. We used multilevel logistic regression to examine the association of vaccination coverage with various place-based variables.

Increasing incidence of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a 17-year population-based study.

Purpose: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are one of the most frequently studied injuries in orthopedic care and research. However, limited epidemiological data are available in Canada regarding trend and distribution of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). In this paper, our purpose was to assess trends of ACLR between 2002/03 and 2018/19 by age, sex, season of surgery, and location (inpatient vs outpatient) of surgery.

Brain Metastases among Cancer Patients Diagnosed from 2010-2017 in Canada: Incidence Proportion at Diagnosis and Estimated Lifetime Incidence.

The incidence of BM among Canadian cancer patients is unknown. We aimed to estimate IP of BM at the time of cancer diagnosis and during the lifetime of patients with selected primary cancers. Data on BM at diagnosis from 2010-2017 was obtained from the CCR.

Inequalities in full vaccination coverage based on maternal education and wealth quintiles among children aged 12-23 months: further analysis of national cross-sectional surveys of six South Asian countries.

Objective: This study was conducted to compare full vaccination coverage and its inequalities (by maternal education and household wealth quintile).

Design: This further analysis was based on the data from national-level cross-sectional Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) from six countries in South Asia.

Setting: We used most recent DHS data from six South Asian countries: Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and the Maldives.

Construct Validity of the Health Utilities Index Mark 2 and Mark 3 to Measure Health-Related Quality of Life of Residents in Long-Term Care Facilities.

Background And Purpose: The purpose is to evaluate the construct validity of two generic health measures, the Health Utilities Index Mark 2 (HUI2) and Mark 3 (HUI3) in residents of long-term care (LTC) facilities, using a convergent/divergent validity approach, with the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease (QOL-AD) and Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) 2.0 as comparators.

Methods: Health status of 130 residents with dementia residing in one of seven LTC facilities was evaluated by their Healthcare Aides who were their primary care assistants.

Trend and Sociodemographic Correlates of Cesarean Section Utilization in Nepal: Evidence from Demographic and Health Surveys 2006-2016.

Background: Addressing inequalities in accessing emergency obstetric care is crucial for reducing the maternal mortality ratio. This study was undertaken to examine the time trends and sociodemographic correlates of cesarean section (CS) utilization in Nepal between 2006 and 2016 Data from the Nepal Demographic and Health Surveys (NDHS) 2006, 2011, and 2016 were sourced for this study. Women who had a live birth in the last five years of the survey were the unit of analysis for this study.

Planning of births and childhood undernutrition in Nepal: evidence from a 2016 national survey.

Background: Childhood undernutrition is a significant public health issue in low-and middle-income countries, including Nepal. However, there is limited evidence showing the association between the planning of birth (PoB) and childhood undernutrition (stunting and underweight). We aimed to investigate the relationship between PoB and childhood undernutrition in the current study.

Spousal Separation and Use of and Unmet Need for Contraception in Nepal: Results Based on a 2016 Survey.

Nepal is facing a large-scale labour migration-both internal and international-driven by economic and employment opportunities. There is sparse literature available at the national level which examines the link between migration and contraceptive use. This study aimed at identifying contraceptive use and the unmet need for family planning (FP) and exploring its correlates among the married women of reproductive age (MWRA) by their husbands' residence status, using data from Nepal Demographic Health Survey 2016-a nationally representative cross-sectional survey.

The trend of full vaccination coverage in infants and inequalities by wealth quintile and maternal education: analysis from four recent demographic and health surveys in Nepal.

Background: Despite policy intention to reach disadvantaged populations, inequalities in health care resource use and health outcomes persist in Nepal. The current study aimed to investigate the trend of full vaccination coverage among infants and its equity gaps between Nepal Demographic and Health Surveys (NDHS) 2001 and 2016.

Methods: Using data from NDHS conducted in 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016, we investigated the trend of coverage of six antigens: Bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG), Diptheria, Pertussis, Tetanus (DPT), Polio, and Measles during their infancy among children aged 12-23 months.

Sexual violence as a predictor of unintended pregnancy among married young women: evidence from the 2016 Nepal demographic and health survey.

Background: Sexual violence in marital relationship is higher among women married at young age. Although sexual violence has been found to increase risk for unintended pregnancy, there is a limited published data from Nepal linking sexual violence with unintended pregnancy. The current study aimed to investigate association of partner sexual violence with unintended pregnancy among young married women who experienced child birth in last 5 years.

Fertility Limiting Intention and Contraceptive Use among Currently Married Men in Nepal: Evidence from Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2016.

Introduction: Less is known about fertility intention of men and family planning (FP) use pattern among men or their spouses who do not want to have more children in Nepal. The objective of the current research was to assess whether number and sex composition of living children determine contraceptive use and method mix among Nepalese men who expressed not wanting to have more children.

Methods: We used couple dataset from NDHS 2016 for the analysis.

Factors Associated with Underweight among Under-Five Children in Eastern Nepal: Community-Based Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Undernutrition is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children in developing countries including Nepal. This study aimed to identify sociodemographic, environmental, and maternal and child health (MCH) factors associated with objectively assessed underweight among children aged under 5 years in Ilam district of eastern Nepal.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study of 300 mothers of children under 5 years was conducted using interviewer-administered questionnaires from July to August 2012.

Timing of First Antenatal Care (ANC) and Inequalities in Early Initiation of ANC in Nepal.

Background: The provision and uptake of quality and timely antenatal care (ANC) is an essential element of efforts to improve health outcomes for women and newborn babies. Antenatal consultations assist in early identification and treatment of complications during pregnancy. This study aimed to provide an information on distribution and inequalities in early initiation of ANC in Nepal.

Factors determining satisfaction among facility-based maternity clients in Nepal.

Background: With an increasing number of institutional deliveries, the Nepalese health system faces a challenge to ensure a quality of service provision. This paper aims to identify the determinants of client satisfaction with maternity care in Nepal using data from a nationally representative health facility survey.

Methods: A total of 447 exit interviews, with women who had either recently delivered or who had experienced obstetric complications, were conducted across 13 districts in Nepal (87% in hospitals, 8% in Primary Health Care Centres (PHCCs), and 5% in Sub/Health Posts(S/HPs).

Trends and Inequalities in Use of Maternal Health Care Services in Nepal: Strategy in the Search for Improvements.

Background: Nepal has made significant progress against the Millennium Development Goals for maternal and child health over the past two decades. However, disparities in use of maternal health services persist along geographic, economic, and sociocultural lines.

Methods: Trends and inequalities in the use of maternal health services in Nepal between 1994 and 2011 were examined using four Nepal Demographic and Health Surveys (NDHS), nationally representative cross-sectional surveys conducted by interviewing women who gave birth 3-5 years prior to the survey.

Addressing the needs of people with disability in Nepal: The urgent need.

Health planners and policy makers often overlook the needs of people with disability (PWDs) in less developed countries such as Nepal. The aftermath of conflict and earthquake has further escalated the need of people with disability in Nepal. While the country is preparing for the implementation of a national health sector strategy for the next five years and when the health system is being restructured, we believe that this is the right time to address needs of people with disability by strengthening the health system and operationalizing community based rehabilitation.

Women's Satisfaction of Maternity Care in Nepal and Its Correlation with Intended Future Utilization.

The impact of rapid increase in institutional birth rate in Nepal on women's satisfaction and planned future utilization of services is less well known. This study aimed to measure women's satisfaction with maternity care and its correlation with intended future utilisation. Data came from a nationally representative facility-based survey conducted across 13 districts in Nepal and included client exit interviews with 447 women who had either recently delivered or had experienced complications.