Vitamin D deficiency and cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes population.

This study aims to assess vitamin D deficiency-induced dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in poor glycemic control among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. This study was carried out among 455 T2DM patients involving poor glycemic control ( = 247) and good glycemic control ( = 208). Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and HbAc were measured to assess glycemic control.

Health related quality of life and associated factors with medication adherence among tuberculosis patients in selected districts of Gandaki Province of Nepal.

Background: Tuberculosis is one of the significant public health problems of Nepal. Adherence to medication is very important for improving quality of life and preventing complication. Adherence to tuberculosis medications has significant economic and therapeutic consequences as non-adherence patients are at greater risk of developing complications which affect their health status and overall quality of life.

Why do people purchase antibiotics over-the-counter? A qualitative study with patients, clinicians and dispensers in central, eastern and western Nepal.

Introduction: Over-the-counter (OTC) use of antibiotics contributes to the burgeoning rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Drawing on qualitative research methods, this article explores the characteristics of OTC sales of antibiotic in Nepal, its drivers and implications for policy.

Methods: Data were collected in and around three tertiary hospitals in eastern, western and central Nepal.

Anxiety and Depression Among Health Sciences Students in Home Quarantine During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Selected Provinces of Nepal.

This study aimed to assess anxiety and depression among health sciences students at home quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic in selected provinces of Nepal. A web-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 409 health science students enrolled at graduate and post-graduate levels in selected universities and their affiliated colleges. Students from selected colleges were asked to fill out a survey, that was made available through email and social media outlets such as Facebook and Viber.

Assessment of Anxiety and Depression among Caregivers of Mentally Ill Patients Attending Mental Hospital, Lalitpur, Nepal.

Background: Family take the role of caregivers and provide the mentally ill member with help, care and support. Caregivers are at the high risk to anxiety and depression. The main objective of the research was to assess anxiety and depressive status among caregivers of mentally ill patients attending Mental Hospital, Lalitpur, Nepal.

Prevalence and factors associated with depression among higher secondary school adolescents of Pokhara Metropolitan, Nepal: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: This study examined the prevalence and factors associated with depression among adolescents attending higher secondary schools in the Pokhara Metropolitan City of Nepal.

Design: A cross-sectional study design was adopted.

Setting: Four randomly selected higher secondary schools of Pokhara Metropolitan, Nepal.

Medical Products for Cardiovascular Disease Management in Nepal: a needs assessment study.

Background Medical Products and Technologies is a key component of the health system. Quality medicines and efficient management of the medical products can secure effective cardiovascular diseases management. Objective To collate information and identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) associated with medical products and technology component for cardiovascular disease management in Nepal.

Accessing health services in India: experiences of seasonal migrants returning to Nepal.

Background: Migration to India is a common livelihood strategy for poor people in remote Western Nepal. To date, little research has explored the degree and nature of healthcare access among Nepali migrant workers in India. This study explores the experiences of returnee Nepali migrants with regard to accessing healthcare and the perspectives of stakeholders in the government, support organizations, and health providers working with migrant workers in India.

Status and determinants of enrollment and dropout of health insurance in Nepal: an explorative study.

Background: Compared to other countries in the South Asia Nepal has seen a slow progress in the coverage of health insurance. Despite of a long history of the introduction of health insurance (HI) and a high priority of the government of Nepal it has not been able to push rapidly its social health insurance to its majority of the population. There are many challenges while to achieve universal health insurance in Nepal ranging from existing policy paralysis to program operation.

Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes Risk Among Young Adult Students in the Health Sciences from Kathmandu, Nepal.

Background: The widespread dissemination of unhealthy dietary habits, childhood-teenage obesity, and sedentary lifestyle in young adults has paved the way for public health burden metabolic syndrome and early onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors for metabolic syndrome and diabetes among young adult students.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among students of age group (18 to 25 years) studying at Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences and Central Institute of Science and Technology.

Harnessing inter-disciplinary collaboration to improve emergency care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs): results of research prioritisation setting exercise.

Background: More than half of deaths in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) result from conditions that could be treated with emergency care - an integral component of universal health coverage (UHC) - through timely access to lifesaving interventions.

Methods: The World Health Organization (WHO) aims to extend UHC to a further 1 billion people by 2023, yet evidence supporting improved emergency care coverage is lacking. In this article, we explore four phases of a research prioritisation setting (RPS) exercise conducted by researchers and stakeholders from South Africa, Egypt, Nepal, Jamaica, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Colombia, Ethiopia, Iran, Jordan, Malaysia, South Korea and Phillipines, USA and UK as a key step in gathering evidence required by policy makers and practitioners for the strengthening of emergency care systems in limited-resource settings.

Diabetes-Related Healthcare Services in Nepal-A Qualitative Exploration of Healthcare Professionals' Opinions.

Healthcare professionals' level of engagement in diabetes care and their perceptions of challenges to effective diabetes care are key indicators impacting diabetes management. This study investigated diabetes-related healthcare services provided in Nepal, and explored healthcare professionals' opinions of the barriers to, and strategies for, effective diabetes care. In-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted with thirty healthcare professionals providing healthcare or medication-related services to patients with type 2 diabetes within Kathmandu Valley.

Evaluation of a health promotion intervention associated with birthing centres in rural Nepal.

Introduction: Birthing centres (BC) in Nepal are mostly situated in rural areas and provide care for women without complications. However, they are often bypassed by women and their role in providing good quality maternity services is overlooked. This study evaluated an intervention to increase access and utilisation of perinatal care facilities in community settings.

Methodological issues on 'challenges and opportunities towards the road of universal health coverage (UHC) in Nepal: a systematic review'.

Challenges and opportunities towards the road of universal health coverage (UHC) in Nepal: a systematic review' is a policy review paper and we published in BMC - Archives of Public Health. Policy research is the process of conducting research, analysis of, a fundamental social problem in order to provide policymakers with pragmatic, action-oriented recommendations for alleviating the problem. The objective of this paper is to illustrate some methodological issues used in that paper.

The Coronavirus Pandemic: What Does the Evidence Show?

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a newly emerged disease that has become a global public health concern as it rapidly spread around the world. The etiologic agent responsible for this disease has been named as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses as it shows similar genomic features to that of SARS-CoV which caused a pandemic in 2002. This disease first appeared in Hubei province of China and it follows human-to-human transmission but the path this virus took to set up human infection remains a mystery.

Factors associated with contraceptive use in rural Nepal: Gender and decision-making.

Introduction: Gender norms and roles influence many decisions related to reproductive health behaviours including contraceptive use. There are very few studies related to gender norms and decision-making in contraceptive use in Nepal, hence this paper addresses these issues in a quantitative study.

Methods: A secondary data analysis of a primary study conducted in 2012 as a quantitative cross-sectional study in four villages of a hilly district in Nepal.

Temporal Trend of Aedes albopictus in Local Urban Parks of the Republic of Korea.

Aedes albopictus (Skuse) was first reported in the Republic of Korea in 1941 (Suwon, Gyeonggi Province). Recently, a mosquito-monitoring program was established in response to the potential development of autochthonous infections of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses, to identify the regional characteristics of Ae. albopictus in Suwon.

Carriage of Extended-Spectrum--Lactamase- and AmpC--Lactamase-Producing (ESBL-PE) in Healthy Community and Outpatient Department (OPD) Patients in Nepal.

Background: Extended-spectrum -lactamase (ESBL)- and AmpC--lactamase (ESBL)- and AmpC- have recently emerged as a public threat in the treatment of nosocomial as well as community-acquired infections. Very little information is currently available about its existence in Nepal. We, therefore, aim to determine the prevalence of ESBL and AmpC--lactamase (ESBL)- and AmpC- have recently emerged as a public threat in the treatment of nosocomial as well as community-acquired infections.

Classical Dermatomyositis: A Case Report.

Dermatomyositis is an idiopathic myopathy involving progressive muscle weakness with skin manifestation. Diagnosis is based upon the progressive muscle weakness, skin rashes, elevated serum muscle enzymes, muscle biopsy, and abnormal electromyogram. The incidence of dermatomyositis is rare.

The Impact of Spousal Migration on the Mental Health of Nepali Women: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Spousal separation, lack of companionship, and increased household responsibilities may trigger mental health problems in left-behind female spouses of migrant workers. This study aimed to examine mental ill-health risk in the left-behind female spouses of international migrant workers in Nepal. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in the Nawalparasi district.

Barriers in the access, diagnosis and treatment completion for tuberculosis patients in central and western Nepal: A qualitative study among patients, community members and health care workers.

Background: Nepal has achieved a significant reduction of TB incidence over the past decades. Nevertheless, TB patients continue to experience barriers in access, diagnosis and completion of the treatment. The main objective of this study was to explore the factors affecting the access to the health services, diagnosis and the treatment completion for TB patients in central and western Nepal.