ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: The South East Asian Region has one of the highest incidences of gender based violence in the world which deprives women from the use of their right and liberty. This study was under taken to explore the causes and consequences of domestic violence against women in Meghanath Gorhanna VDC in Mahottari district of Nepal.Material and Methods: : An explorative quantitative and qualitative research design based study was conducted from September to December 2014 in married female of ward, No. 1, 2 and 4 of Meghanath Gorhanna VDC which is located in Mahottari district of Nepal suffering from domestic violence. Sample size consisted of 20 in each ward and sum of total was 60. In-depth interviews, focused group discussion and observation were tools used for data collection.Results: The result of this study reveals that 40% of victims were between age group 20 to 29 years. Domestic violence was higher among illiterate 20(33%). 12(20%) of the women were victimized due to alcoholism of their husband followed by male honor and patriarchal social values. Similarly, majority of the respondents 47(78.3%) suffered from psychological abuse followed by physical assault. 20(33.3%) women were suffered from physical violence. 10% women were suffered from sexual abuse and harassment. The findings also suggest 23(35%) had mental health problem and 14(23 %) women were suffered from reproductive health problem.Conclusion: The study highlights that various factors such as excessive intake of alcohol, patriarchal system of the society, polygamy, sexual dissatisfaction and dowry contributes for the domestic violence in women. The adverse effects of the violence on women are physical health problem, mental health problem, reproductive health problem, chronic conditions and negative health behavior.
ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: In developing countries like Nepal, the oral health system is currently in transition phase facing a high prevalence of dental caries. It has significant social impact in important life activities which hinders the achievement and ma intenance of good oral health due to lack of dental awareness in all age groups. Streptococcus mutans is the most predominant organism to cause dental caries. Therefore, the present study was designed to determine the prevalence of dental caries and to identify its etiology among adolescence.Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried by following Standard protocols of Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology to isolate and identify the organism. The data was analyzed using SPPS 17.0 and Microsoft excels 2007 which was considered as statistically significant at p-value < 0.05.Results: The prevalence of dental caries in adolescent was found to be 33%. The highest numbers of patients having dental caries were in the age group of 15-19 in female (66.32%) than male (39.70%). Bacterial growth was observed more in female (75.60%) than male (24.39%) which was found to be statistically significant (p=0.0001). S. mutans was found as the most important cause of dental caries. Maxillary region of tooth were more vulnerable to dental caries than mandibular region of tooth. Most of the respondents had once per day brushing habit without fluoridated dentrifice containing tooth paste.Conclusion: The prevalence of dental caries was found one third of total. S.mutans was the main causes of dental caries and molars tooth are more affected than others.
ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: Gastro-intestinal water-borne infections are among the most emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases throughout the world. Most water-borne diseases are caused by organism ranging from microscopic viruses of less than 30 nm in diameter to parasites of 10cm in length culminate into diarrhea and cause approximately 5million reported deaths annually. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of intestinal parasites, Cryptosporidium parvum among school children. Material and Methods: The study was carried out between Februry to July 2012. Cases of diarrhea reported in 23 students were linked to water handling practices. A total 500 of child of age less than 15 years old was included in the study. A total five hundred soft, loose or watery stool specimens collected from student of less than fifteen years from different school in Janakpur. The sample was collected randomly from randomly selected five schools. The collected stool samples were screened for the presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts. A modified Ziehl Neelsen with DMSO staining method was used for detecting Cryptosporidium oocysts in the stool samples. Results: The oocysts of Cryptosporidium were identified in 64 (6.8%) of the samples, while 242 samples (13%) showed mixed infections. Children aged between 3 and 10 years were mostly infected by this parasite, while infection was more prevalent in females than in males for all the age groups. Conclusion: The study suggests that Cryptosporidium is one of the important intestinal parasites of children as etiologic agents of diarrhea in immune-compromised population.
ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: Newborn Care practices during neonatal period contribute to risk of mortality and morbidity. It is estimated that in Nepal nearly 50,000 children under one year of age die every twelve months. This study aims to identify newborn care and practices in rural area in the study population. Methodology: 248 mothers having children of age < 6 months having delivery at home were selected from ten VDCs of Sunsari district using multistage random sampling. Standardized questionnaire were filled through interview with mothers/ female head of the family who assisted the delivery. Data were analyzed by using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 17. Chi-square test was conducted and p-value < 0.05 considered as statistically significant. Results: More than half (53.6%) of the newborns were assisted with Clean Home Delivery Kit. However, only 32.6% of the newborn babies applied antiseptic disinfectant to umbilical stump. Majority (76.6%) of the newborns bathed within 24 hour after birth. Less than half of respondents (41.9%) started breast feeding within 1 hour of birth and majority of the respondents (82.7%) fed colostrums to the newborn. Majority (37.9%) of children suffered from Acute Respiratory tract Infection, jaundice, redness and discharge around the cord, skin rashes and eye discharge. The methods used to make room warm was significantly associated (χ2 = 13.68, p- value = 0.001) with the occurrence of ARI. Materials applied for dressing of cord was significantly associated with problems of cord in babies (χ2 = 10.89, p- value = 0.004). Discharge from eye was found more among the babies who applied kajal however it was statistically insignificant. (χ2 = 0.60 p=0.439). Conclusion: High-risk traditional newborn care practices are common and need to be addressed.