Spinal cord injury rehabilitation in Nepal.

Spinal cord injury is a major trauma, with its short and long term effects and consequences to the patient, his friends and family. Spinal cord injury is addressed in the developed countries with standard trauma care system commencing immediately after injury and continuing to the specialized rehabilitation units. Rehabilitation is important to those with spinal injury for both functional and psychosocial reintegration. It has been an emerging concept in Nepal, which has been evident with the establishment of the various hospitals with rehabilitation units, rehabilitation centres and physical therapy units in different institutions. However, the spinal cord injury rehabilitation setting and scenario is different in Nepal from those in the developed countries since spinal cord injury rehabilitation care has not been adequately incorporated into the health care delivery system nor its importance has been realized within the medical community of Nepal. To name few, lack of human resource for the rehabilitation care, awareness among the medical personnel and general population, adequate scientific research evidence regarding situation of spinal injury and exorbitant health care policy are the important hurdles that has led to the current situation. Hence, it is our responsibility to address these apparent barriers to successful implementation and functioning of rehabilitation so that those with spinal injury would benefit from enhanced quality of life.

Pattern of abortion care in a tertiary level maternity hospital in Nepal.

INTRODUCTION: Complications from unsafe abortion are believed to account for the largest proportion of hospital admissions for gynaecological services in developing countries and not to mention the cost it imparts to the health system of a country. Therefore, it is equally important to find out the prevalence and the pattern of abortion among the women who utilize the safe abortion care services and provide a framework to target various health promotion programs including safe-motherhood and reproductive health; such that the future interventions to avoid the unintended pregnancy and unsafe abortion can be implemented accordingly. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal. Social and demographic information of all the women seeking induced abortions from January 2011 to December 2012 were included and the result was analyzed. RESULT: Abortion contributed to about 1.68% of the total patient served in the hospital that provides both obstetrical and gynecological services. Of the total 4830 patients who underwent induced abortion in this period, the mean age was 27, 92.3% were from the Kathmandu valley and more than one-third women (35.2%) were illiterate who couldn't read and write. Majorities were more than two parity and belonged to higher caste. CONCLUSION: The socio-demographic profile of the abortion clients in Nepal has remained similar over the years. We need to address the accessibility and availability to the safe abortion care services along with other safe motherhood programs guaranteeing access to safe abortion and post-abortion care to all group of women and also, women education regarding contraception to avoid repeated abortions or unwanted pregnancy in the future.