Sexual and reproductive health status and health service utilisation of adolescents in four districts in Nepal

This study is the first part of an impact evaluation that documents the effectiveness of the National Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Programme in Nepal led by the Family Health Division. It was under the leadership of the German organisation GFA Consulting Group

Dating and Sex Among Emerging Adults in Nepal

Social and cultural changes in Nepal, including better communication facilities and transport, more urbanization and a rising age at which people marry, have created more opportunities for young people for “dating.” Our qualitative study explores whether the existence of dating cultures influences young people’s sexual behavior in Nepal. Focus group discussions with a total of 75 participants and 31 in-depth individual interviews were conducted among young people in Nepal. Most urban and rural young people liked the dating culture. Although it is a new kind of culture in Nepalese society, it is gaining popularity. The mass media were regarded as encouraging and creating an environment for dating. Most participants believed that dating culture encourages premarital and extramarital sexual behavior. The authors underpin their findings by linking it to the “emerging adulthood” framework. In terms of public health, they recommend that dating practice should be discussed in formal and informal education to promote safer sex

Barriers to sexual health services for young people in Nepal

Although sexual and reproductive health education and services are provided to young people, current rates of HIV infection and pregnancy are increasing in Nepal, indicating that young people do not always use sexual health services. Health facilities have apparently failed to provide young people with specialized sexual health education and services. This study explored the barriers to using sexual health services, including condom-use among young people in Nepal. Participants from 10 focus groups and 31 in-depth interviews, carried out by a same-sex researcher, reported many socioeconomic, cultural and physical norms that impose barriers to accessing information on sexual health and relevant services. It is concluded that the establishment of youth-friendly service centres in convenient places might help encourage young people to use sexual health services

Factors Associated With Accidental Drug Exposure in U.S. Adults Over 65 Years of Age

Medication errors are a major public health issue and a leading cause of fatalities in the United States and globally. Older adults who rely on medications to address age-related health issues are at higher risk of medication errors. Accidental exposure to drugs is a major type of medication error that impacts older people more than other age groups. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the association between patient gender, age group, and reporter type and accidental exposure to drugs in older people. The ecological model was used to guide the study. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine archived data from the Food and Drug Administration’s Adverse Event Reporting System. The sample size for this study was 239,716. Pearson chi-square analysis showed a statistically significant association between age group (χ2(1) = 5.89, p \u3c 0.05), reporter type (χ2(1) = 99.45, p \u3c 0.001), and gender (χ2(2) = 56.40, p \u3c 0.001) and accidental exposure to drugs. The logistic regression model was statistically significant, χ2(3) = 170.20, p \u3c .001. Age group (p \u3c .05; 95 CI 1.020–1.252), gender (p \u3c .001; 95% CI 1.353–1.666), and reporter type (p \u3c .001; 95% CI 1.537–1.885) were found to be statistically significant predictors of accidental exposure to drugs. Understanding the associations between the variables and accidental exposure to drugs may help patients, health care providers, drug manufacturers, and regulators to implement measures to minimize the occurrence of medication errors, which may reduce health care spending, boost patients’ trust in the health care system, and improve health outcomes in older people

Opportunities and challenges in school-based sex and sexual health education in Nepal

This article identifi es and addresses opportunities for and challenges to current school-based sex and sexual health education in Nepal. Key literature searches were conducted of electronic databases and relevant web-sites, furthermore personal contact with experts and the hand searching of key journals was included. The review of this literature generated the following challenges: Limitations to teaching including lack of life skill-based and human right-based approach, inappropriate teaching aid and reliance on conventional methods, existing policy and practice, parental/community support, and lack of research into and evaluation of sex education. Diverse methodology in teaching, implementation of peer education programme, partnership with parents, involvement of external agencies and health professionals, capacity building of teachers, access to support and service organisation, and research and evaluation in sex education have been suggested for improving the current practice of sex and sexual health education in Nepalese schools

Analysis of Barthel index and care giver strain index in stroke patients in tertiary care hospital in South India

Background: Stroke patients have high rate of mortality and morbidity and survivors suffer from physical, cognitive and emotional issues. Quality of life of stroke survivors depends on severity of disability. These disability or morbidities not only affect stroke survivors but also has impact on physical and psychological wellbeing of caregivers providing support for daily routine. Aim of this study is to analyse the dependency using Barthel Index in stroke patients and care giver strain (CSI) among caregivers. Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study in a tertiary care hospital in South India. Study duration of 5 months. 150 Patients admitted for stroke meeting the inclusion criteria were included for the study. Caregiver was interviewed after Informed consent and briefing of purpose of study. Berthel index and modified care giver strain index questionnaire was filled by interviewer with caregiver. Findings were described in simple descriptive manner. Statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 24 was used for statistical analysis. Results: Of 150 patients male 64% female 36%. Care giver strain score of <7 (40%), 8-14 (42%), >14 (18%). Sleep deprivation 68%, physical strain 85%, family adjustment problems 32%, work adjustment problems 67%, financial strain 76%, emotional adjustment problems 33%, personal plans problems 44%, upsetting behavior problems 44%. Only 17% termed it as inconvenient, 24% completely overwhelmed, 29% confining. Barthel index of >80 able to live independently (13%), 61-80 minimally dependent (32%), 41-60 partially dependent (26%), 21-40 very dependent (13%), <20 total dependency (16%). Conclusions: In stroke care caregiver strain is high when patient is dependent for routine activities. This includes physical as well as psychological strain. There is need to develop strategic home based or community based programs to reduce caregiver stress and improve their quality of life