Assessment of Pesticide Use in Major Vegetables From Farmers\u27 Perception and Knowledge in Dhading District, Nepal

A field study was carried out to assess the pesticide use status in major vegetable crops from farmers\u27 perception and knowledge in Dhading, Nepal in 2019. Field study was carried with 100 commercial farmer\u27s using semi-structure questionnaire by face to face interview. This study was analyzed by categorization of farmers into small holder (51) and large holder (49) groups on the basis of mean area of vegetable cultivation (6.48 ropani). The highest amount of pesticides is needed in tomato in both large holders and small holders according to the farmer\u27s experience. Among the study farmer\u27s, 41% of them spray the pesticides by making a cocktail or mixed method and 56%  follow the waiting period of 3-5 days in both of the cases. A significant positive correlation was found at 5% level of significance between the knowledge and practice pattern of waiting period of the pesticides and negative correlation was found between the Personal Protective equipment score and health hazard score. Headache was the major health hazards faced by the farmers which was higher in small holders (66.7%) as compared to the large holders (46.9%). Mask was the most used PPE by the farmer\u27s i.e. by 83% in overall. Fourty three percent of the farmer\u27s throw the pesticide containers in secret place after using of it.The use of PPE was seen lower in small holders as compared to the large holders. This study reveals the necessities of suitable program and policies regarding the knowledge, safe handling and use of pesticide among the farmer\u27s level

Awareness on rational use of antibiotics and its resistance among the patients attending GP OPD at BPKIHS in Eastern Nepal

antibiotics, resistance, control, prevention, mutation, transformation, антибиотики, рациональное использование, резистентность, мутации, трансфер плазмидEverybody know, that antibiotics prescribed for many serious illnesses such as bacterial pneumonia, bacterial meningitis, septicemia, and even strep throat. These illnesses can be life threatening or can lead to serious complications. Cure these diseases without the use of antibiotics is impossible. However, in recent years, information about antibiotic resistance - that is, the resistance of a number of microorganisms to antibiotic treatment - has become increasingly common. This fact - this is a serious problem in the treatment of a number of diseases of infectious pathology. The work aims to create an awareness on antibiotics and its resistance in patients. The main objective of this work is to study the patient knowledge through knowledge assessment questionnaire, to promote the rational use of antibiotics and to educate the patients using antibiotics.Всем известно, что антибиотики назначаются при многих серьезных заболеваниях, таких как бактериальная пневмония, бактериальный менингит, сепсис и даже стрептококковое горло. Эти болезни могут быть опасными для жизни или могут привести к серьезным осложнениям. Вылечить данные заболевания без применения антибиотиков невозможно. Однако, в последние годы все чаще появляется информация об антибиотикорезистентности – то есть устойчивости ряда микроорганизмов к лечению антибиотиками. И данный факт представляет серьезную проблему при лечении ряда заболеваний инфекционной патологии. Работа направлена на повышение осведомленности о антибиотиках и его резистентности у пациентов. Основная цель этой работы - изучить знания пациентов с помощью вопросника оценки знаний, содействовать рациональному использованию антибиотиков и обучать пациентов с использованием антибиотиков

Impact of Men’s Labour Migration on Non-migrating Spouses’ Health: A Systematic Review

International migration is in an increasing trend globally; internal migration is also very common, particularly in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs). Little attention has been paid to the impact of men’s migration on non-migrating women’s health. Therefore, we undertook a systematic review to examine the impact of men's migration on the health of women who remain behind in LMICs. We searched five databases, CINAHL, Google Scholar, PsychINFO, PubMed and Scopus, for publications from 2005 to 2022 using key search terms 'left-behind', 'women' and 'migration'. Thirty-three peer-reviewed publications were included in the review. Findings suggest that left-behind women had increased access to healthcare due to better financial positions (via remittances) and experienced more empowerment/autonomy in the absence of their husbands. This resulted in increased (a) decision-making regarding their health and (b) freedom of mobility to seek healthcare. Remittances led to improved food and housing security, a critical wider determinant of health. However, some studies reported that in the longer term, the physical health of women who remain behind was negatively impacted. Almost all studies on mental health reported higher depressive symptoms among migrant wives compared to women co-habiting with their spouses. Left-behind women feared contracting sexually transmitted infections from their migrant partners. National and local policies should include support groups and counselling services at the local health centre for women who remain behind. We recommend further studies on the areas presented above as well as unexplored areas such as vulnerability to violence and impact of remittance on health and nutrition

Dynamic Scaling of an Adsorption-Diffusion Process on Fractals

A dynamic scaling of a diffusion process involving the Langmuir type adsorption is studied. We find dynamic scaling functions in one and two dimensions and compare them with direct numerical simulations, and we further study the dynamic scaling law on fractal surfaces. The adsorption-diffusion process obeys the fracton dynamics on the fractal surfaces.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure

Response of Wheat Genotypes to Different Levels of Nitrogen

A field experiment was conducted using six genotypes of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) for response to different levels of nitrogen (N) use. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with four levels (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg N ha-1) as main plots and six wheat genotypes (BL 3623, BL 3629, BL 3872, NL 1008, NL 1055 and Vijay, a check variety) as sub-plots. Grain yield and other yield components increased linearly in response to N concentrations in both seasons. Only two parameters: days to heading (DOH) and days to maturity (DTM) varied significantly (p ≤ 0.05) among wheat genotypes in both the years. None of the parameters showed interaction effects in both seasons. Vijay showed highest grain yield of 3.12 t ha-1 in 2013 with the application of 100 kg N ha-1, and 3.23 t ha-1 in 2014 with 150 kg N ha-1. Spike length, productive tillers m-2, number of spikes m-2 and test weight were greater with higher N rates. The straw yield of wheat fertilized with 150 kg N ha-1 was the highest in Vijay (4.35 t ha-1) and BL 3872 (4.33 t ha-1), respectively. Vijay with 100 kg N ha-1 produced the highest number of productive tillers m-2 (276.33) in 2013 and 296.00 with the application of 150 kg N ha-1 in 2014

Living knowledge of the healing plants: Ethno-phytotherapy in the Chepang communities from the Mid-Hills of Nepal

Contribution of indigenous knowledge in developing more effective drugs with minimum or no side effects helped to realise importance of study of indigenous remedies and the conservation of biological resources. This study analysed indigenous knowledge regarding medicinal plants use among the Chepang communities from ward number 3 and 4 of Shaktikhor Village Development Committee located in the central mid hills of Nepal. Data were collected in a one-year period and included interviews with traditional healers and elders. Chepangs are rich in knowledge regarding use of different plants and were using a total 219 plant parts from 115 species including one mushroom (belonging 55 families) for medicinal uses. Out of these, 75 species had 118 different new medicinal uses and 18 of them were not reported in any previous documents from Nepal as medicinal plants. Spiritual belief, economy and limitation of alternative health facilities were cause of continuity of people's dependency on traditional healers. Change in socio-economic activities not only threatened traditional knowledge but also resource base of the area. Enforcement of local institution in management of forest resources and legitimating traditional knowledge and practices could help to preserve indigenous knowledge

Does antenatal micronutrient supplementation improve children’s cognitive function? Evidence from the follow-up of a double-blind randomised controlled trial in Nepal

INTRODUCTION: Multiple Micronutrient (MMN) supplementation during pregnancy can decrease the proportion of infants born low birth weight and small for gestational age. Supplementation could also enhance children’s cognitive function by improving access to key nutrients during fetal brain development and increasing birth weight, especially in areas where undernutrition is common. We tested the hypothesis that children whose mothers received MMN supplementation during pregnancy would have higher intelligence in early adolescence compared with those receiving Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) only. METHODS: We followed up children in Nepal, whose mothers took part in a double-blind Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) that compared the effects on birth weight and gestational duration of antenatal MMN versus IFA supplementation. We assessed children’s Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ) using the Universal Non-verbal Intelligence Test (UNIT), and their executive function using the counting Stroop test. The parent trial was registered as ISRCTN88625934. RESULTS: We identified 813 (76%) of the 1069 children whose mothers took part in the parent trial. We found no differences in FSIQ at 12 years between MMN and IFA groups (absolute difference in means (diff): 1.25, 95% CI −0.57 to 3.06). Similarly, there were no differences in mean UNIT memory (diff: 1.41, 95% CI −0.48 to 3.30), reasoning (diff: 1.17, 95% CI −0.72 to 3.06), symbolic (diff: 0.97, 95% CI −0.67 to 2.60) or non-symbolic quotients (diff: 1.39, 95% CI −0.60 to 3.38). CONCLUSION: Our follow-up of a double-blind RCT in Nepal found no evidence of benefit from antenatal MMN compared with IFA for children’s overall intelligence and executive function at 12 years

Distribution of Dental Diseases and Treatment Delivered amongst Patients Visiting Dental Outpatient Department at Gandaki Medical College, Nepal

Introduction: A study of dental diseases amongst patients attending dental outpatient department (OPD) helps us plan a preventive, and/or a definitive dental treatment. Objectives: To find out the distribution of dental diseases amongst patients visiting dental OPD at College of Dental Surgery, Gandaki Medical College (GMC), Pokhara, Nepal. Methods: The present study was a hospital based cross sectional descriptive study carried out during a period of one year extending from 1st February 2016 to 31st January 2017. A total of 3052 patients attending the dental OPD were included in the study. The distribution of dental diseases according to sex, age and diagnosis were collected and analyzed. Additionally, frequency distribution of treatments provided to the patients was observed. Results: Dental caries was the most prevalent dental disease (64.41%) followed by gingivitis (13.04%). The prevalence of dental caries was significantly higher in females (Females 56.91% vs. males 43.08%, P <0.05). Conversely, the prevalence of maxillofacial injuries (85.06%), dental impactions (72%), and malocclusion (53.88%) were significantly more common in male patients (P <0.05). The age group <19 years comprised 23.98 % of patients who visited the dental OPD, and the dental caries was most prevalent (27.10%) in the age group. The order of more frequent dental treatments was root canal treatment (18.84%), tooth extraction (18.44%), dental restoration (10.48%), and scaling (9.20%). Conclusions: The most prevalent dental disease was dental caries and it was more prevalent in females than in males. The most common age group reporting to Dental OPD was <19 years.  J-GMC-N | Volume 11 | Issue 01 | January-June 2018, Page: 29-3

[Accepted Manuscript] Smartphone tool to collect repeated 24 h dietary recall data in Nepal.

To outline the development of a smartphone-based tool to collect thrice-repeated 24 h dietary recall data in rural Nepal, and to describe energy intakes, common errors and researchers' experiences using the tool. We designed a novel tool to collect multi-pass 24 h dietary recalls in rural Nepal by combining the use of a CommCare questionnaire on smartphones, a paper form, a QR (quick response)-coded list of foods and a photographic atlas of portion sizes. Twenty interviewers collected dietary data on three non-consecutive days per respondent, with three respondents per household. Intakes were converted into nutrients using databases on nutritional composition of foods, recipes and portion sizes. Dhanusha and Mahottari districts, Nepal. Pregnant women, their mothers-in-law and male household heads. Energy intakes assessed in 150 households; data corrections and our experiences reported from 805 households and 6765 individual recalls. Dietary intake estimates gave plausible values, with male household heads appearing to have higher energy intakes (median (25th-75th centile): 12 079 (9293-14 108) kJ/d) than female members (8979 (7234-11 042) kJ/d for pregnant women). Manual editing of data was required when interviewers mistook portions for food codes and for coding items not on the food list. Smartphones enabled quick monitoring of data and interviewer performance, but we initially faced technical challenges with CommCare forms crashing. With sufficient time dedicated to development and pre-testing, this novel smartphone-based tool provides a useful method to collect data. Future work is needed to further validate this tool and adapt it for other contexts