An Opportunity Not To Be Missed: Vaccination as an Entry Point for Hygiene Promotion and Diarrhoeal Disease Reduction in Nepal

This report aims to ascertain whether or not vaccination programmes offer a useful entry point for hygiene promotion and to define options for piloting and scaling up of a hygiene promotion intervention in Nepal

A SOLUTION TO SELECTIVE FORWARD ATTACK IN WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORK

Purpose of Study: Wireless mesh network represents a solution to provide wireless connectivity. There are some attacks on wireless sensor networks like black hole attack, sinkhole attack, Sybil attack, selective forwarding, etc. In this paper, we will concentrate on a selective forwarding attack. Selective Forwarding Attack is one of the many security threats in wireless sensor networks that can degrade network performance. An adversary on the transmission path selectively drops the packet. The adversary same time transfers the packet, while on a few occasions it drops the packet. It is difficult to detect this type of attack since the packet loss may be due to unreliable wireless communication. The proposed scheme is based on the trust value of each node. During data transmission, a node selects a downstream node that has the highest trust value, which is updated dynamically based on the number of packets a node has forwarded and dropped. Methodology: A comparative methodology is used in all existing schemes. We compared our scheme with the existing scheme and found that the packet loss in the proposed scheme is much less than the existing scheme. Result: We showed that our scheme essentially detects malicious nodes for each possible scenario. Regarding communication overhead, our scheme is more efficient than typical multipath schemes. Also, by utilizing an existing routing protocol which is secure against sinkhole attacks, our scheme also provides security against sinkhole attacks

Food hygiene practices of mothers and level of contamination in child's food in Nepal: a formative research

Preventable and treatable food-borne diseases are a major cause of illness globally. Inadequate food hygiene is likely to cause a substantial proportion of foodborne infections including diarrhoea among infants and young children. Although proper food hygiene practices may prevent disease, there is little evidence to support this premise. Very few intervention studies have been carried out and there has been little effort to undertake food hygiene interventions for the reduction of childhood diarrhoea and malnutrition. A simple and replicable food hygiene intervention, which can be implemented by the WASH, health and nutrition sectors at scale has yet to be designed and tested. The formative research was conducted in a rural hill setting in Nepal during April-June 2012, examining mothers’ food hygiene practices and their environmental and psychological determinants, the level of microbes in the child’s food, and critical and behavioral control points. Formative research helped to prioritize five key food hygiene behaviours for the design of an intervention in the next phase of the PhD research

Early induction versus expectant management in prelabour rupture of membranes

Background: Prelabour rupture of membrane defined as spontaneous rupture of membrane prior to the onset of regular uterine contractions. The incidence of PROM varies from 6-18%. Management of term PROM is not having specific guidelines leading to management dilemma.Methods: This prospective study was conducted on 100 women with singleton pregnancy, cephalic presentation with spontaneous PROM at term. The aim to compare maternal and perinatal outcome of early induction with expectant management in women with PROM. The patients were divided into two group expectant group and early induction group. Induction of labour was done by PGE2 gel and expectant group patient were observed for 24 hours for spontaneous labour since leaking. Augmentation of labour was done with Oxytocin if required. Outcomes were measured as PROM to delivery interval, induction to delivery interval, mode of delivery, maternal and neonatal morbidity.Results: Eighty percent of women of expectant group went into active labour within 24 hours, and all patient of induction group went into active labour in 18 hours (p<0.001). ROM to active labour interval and ROM to delivery interval were significantly less in early induction group, (9.87 and 17.212 hour) compared to expectant group (19.118 and 23.34-hour, p<0.001). Fetal distress and LSCS were comparatively higher in induction group (16%vs 2% p=0.038). Neonatal Sepsis was seen more in expectant group but statistically insignificant (22% versus 16%, p=0.26).Conclusions: Women with term PROM can be given informed choice of expectant management and early induction explaining the merits and demerits of both options

Access to water, sanitation and hygiene for people living with HIV and AIDS: a cross-sectional study in Nepal

People living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) are one of the most vulnerable people to WASH associated diseases in Nepal. They are still stigmatized while enjoying WASH services and their risk & vulnerability are further exacerbated due to lack of inadequate WASH. A descriptive cross-sectional study was commissioned by WaterAid in Nepal (WAN) with the objectives to increase understanding of PLHA’s access to WASH and its impact on their daily lives in order to inform health, HIV and WASH sectors. This was a cross-sectional study used mixed methods. Data were collected from 196 PLHAs from different geographic areas. The study does re-emphasize that PLHA have limited access to safe water and improved hygiene & sanitation services, more pronounced in rural areas than in urban. There is an increased need of WASH for them but lacking to meet the needs. Lack of access to WASH and its effect on quality of life invariably call for an urgent action by all stakeholders. The study also revealed some evidence of stigma and discrimination faced by PLHAs

Socio-economic analysis of coffee growers in Gulmi district of Nepal

Coffee is a major plantation cash crop of hills of Nepal. Gulmi is one of the popular districts for coffee production and export in Nepal. This research is an attempt to assess the production potentiality and profitability of coffee in Gulmi district. This study was carried out in four rural municipalities of Gulmi district namely Ruru rural municipality, Dhurkot rural municipality, Satyawoti rural municipality and Musikot municipality. A total of 100 samples (25 from each rural municipality) were selected using simple random sampling technique. Face to face (FtF) interview method was used to collect primary data using pretested semi-structured questionnaire. The economic indicators of coffee production like gross revenue, gross margin, benefit-cost ratio (BCR) and profitability index (PI) were calculated. BCR and PI were found to be 2.84± 0.59 and 2.50± 1.25, respectively. Gross margin per ropani was calculated to be NRs. 15675.29 ± 7189.72. The contribution of coffee in total household income was 12% in Gulmi showing it to be one of the major influencing commodities. The major production problem was found to be insect attack in the district while the major marketing problem was the low market price. The insights of this research were that coffee has the potentiality to uplift the rural income of Gulmi but at the same time there were poor extension services for coffee growers such that farmers had shown dissatisfaction towards coffee enterprise. Therefore, effective package of production and value chain monitoring should be introduced by the Nepal government in order to address the production and marketing constraints of coffee producers

Trial of a Novel Intervention to Improve Multiple Food Hygiene Behaviors in Nepal.

AbstractIn this study, we report on the results of a trial of an intervention to improve five food hygiene behaviors among mothers of young children in rural Nepal. This novel intervention targeted five behaviors; cleanliness of serving utensils, handwashing with soap before feeding, proper storage of cooked food, and thorough reheating and water treatment. Based on formative research and a creative process using the Behavior-Centered Design approach, an innovative intervention package was designed and delivered over a period of 3 months. The intervention activities included local rallies, games, rewards, storytelling, drama, competitions linking with emotional drivers of behavior, and "kitchen makeovers" to disrupt behavior settings. The effect of the package on behavior was evaluated via a cluster-randomized before-after study in four villages with four villages serving as controls. The primary outcome was the difference in the mean cluster level proportions of mothers directly observed practicing all five food hygiene behaviors. The five targeted food hygiene behaviors were rare at baseline (composite performance of all five behaviors in intervention 1% [standard deviation (SD) = 2%] and in control groups 2% [SD = 2%]). Six weeks after the intervention, the target behaviors were more common in the intervention than in the control group (43% [SD = 14%] versus 2% [SD = 2%], P = 0.02) during follow-up. The intervention appeared to be equally effective in improving all five behaviors in all intervention clusters. This study shows that a theory-driven, systematic approach employing emotional motivators and modifying behavior settings was capable of substantially improving multiple food hygiene behaviors in Nepal

Protective Effect of Quercetin Against Sulphur Mustard-inducedOxidative Stress in Mice

Sulphur mustard (SM) is a chemical warfare agent that causes serious blisters upon contactwith human skin.  SM alkylates DNA and several other macromolecules, and also induces oxidativestress.  Quercetin, a bioflavonoid has wide pharmacological actions. The protective efficacy ofquercetin (100 mg/kg, i.p. and 200 mg/kg, i.p.) was studied by administering three doses in miceagainst SM.  The first dose was administered at 30 min prior, simultaneous, 2 h post or 24 h post,and two more doses on the next two days.  SM was administered (in PEG 300) percutaneouslyat varying doses for survival and protection studies.  SM was also administered at a dose of2 LD50 (19.3 mg/kg) with and without quercetin treatment and various biochemical markers wereestimated 7 days after SM administration.  Histological examinations of vital organs were alsocarried out. The animals administered with SM died at various days depending upon the dose.The body weight decreased significantly. Quercetin protected the mice significantly, in a dose-dependent manner. The protection was better when the first dose of quercetin administered was30 min prior or simultaneously.  A significant decrease in reduced as well as oxidised glutathioneand an increase in malondialdehyde, WBC count, RBC count, and haemoglobin were observedwith 2 LD50 SM. Quercetin at 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg doses significantly protected the biochemicalmarkers when the first dose of quercetin administered was 30 min prior or as simultaneoustreatment.  The histological lesions induced by sulphur mustard on liver, spleen, and skin werealso significantly protected by quercetin when the first dose was administered 30 min prior oras simultaneous treatment. The present study shows that percutaneous administration of SMinduces oxidative stress and quercetin can protect it as a prophylactic agent

Biodiesel production from camelina oil: Present status and future perspectives

Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz is an oilseed crop with favorable potentials for biodiesel production, such as the high plant yield, high oil content in the seed, high net energy ratio, and low oil production cost. This review paper deals with the present state and perspectives of biodiesel production from camelina oil. First, important issues of camelina seed pretreatment and biodiesel production are reviewed. Emphasis is given to different biodiesel technologies that have been used so far worldwide, the economic assessment of the camelina oil biodiesel (COB) production, the camelina-based biorefineries for the integrated biodiesel production, the COB life cycle analysis, and impact human health and ecosystem. Finally, the perspectives of COB production from the techno-economic and especially genetic engineering points of view are discussed

What Proportion Counts? Disaggregating Access to Safely Managed Sanitation in an Emerging Town in Tanzania.

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.2 sets an ambitious target of leaving no-one without adequate and equitable sanitation by 2030. The key concern is the lack of local human and financial capital to fund the collection of reliable information to monitor progress towards the goal. As a result, national and local records may be telling a different story of the proportion of safely managed sanitation that counts towards achieving the SDG. This paper unveils such inconsistency in sanitation data generated by urban authorities and proposes a simple approach for collecting reliable and verifiable information on access to safely managed sanitation. The paper is based on a study conducted in Babati Town Council in Tanzania. Using a smartphone-based survey tool, city health officers were trained to map 17,383 housing units in the town. A housing unit may comprise of two or more households. The findings show that 5% practice open defecation, while 82% of the housing units have some form of sanitation. Despite the extensive coverage, only 31% of the fecal sludge generated is safely contained, while 64% is not. This study demonstrates the possibility of using simple survey tools to collect reliable data for monitoring progress towards safely managed sanitation in the towns of global South