The perfect storm: Disruptions to institutional delivery care arising from the COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has led to system-wide disruption of health services globally. We assessed the effect of the pandemic on the disruption of institutional delivery care in Nepal. Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study among 52356 women in nine hospitals to assess the disruption of institutional delivery care during the pandemic (comparing March to August in 2019 with the same months in 2020). We also conducted a nested follow up cohort study with 2022 women during the pandemic to assess their provision and experience of respectful care. We used linear regression models to assess the association between provision and experience of care with volume of hospital births and women’s residence in a COVID-19 hotspot area. Results The mean institutional births during the pandemic across the nine hospitals was 24563, an average decrease of 11.6% (P<0.0001) in comparison to the same time-period in 2019. The institutional birth in high-medium volume hospitals declined on average by 20.8% (P<0.0001) during the pandemic, whereas in low-volume hospital institutional birth increased on average by 7.9% (P=0.001). Maternity services halted for a mean of 4.3 days during the pandemic and there was a redeployment staff to COVID-19 dedicated care. Respectful provision of care was better in hospitals with low-volume birth (β=0.446, P<0.0001) in comparison to high-medium-volume hospitals. There was a positive association between women’s residence in a COVID-19 hotspot area and respectful experience of care (β=0.076, P=0.001). Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic has had differential effects on maternity services with changes varying by the volume of births per hospital with smaller volume facilities doing better. More research is needed to investigate the effects of the pandemic on where women give birth and their provision and experience of respectful maternity care to inform a “building-back-better” approach in post-pandemic period

Tuberculosis in HIV Patient

Introduction: Strict monitoring of anti tuberculosis therapy (ATT) and antiretroviral therapy (ART) is crucial for proper management of TB/HIV co-infected patients. Methods: Between December 2006 and December 2008 a prospective observational study was conducted among 135 TB/HIV co-infected patients visiting antiretroviral therapy in Seti Zonal Hospital, Dhangadi. The diagnosed TB patients were subjected to ATT through directly observed treatment short-course (DOTS) and its response was evaluated as per WHO guidelines. Results:  Among 135 studied subjects, 71.9% were males and over 88 % of the patients were in the age group 21 to 50. Of the Total TB cases 68.1% presented pulmonary TB (PTB) and 37.20% of the Extra-pulmonary Tuberculosis (EPTB) cases were lymph node TB. 75.5% of them had completed ATT, 8.2% transfer out and 12.6% were default. Conclusions: Majority of the patients presented PTB, and lymph node TB was found to be the most common EPTB. Comparatively, high efficacy of ATT was found in HIV patients visiting this resource poor setting. Key words: antiretroviral therapy; anti TB therapy; Dhangadi; lymph node T; treatment response

Tuberculosis in HIV Patient

Introduction: Strict monitoring of anti tuberculosis therapy (ATT) and antiretroviral therapy (ART) is crucial for proper management of TB/HIV co-infected patients. Methods: Between December 2006 and December 2008 a prospective observational study was conducted among 135 TB/HIV co-infected patients visiting antiretroviral therapy in Seti Zonal Hospital, Dhangadi. The diagnosed TB patients were subjected to ATT through directly observed treatment short-course (DOTS) and its response was evaluated as per WHO guidelines. Results: Among 135 studied subjects, 71.9% were males and over 88 % of the patients were in the age group 21 to 50. Of the Total TB cases 68.1% presented pulmonary TB (PTB) and 37.20% of the Extra-pulmonary Tuberculosis (EPTB) cases were lymph node TB. 75.5% of them had completed ATT, 8.2% transfer out and 12.6% were default. Conclusions: Majority of the patients presented PTB, and lymph node TB was found to be the most common EPTB. Comparatively, high efficacy of ATT was found in HIV patients visiting this resource poor setting. Key words: antiretroviral therapy; anti TB therapy; Dhangadi; lymph node T; treatment response

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. _______________________________________________________________________________________ Keywords: abortion; pattern; socio-demographic