14 research outputs found

    Indoor Air Quality and ventilation assessment of rural mountainous households of Nepal

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    Cooking with open fire has been crucial for occupantsā€™ health due to poor Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in most of the rural households. IAQ is affected by many factors, such as firewood moisture, stove type, ventilation, etc. A monitoring system has been developed to find the general IAQ with Improved Cooking Stove (ICS) and Traditional Cooking Stove (TCS). Decay curve technique is utilized to calculate the Carbon Monoxide (CO) decay time. A preliminary health survey is also carried out to evaluate the dwellerā€™s health complaints. The study is carried out in two adjoining remote villages of Palpa District in Western Nepal. The mean CO and PM2.5 concentration for ICS and TCS are 27.11Ā ppm and 825.4Ā Ī¼g/m3 (27.11Ā Ā±Ā 14.24Ā ppm and 825.4Ā Ā±Ā 730.9Ā Ī¼g/m3) with significant correlation (pĀ <Ā 0.0001) and 36.03Ā ppm and 1336Ā Ī¼g/m3 (36.03Ā Ā±Ā 19.06 and 1336Ā Ā±Ā 952.8) with significant correlation (pĀ <Ā 0.0481), respectively. From the overall sample, the mean CO and PM2.5 concentration is reduced by 29.9% and 39%, respectively. The ventilation analysis result shows more than an 80 percentage deficit in ventilation as per the minimal rate of ventilation as prescribed by American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Moreover, the placement of chimney at a short vertical height of 1.2Ā m adjoining to back window is the major cause of backflow. Therefore, the study has recommended a greater focus on ventilation to control IAQ of rural mountainous households

    Surgical Antibiotic Prophylaxis Administration Improved after introducing Dedicated Guidelines: A Before-and-After Study from Dhulikhel Hospital in Nepal (2019ā€“2023)

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    (1) Background: Surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) is important for reducing surgical site infections. The development of a dedicated hospital SAP guideline in the Dhulikhel Hospital was a recommendation from a baseline study on SAP compliance. Compliance with this new guideline was enhanced through the establishment of a hospital committee, the establishment of an antibiotic stewardship program and the funding and training of healthcare professionals. Using the baseline and a follow-up study after introducing dedicated hospital SAP guidelines, we compared: (a) overall compliance with the SAP guidelines and (b) the proportion of eligible and non-eligible patients who received initial and redosing of SAP; (2) Methods: A before-and-after cohort study was conducted to compare SAP compliance between a baseline study (July 2019ā€“December 2019) and a follow-up study (January 2023ā€“April 2023); (3) Results: A total of 874 patients were in the baseline study and 751 in the follow-up study. Overall SAP compliance increased from 75% (baseline) to 85% in the follow-up study (p p = 0.04). For those eligible for redosing, this increased from 14% to 22% but was not statistically significant (p = 0.272); (4) Conclusions: Although there is room for improvement, introduction of dedicated SAP guidelines was associated with improved overall SAP compliance. This study highlights the role of operational research in triggering favorable interventions in hospital clinical care

    Demand, End-Uses, and Conservation of Alpine Medicinal Plant Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora (Pennell) D. Y. Hong in Central Himalaya

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    Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora (Pennell) D. Y. Hong of Scrophulariaceae family (hereinafter referred to as Neopicrorhiza) has medicinally important rhizomes with high levels of trade. What factors drive demand for Neopicrorhiza in Central Himalaya is unknown. In this context, a nationwide comprehensive survey was conducted from September 2016 to March 2017 to assess demand, end-uses, and conservation of dry Neopicrorhiza rhizomes in Nepal. A total of 2313 herbal products were surveyed for Neopicrorhiza as an ingredient in 38 retailer shops. Processing industries of Neopicrorhiza in Nepal were interviewed using structured questionnaire. There were 23 herbal industries manufacturing 45 types of ayurvedic medicines as end-products containing Neopicrorhiza. The volume and value of annual demand for dry rhizomes of Neopicrorhiza in Nepal were found as 6076 kg and NRs 8573236 (USD 83235.30), respectively, in 2015/016 with average 264.17 kg/industry and NRs 1410.87 (USD 13.69) per kg. The major uses of ayurvedic medicines containing Neopicrorhiza were to treat a number of disease categories: cardiovascular system/liver (17), cardiovascular system/blood (6), nervous system (6), dermatological system (4), musculoskeletal system (3), digestive system (2), respiratory system (2), genitourinal system (4), and others (1). Despite changing legal regulation, trade and consumption of Neopicrorhiza exist in Nepal. It can be concluded that domestic consumption is not the major cause of resource depletion of Neopicrorhiza in Nepal

    Consumers Caring Health with End Products (Ayurvedic Medicines) Containing Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora in Nepal

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    Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora (Pennell) D. Y. Hong is an endangered herbaceous medicinal plant found in subalpine and alpine zone of eastern Himalayas comprising Sikkim, Nepal, Bhutan and China. Rhizomes of Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora (hereinafter referred to as Neopicrorhiza) have medicinal properties and are highly traded in Nepal, India and China. Information on driving factors for demand of Neopicrorhiza from consumer perspective is unknown, knowledge of which is important because it can allow insights into future demand and sustainability of future trade. In this context, a survey was conducted among purchasers and consumers (patients) of end products (Ayurvedic medicines) containing Neopicrorhiza (n=513) in five different cities of Nepal from March to July 2017 using structured questionnaire to explore characteristics of consumers and consumption of end products of Neopicrorhiza. The utilization of Ayurvedic medicines containing Neopicrorhiza for treatment of health disorders of human is prevalent in Nepal. Men and women patients of diverse ages and with different socio-economic profiles were found to consume Ayurvedic medicines containing Neopicrorhiza to treat health disorders associated with different organ systems of body. The patients receiving Ayurvedic medicines containing Neopicrorhiza were children, adults and elders ranging from 1 to 98 years old (av. 37.6 years). Employed and unemployed, educated and illiterate consumers were found to consume Ayurvedic medicines containing Neopicrorhiza to treat their health disorders in Nepal. Patients receiving those medicines were from households having diverse annual cash income levels. The purchase and consumption of Ayurvedic medicine containing Neopicrorhiza was most often guided by a doctorā€™s prescription. Most of the respondents believed that the prices of those Ayurvedic medicines were fairer than other types of medicines. Similar studies are recommended in other countries like India and China where the Neopicrorhiza is exported from Nepal

    Why do patients choose to consume Ayurvedic Medicines in Nepal? An exploratory study

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    Ayurvedic medicines are believed to bring harmony and balance in mind, body, spiritual well-being and social welfare of human. The reasons for preference for these medicines are of great interest for exploration. This study was carried out in Nepal in 2017 to explore the reasons for choosing to consume Ayurvedic medicines, with support of a separate survey focusing on these medicines containing Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora. An online survey (n=58) and face to face interviews (n=406) were administered using structured questionnaires to explore those reasons for choice. Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora (Pennell) D. Y. Hong (Scrophulariaceae) is a perennial alpine herb found in the subalpine as well as alpine zone of the eastern Himalayas comprising Sikkim, Nepal, Bhutan and China. Its rhizomes are medicinally important and in trade. Fewer or no side effects, preference to natural way of healing, belief regarding healing of disease, ease of access (availability and cost), and advertisement and recommendation from others were the major reasons that the patients chose to consume Ayurvedic medicines for own's healing. In case of Ayurvedic medicines containing Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora, majority of the patients believed that these medicines have fewer or no side effects, can cure illness particularly for long run of chronic diseases, were cheaper than allopathic medicines, were easily available to purchase and were recommended by family members. Healing was not successful in past from allopathic and other types of medicines of majority of the patients who preferred to consume Ayurvedic medicines containing Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora. Further scientific studies and interventions are recommended for concerned health authorities and nursing practitioners of Nepal to test and validate the safety and effectiveness of the consumption of Ayurvedic medicines. &nbsp
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