Journal of Nepal Health Research Council最新文献

Acute pancreatitis is an uncommon complication in pregnancy. Here we present a case of 24-year-old gravda 2 para 1 woman with an acute abdominal pain in her 24-week period of gestation. Her laboratory reports suggested the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. However, the root cause was unidentifiable through various investigations. She was accordingly managed. Acute pancreatitis during pregnancy is rare with incidence ranging from 1 in 1,000 to 10,000. Gall stones remains the main causative factor. The exact etiology in some cases cannot be identified and hence they are referred as idiopathic pancreatitis. Although computed tomography is the gold standard investigation of choice for acute pancreatitis, they are not done routinely and ultrasonography is the safe investigation of choice especially among the pregnant patients. This investigation along with assessment of serum amylase or lipase and other enzymes can be done to diagnose the disease. Treatment includes conservative management to surgical intervention. Here, we have discussed the diagnosis of an acute pancreatitis in pregnancy and the treatment of the condition. Keywords: Case Report; idiopathic; pancreatitis; pregnancy.

Background:  The burden of hypertension is increasing, especially in low- and middle-income countries like Nepal. Occupation is one of the risk factors correlated with hypertension, among others. There is limited evidence about its prevalence among school teachers in Nepal. Therefore, the study aims to identify the prevalence of hypertension and its associated factors among school teachers.

Methods: A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted from September 1st to October 12th, 2023, at Amargadhi Municipality among two hundred twenty-three (223) school teachers using a two-stage stratified random sampling technique. Data on socio-demographic profiles and behavioral factors, including a history of diabetes and hypertension, as well as blood pressure, were collected using a standardized method.

Results: The overall prevalence of hypertension was 14.7% and 8.9% were taking antihypertensive medication. After excluding medication (n=203), 41% of participants had pre-hypertension systolic, and 3.9% had Systolic hypertension. Diastolic blood pressure followed a similar pattern: 53.7% had pre-hypertension, and 6.4% had hypertension. About 96% of them had controlled systolic blood pressure, and nearly 90% had controlled diastolic blood pressure. The mean diastolic and systolic blood pressures were 76.98 (8.72) mmHg and 115 (11.93) mmHg, respectively. The Stepwise regression showed that both diastolic and systolic blood pressure were significantly associated with sex and body mass index.

Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of hypertension and pre-hypertension among study participants. To effectively prevent and control hypertension, it is essential to prioritize school teachers in public health initiatives. As respected role models within their communities, teachers can influence the adoption of healthy lifestyles and behaviors.

Background: Accurate mortality data is vital for public health planning and policy. In Nepal, non-standardized death certificates, often missing structured causal sequences and critical details, compromise data quality in the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) systems. Implementing the World Health Organization's (WHO) Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCoD) could enhance accuracy, strengthen mortality statistics, and facilitate evidence-based public health interventions.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed inpatient deaths occurring between 13 April 2024 to 15 December 2024. Demographic and clinical data were extracted from medical records. The leading causes of death were identified by analyzing International Classification of Diseases Eleventh Revision (ICD-11) coded data using the Digital Open Rule Integrated cause of death Selection (DORIS) tool. Additionally, the study assessed documentation errors, predominant causes of in-hospital mortality, and evaluated the accuracy of cause-of-death reporting in the Health Management Information System (HMIS).

Results: The study analyzed 564 death certificates and corresponding medical records. Chronic liver disease was the leading underlying cause of death (UCOD) accounting 11.17% of total deaths. No certificate was entirely error-free, with nearly all (99.9%) failing to document the time interval between symptom onset and death. Approximately 59% contained unclear abbreviations, while 99.7% listed multiple causes in a single line without proper sequencing. Only 2% followed a causal sequence as: immediate, antecedent, and UCOD. Additionally, inaccurately reported cardiopulmonary arrest as the UCOD in HMIS.

Conclusions: Hospital death certification remains critically substandard, undermining mortality data quality. Prioritizing WHO's MCCoD implementation and clinician training would significantly improve accuracy, supporting SDG targets for reliable cause of death reporting.

Background: Complicated parapneumonic effusion (PPE) and empyema require intercostal drainage (ICD), failure of which usually leads to surgery. Intrapleural instillation of fibrinolytic agents (IFT) enhance pleural drainage and reduce the need for surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the role of medical interventions (ICD and IFT) in complicated PPE and empyema.

Methods: In a prospective, cohort study conducted at National Academy of Medical Sciences, Bir Hospital. Patients aged >18 years with complicated PPE and empyema were included. ICD was placed in all. In those with significant residual effusion and loculations after ICD, intrapleural Streptokinase was instilled and daily drain output recorded. Outcomes were measured as complete, partial response and treatment failure. The duration of ICD tube in situ, length of hospital stay and need for surgical interventions was evaluated at three-month follow up.

Results: A total of 51 patients were enrolled into the study. Commonest symptoms were dyspnea, cough, chest pain and fever with a median duration of 14 days (IQR = 7-28). The etiologies of effusions were presumed or proven bacterial infection in 36 (70.5%), tuberculosis in 8 (15.7%) and parasitic infection in 2 (3.9%). ICD was successful in achieving a complete drainage in 22 (43.1%) patients. In the remaining 29 (56.9%), intrapleural Streptokinase was instilled which led to increase in drain output by 760.34 ± 283.90 ml. Post Streptokinase instillation; 18 (62.1%), 4 (15.8%) and 7 (24.2%) patients met the predefined criteria of "complete" response, "partial" response and treatment failure respectively. The mean duration of ICD tube in situ and hospital stay was 10.98 ± 3.56 and 13.51 ± 3.92 days respectively.

Conclusions: In patients with complicated parapneumonic effusion and empyema, intercostal drainage and intrapleural fibrinolytic have high success rates and a potential to significantly reduce the need for surgical interventions. These results are relevant to us as thoracic surgery and VATS services are limited and only available at few centers in Nepal.

Background: Research Ethics Committees (RECs) play a critical role in safeguarding ethical integrity in health research by reviewing protocols for scientific validity, social value, and ethical compliance. FERCAP, a regional initiative under WHO-TDR, has supported harmonization and capacity building in research ethics across the Asia-Pacific region for the past 25 years. The 24th FERCAP International Conference, hosted by the Nepal Health Research Council in 2024, provided a platform to examine ethical challenges and innovations under the theme "Maximizing Benefits through Responsible Conduct of Research."

Methods: A cross-sectional qualitative study was conducted using secondary data sources from the conference, including video recordings, agendas, presentations, transcripts, and reports. Descriptive analysis was performed on participant demographics, while thematic analysis was applied to content from plenary and parallel sessions. Three researchers independently coded the data and identified major themes through consensus.

Results: The conference was attended by over 500 participants from 23 countries and featured presentations across 18 thematic sessions. Three primary themes emerged: strengthening ethical oversight through post-approval monitoring and capacity building; promoting inclusivity and contextual relevance in ethics review, especially in social science and community-based research; and addressing emerging ethical issues posed by new technologies and decentralized trials. Discussions also emphasized integrating open science principles, harmonizing international guidelines, and recognizing institutional contributions to ethics governance.

Conclusion: The findings from the 24th FERCAP Conference highlight the region's progress and challenges in upholding ethical standards amidst rapidly evolving research contexts. The conference reinforced the need for collaborative frameworks, continued ethics training, and responsive policies that address both biomedical and social research landscapes. These outcomes will inform future directions as FERCAP prepares for its 25th anniversary and continues to strengthen ethical research environments across the region.

Background: Neonatal mortality refers to the risk of death within the first month of life. This study investigates the key factors influencing neonatal mortality in Nepal between 2011 and 2016, focusing on changes over this period.

Methods: Data for this research were sourced from the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) for the years 2011 and 2016. Neonatal mortality was the primary outcome variable. Key determinants examined included community-level factors (residence), socio-economic factors (maternal and paternal education, wealth index), maternal characteristics (age, pregnancy duration, antenatal care visits), infant characteristics (sex, birth order, birth interval, birth weight), delivery factors (assistance and location of delivery), and post-delivery factors (breastfeeding status, postnatal check-ups).

Results: Statistical analysis utilized the Chi-squared test to identify significant relationships between determinants and outcomes, alongside a full logistic model based on treatment contrasts. Findings indicated that in 2011, the significant factors included pregnancy duration, postnatal checks, antenatal visits, and having twins. By 2016, important determinants shifted to the mother's age, breastfeeding status, pregnancy duration, postnatal checks, and antenatal visits.

Conclusions: The study highlights that pregnancy duration, postnatal check-ups, and antenatal visits consistently influenced neonatal mortality across both surveys. Given the rarity of studies addressing program impacts on neonatal mortality, this research suggests conducting panel studies to better understand the slow decline of neonatal mortality in Nepal.

Background: Typhoid fever remains a major concern in tropical countries. The availability of an effective vaccine could be an important inclusion to currently available interventions. We reported on our evaluation of the immunogenicity and safety of the typhoid conjugate vaccine (Vi-DT) among Nepali children.

Methods: The study was an observer blinded, active controlled, randomized phase III clinical trial in children above 6 months and less than 18 years old. Three different lots of Vi-DT(Vi- Diptheria Toxoid); test vaccine and Vi-TT ( Vi-Tetanus Toxoid); comparator vaccines were administered to eligible children. Seroconversion was assessed with blood samples collected at baseline and 4 weeks after the vaccination. A rise of at least 4-fold vi-antibody titer from the baseline was used to indicate positive seroconversion. Data on solicited and unsolicited adverse events were collected.

Results: Four hundred and eighty-eight children participated in the study. Seroconversion rate was 98.61% and 98.36% among participants who received Vi-DT and Vi-TT vaccines respectively. One immediate adverse event was observed only for Vi-DT group. One hundred forty-two and 66 solicited AEs within 7 days were observed with test and comparator vaccine respectively. Unsolicited AEs within 28 days were 125 for test vaccine compared and 77 for the comparator vaccine. Two SAEs were reported which were Not- related to study vaccine.

Conclusions: The overall seroconversion in Vi DT vaccine was non inferior to the comparator vaccine and the safety profile of the vaccine was good without any life-threatening events.

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Background: Vector borne diseases are one of the prevailing global healthcare problems caused by mosquito bites. The main objective of this study was to determine the strategies used for the prevention of mosquito bites by general public of Kaski district, a mosquito bite prone area of Western Nepal, as evidenced by rising dengue cases.

Methods: A cross-sectional study with 435 households were surveyed, for the strategies used for mosquito bite prevention, in representative 15 wards of one metropolitan and four rural municipalities of Kaski district, selected by simple random sampling technique. The survey was conducted during a period of November, 2022 - February, 2023. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS).

Results: Approximately 4% of study participants used traditional methods such as smoke from burnt medicinal plants, burnt clothes and grass, and the application of mustard oil for the prevention of mosquito bites. Majority (92%) of participants used non-traditional methods like mosquito net, mosquito incense, mosquito bat and mosquito repellent for the prevention of mosquito bites. Only 13% of study participants used some kind of personal use mosquito repellent; cream being the most commonly used one. Age, ethnicity, residence, education and income were found to be significantly associated with the use of mosquito bite prevention strategy. Majority of the respondents were unaware of the governmental plans and their implementation for mosquito control and bite prevention strategies.

Conclusion: This study summarises the strategies used for the prevention of mosquito bites by the residents of Kaski district of Nepal. Future interventional studies are warranted to enhance the awareness about the effective strategies for the prevention of mosquito bites.

Background: Metabolic syndrome is a constellation of overweight/obesity, hypertension, and disturbances in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. Hypoxic and hypobaric conditions of high altitude alter the use of energy producing metabolic fuels which may secondarily affect lipid and blood glucose concentrations. Thus, this study aims to assess prevalence and risk factors of the metabolic syndrome in high and low altitude inhabitants of Nepal.

Methods: A hospital based descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out including 58 individuals from high altitude and 58 individuals from low altitude attending Manmohan Memorial Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu. Anthropometric measurements and blood pressure were recorded and blood samples were obtained for laboratory analysis. The samples were analyzed for fasting glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol as per the standard guidelines.

Results: Among the study group, 31.8% of high altitude and 68.2% of low altitude are found to have metabolic syndrome according to National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment PlanIII and 35.5% of high altitude and 64.5% of low altitude are found to have metabolic syndrome according to HJSS criteria. The most prevalent defining components were low high density lipoprotein cholesterol (38.8%), high triglyceride (36.2%), elevated fasting blood sugar (33.6%) and Hypertension (34.4%). Among the lifestyle factors, alcohol consumption, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity were found to be an independent risk factors for MetS.

Conclusions: High altitude inhabitants have significantly lower metabolic syndrome than that of low altitude inhabitants because of less physical activities in their work and sedentary. Thus, encouragement of food habit, healthy lifestyle, and timely health screening and monitoring help in prevention of metabolic syndrome.