Patterns and trends of malaria in 25 risk districts of Nepal from 2001 to 2017

Nirmal Gautam,Sampurna Kakchapati,Sarala Shrestha,Wandee Wanishsakpong 대한백신학회 2019 Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research Vol.8 No.1

Purpose: Malaria has been one of a major infectious parasitic disease in Nepal. Although the number of cases is gradually getting declined since last decade. Therefore, study aims to identify the trends and spatial patterns of malaria among 25 risk districts of Nepal. Materials and Methods: This study utilized the secondary data of malaria cases from the annual reports (2001-2017) of Department of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Population of Nepal. Linear regression of log-transformed incidence rates model was used for assessing variation of malaria cases for year and districts. Results: There was evidence of decrease in the trend of malaria (2001-2009); however, the upward trend was revealed in 2010, after that, it starts to decline and again in 2017, it started to grow up. The malaria cases were marked variations by location with higher rates occurring in Dadeldhura, Kanchanpur, Kailali, Bardiya, and Jhapa districts, respectively. Conclusion: In this regards, malaria cases are still causing the threat in the Terai district of Nepal; however, there were fluctuating patterns of disease noted during the study periods.

Estimation of Under-5 Child Mortality Rates in 52 Low-migration Countries

Nirmal Sapkota,Nirmal Gautam,Apiradee Lim,Attachai Ueranantasun 한국아동간호학회 2020 Child Health Nursing Research Vol.26 No.4

Reduction of the under-5 mortality rate is a target of the Sustainable Development Goals. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate under-5 child mortality rates in 52 low-migration countries using population data. The study utilized population data from the US Census Bureau from 1990 to 2015. The method involved first estimating mortality rates for countries with negligible net migration and then applying these rates to countries with matching mortality profiles, where it is reasonable to assume that migration is negligible for children under the age of 5 years. The highest child mortality was concentrated in the African region, followed by Asia and the Western region. However, steady progress in child mortality trends was concentrated in low-income countries. This simple method demonstrated that child mortality has significantly improved in high-income countries, followed by middle- and low-income countries. To reduce the under-5 mortality rates even further in these 52 countries, there is a need to accelerate equitable plans and policies related to child health to promote children's longevity and survival.

Factors Associated With Stillbirth Among Pregnant Women in Nepal

Bhusal, Mahesh,Gautam, Nirmal,Lim, Apiradee,Tongkumchum, Phattrawan The Korean Society for Preventive Medicine 2019 Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health Vol.52 No.3

Objectives: Stillbirth is a common adverse pregnancy outcome that represents a distressing and traumatic event for women and their partners. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with stillbirth in ever-pregnant women in Nepal. Methods: This study utilized the individual women's dataset from the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey, conducted in 2016. The dependent variable of interest was whether women had at least 1 stillbirth during their lifetime. The associations between independent variables and the dependent variable of the study were analyzed using a multiple logistic regression model. Results: Among 8918 ever-pregnant women aged 15-49 years, 488 had experienced at least 1 stillbirth during their lifetime, representing 5.5% of the total. After adjusting each factor for the confounding effects of other factors, maternal age, maternal education, place of residence, and sub-region remained significantly associated with having experienced stillbirth. Conclusions: Stillbirth continues to be a major problem among women, especially those with higher maternal age, those who are illiterate, and residents of certain geographical regions. To minimize stillbirth in Nepal, plans and policies should be focused on women with low education levels and residents of rural areas, especially in the western mountain and far-western hill regions.

Factors Associated With Stillbirth Among Pregnant Women in Nepal

Mahesh Bhusal,Nirmal Gautam,Apiradee Lim,Phattrawan Tongkumchum 대한예방의학회 2019 Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health Vol.52 No.3

Objectives: Stillbirth is a common adverse pregnancy outcome that represents a distressing and traumatic event for women and their partners. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with stillbirth in ever-pregnant women in Nepal. Methods: This study utilized the individual women’s dataset from the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey, conducted in 2016. The dependent variable of interest was whether women had at least 1 stillbirth during their lifetime. The associations between independent variables and the dependent variable of the study were analyzed using a multiple logistic regression model. Results: Among 8918 ever-pregnant women aged 15-49 years, 488 had experienced at least 1 stillbirth during their lifetime, representing 5.5% of the total. After adjusting each factor for the confounding effects of other factors, maternal age, maternal education, place of residence, and sub-region remained significantly associated with having experienced stillbirth. Conclusions: Stillbirth continues to be a major problem among women, especially those with higher maternal age, those who are illiterate, and residents of certain geographical regions. To minimize stillbirth in Nepal, plans and policies should be focused on women with low education levels and residents of rural areas, especially in the western mountain and far-western hill regions.

Comparing cognition, coping skills and vedic personality of individuals practicing yoga, physical exercise or sedentary lifestyle: a cross-sectional fMRI study

Kaur Harsimarpreet,Chaudhary Shefali,Mohanty Sriloy,Sharma Gautam,Kumaran S Senthil,Ghati Nirmal,Bhatia Rohit,Nehra Ashima,Pandey RM 한국한의학연구원 2022 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.11 No.1

Background: Nature and intensity of physical activity may influence cognition, coping mechanisms and overall personality of an individual. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to compare cognition, coping styles and vedic personality among individuals practicing different lifestyle. Methods: Thirty-nine healthy young adults of both gender (27.63±4.04 years) were recruited and categorized into three groups; i.e. yoga, physical activity or sedentary lifestyle groups. Participants were assessed on cognition, coping styles and Vedic personality inventory (VPI). Verbal-n-back and Stroop tasks were performed using 3 Tesla MRI scanner. Task Based Connectivity (TBC) analysis was done using CONN toolbox in SPM. Results: There were no significant differences in the cognitive domains across the groups. The planning (p=0.03) and acceptance domain (p=0.03) of the Brief COPE scale showed difference across the groups. Post-hoc analysis revealed that planning and acceptance scores were distinctly higher in the physical activity group, however, there was no difference between physical activity group and yoga practitioners. Similarly, in the VPI, Sattva (p=0.003), Rajas (p=0.05) and Tamas (p=0.01) were different across the groups, and the post hoc analysis showed superiority in Sattva scores in Yoga group, meanwhile, both Rajas and Tamas were higher in the physical activity group. Yoga practitioners preferentially recruited left Superior Frontal Gyrus in relation to the physically active group and precuneus in relation to the sedentary lifestyle group. Conclusion: The study revealed that yoga practitioners had a distinct higher sattva guna and preferentially recruited brain areas associated with self-regulation and inhibitory control. Background: Nature and intensity of physical activity may influence cognition, coping mechanisms and overall personality of an individual. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to compare cognition, coping styles and vedic personality among individuals practicing different lifestyle. Methods: Thirty-nine healthy young adults of both gender (27.63±4.04 years) were recruited and categorized into three groups; i.e. yoga, physical activity or sedentary lifestyle groups. Participants were assessed on cognition, coping styles and Vedic personality inventory (VPI). Verbal-n-back and Stroop tasks were performed using 3 Tesla MRI scanner. Task Based Connectivity (TBC) analysis was done using CONN toolbox in SPM. Results: There were no significant differences in the cognitive domains across the groups. The planning (p=0.03) and acceptance domain (p=0.03) of the Brief COPE scale showed difference across the groups. Post-hoc analysis revealed that planning and acceptance scores were distinctly higher in the physical activity group, however, there was no difference between physical activity group and yoga practitioners. Similarly, in the VPI, Sattva (p=0.003), Rajas (p=0.05) and Tamas (p=0.01) were different across the groups, and the post hoc analysis showed superiority in Sattva scores in Yoga group, meanwhile, both Rajas and Tamas were higher in the physical activity group. Yoga practitioners preferentially recruited left Superior Frontal Gyrus in relation to the physically active group and precuneus in relation to the sedentary lifestyle group. Conclusion: The study revealed that yoga practitioners had a distinct higher sattva guna and preferentially recruited brain areas associated with self-regulation and inhibitory control.