Browsing by Author "Lama, S"
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Publication Barriers in Utilization of Maternal Health Care Services: Perceptions of Rural Women in Eastern Nepal(Kathmandu University, 2014) Lama, S; Krishna, AKIABSTRACT Background Nepal is promoting safe motherhood through maternity incentives schemes. Still about two-thirds of births take place at home. Inadequate access to health care and under utilization of services is the major reasons for poor health of women and children. Objectives The study aim to explore the barriers in utilization of maternal health care services in eastern Nepal specifically to explore the reasons for not availing the services and to assess the indigenous practices regarding maternal health. Methods An exploratory study design was adopted to elicit the information from the selected respondents from different villages. Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were conducted. Data was transcribed and analyzed manually to identify themes. Results The barriers to maternal health care service utilization were identified as social factors like family pressure, superstition, shyness, misconception, negligence, illiteracy, alcoholism. Likewise, large family size, jobless, unnecessary expenditure on health services was identified as economic barrier. Some cultural practices were also found as barrier for not availing the health services. Conclusion The study explored factors that are contributing in not availing the maternal health care services. The elimination of these barriers will facilitate quality of care and health outcomes. Therefore, the interventions should be developed and implemented to improve the health status of women and children. The result of this study can be utilized to draw the attention of local government, in strategic planning related to maternal health interventions. KEY WORDS Barriers, indigenous practices, maternal health care servicesPublication Epidemiology of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Symptoms and Illnesses among Brick Kiln Workers in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal(Kathmandu University, 2018) Sanjel, S; Khanal, SN; Thygerson, SM; Khanal, K; Pun, Z; Lama, S; Joshi, SKABSTRACT Background Workers in the brick manufacturing industries require to carry heavy loads, do repetitive work and remain in awkward postures for extended periods of time. These activities may cause them to develop work-related musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders. Objective To investigate the epidemiology of musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders among brick manufacturing workers as well as similar exposure groups among brick kiln workers. Method An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted during February - March 2015 in the Kathmandu Valley. From 16 brick kilns, 400 interviewees involving green brick molding, green brick stacking/carrying, red brick loading/carrying, coal crushing/ carrying and firing were recruited. An unmatched equal size of reference group of grocery workers was maintained for comparison. Prevalence of all musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders were computed and compared among brick workers and grocery workers as well as similar exposure groups among brick kiln workers. Result The musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders were prevalent in 90.5% of the exposed and 82.2% of the reference group. Brick kiln workers were about two times more likely to experience musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders compared to the reference group. When the associations among similar exposure groups were evaluated, there were significantly high prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders among green brick molders, red brick loaders/carriers and coal crushers/ carriers in comparison to firemen. Conclusion This study showed a high prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders among brick kilns workers. Among all similar exposure groups, coal crushing/carrying task significantly elevated with all types of musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders. KEY WORDS Brick kiln workers, Ergonomics, Musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders, Similar exposure groups