Browsing by Author "Niraula, SR"
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Publication An epidemiological study of injury among urban population(Kathmandu University, 2009) Ghimire, A; Nagesh, S; Jha, N; Niraula, SR; Devkota, SAbstract Background: Injuries are a focus of public health practice because they pose a serious health threat, occur frequently and are preventable. Injuries affect people of all ages and range from minor cuts and bruises to major catastrophes that take thousands of lives. Objectives: This paper aims to find out the prevalence of injuries and to study the various epidemiological factors related to the injuries in Dharan. Materials and methods: A sample of 1398 households was taken as study sample. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select the 10% households from each 19 wards. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect demographic information and information related to injuries to the persons suffered from injuries. Result: The prevalence of minor injury in Dharan was 3.5% per month. The injury was common in the age group, 40-49 years (4.6%) and majority of injured persons were farmers (6.9%). Home was the common place (55.6%) for the minor injury. Cut/stab (32.8%) was the most common types of minor injury. The prevalence of major injury was 0.7% per year and occurred more among 50-59 years age group (1.7%). The commonest place for major injury was at road (53.1%) and service holders were at more risk (1.4%). Falls from the height (46.9%) were the most common types of major injury. Conclusion: The injuries related to lifestyle profession and road traffic accidents (RTA) is the commonest burden revealed in the study sample. Promotion of safety and education for protection at work and safe driving can prevent the major socio-economic loss to the family and community at large. Key word: Minor injury, Major injury, RTA, Epidemiological factors.Publication An epidemiological study of injury among urban population(Kathmandu University, 2009) Ghimire, A; Nagesh, S; Jha, N; Niraula, SR; Devkota, SAbstract Background: Injuries are a focus of public health practice because they pose a serious health threat, occur frequently and are preventable. Injuries affect people of all ages and range from minor cuts and bruises to major catastrophes that take thousands of lives. Objectives: This paper aims to find out the prevalence of injuries and to study the various epidemiological factors related to the injuries in Dharan. Materials and methods: A sample of 1398 households was taken as study sample. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select the 10% households from each 19 wards. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect demographic information and information related to injuries to the persons suffered from injuries. Result: The prevalence of minor injury in Dharan was 3.5% per month. The injury was common in the age group, 40-49 years (4.6%) and majority of injured persons were farmers (6.9%). Home was the common place (55.6%) for the minor injury. Cut/stab (32.8%) was the most common types of minor injury. The prevalence of major injury was 0.7% per year and occurred more among 50-59 years age group (1.7%). The commonest place for major injury was at road (53.1%) and service holders were at more risk (1.4%). Falls from the height (46.9%) were the most common types of major injury. Conclusion: The injuries related to lifestyle profession and road traffic accidents (RTA) is the commonest burden revealed in the study sample. Promotion of safety and education for protection at work and safe driving can prevent the major socio-economic loss to the family and community at large. Key words: Minor injury, Major injury, RTA, Epidemiological factors.Publication Comparative attitude and plans of the medical students and young Nepalese doctors(Kathmandu University, 2009) Lakhey, M; Lakhey, S; Niraula, SR; Jha, D; Pant, RAbstract Introduction: Many doctors are leaving Nepal to work abroad. To understand this problem better, we decided to study the attitude and plans of young doctors and medical students. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Kathmandu Medical College involving 65 first- year medical students, 100 interns and 100 house officers. The data collected was entered in Microsoft excel and analysed by SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) programme. Chi-square test was used to compare two proportions. Significance level was set at 5%. Results: Only 2% house officers said that their job prospects were excellent as compared to 22.4% of students, whereas 20% house officers as compared to 9% students thought job prospects in Nepal were poor (p= 0.003). Eighty two percent of students thought that a doctor’s service to his country was very important as compared to 51% of interns (p=‹ 0.001) and 58% of house officers. Forty percent of students, 58% of interns and 48% of house officers (no statistical significance between the three groups) planned to migrate to a developed country after graduation. Eighty eight percent of students, 89% interns and 74% of house officers (no statistical significant differences between the three groups) were of the opinion that improving career opportunities or working environment of the doctor could make the profession more attractive. Conclusion: Although majority of students, interns and house officers were of the opinion that a doctor’s service to his community/country was very important, almost half of them still planned to migrate to a developed country after graduation. Improving the chances of professional advancement and professional working environment can make the profession more attractive, and therefore, may decrease this tendency for brain drain from our country. Key words: Attitude, medical students, migration, young doctors, statistical significance.Publication Examination of Relationships of Scores Obtained in Grades 10 and 12 with the Entry and Success in Undergraduate Medical Education(Kathmandu University, 2012) Gautam, A P; Paudel, BH; Agrawal, CS; Niraula, SR; Van Dalen, JABSTRACT Background Entrance examination (admission test) is the most important and widely accepted method of student selection for admission into medical schools in Nepal. For many schools it is the only criterion of student selection. Objectives To examine relationships of scores obtained in schooling (grade 10 and 12), medical entrance and MBBS professional examinations in a cohort to identify predictive strength for entry into medical school and success in medical education. Methods Exam scores from grade 10 to medical entrance and professional exams of undergraduate medical education of a total of 118 medical students who entered medical school between 1994 and 1998 only through the merit of open competitive medical entrance examination at the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS) were assessed. Results Student selection for admission in MBBS course at BPKIHS and their subsequent success were not determined by difference in outcomes of public & private management of schools at grade 10 (selection p= 0.80 & success p= 0.32 ) and grade 12 (selection p= 0.59 & success p= 0.55). Grade 12 averaged scores had no relationship in getting these students selected for admission into medical course (r= 0.08, p= 0.37), but did show correlation with the overall success in medical education (r= 0.32, p= 0.00). Scores in physics at grade 12 retained predictive strength in success in medical education (r= 0.19, p= 0.04). Conclusion The present student selection criteria for medical education are not appropriate and need to incorporate other attributes of candidates along with cognitive aspects. KEY WORDS admission test, medical education, medical students, performance, predictions, selection criteriaPublication Impact of family health exercise program on health knowledge and practice of a rural population of eastern Nepal(Kathmandu University, 2006) Jha, N; Kumar, S; Yadav, BK; Singh, GCP; Niraula, SRBackground: It is important to know the impact of health education on community. This may lead to improve the programs, commitment to students and staffs by taking feedback. These activities are aimed at producing changes in the community. Objective: To assess the impact of health education as intervention program during Family Health Exercise (FHE) about the knowledge and practice of people related to health in a village of eastern Nepal. Methods: During FHE, health education was given by the 3rd year medical students to the head of the 30 families. The neighbour 30 families were taken as control, where no health education was given. These two groups were compared after 6 months. Results: Sanitary practice (Hand washing) before meal was known to both groups. But the material used for washing hand (soap and ash) was 53% in intervention as compared to 30% in control group. People were aware about the importance of care of the mother during pregnancy and lactation, but more in intervention group. The knowledge and practice for starting semisolid food other than breast milk for infants during weaning were higher in intervention (89%) than control (31%) group. Conclusion: There was significant change in the knowledge and practice of woman (mainly host) who received health education. The community also benefited in terms of their health knowledge and practices. Such programs are useful for the community at large. Key words: Family Health Exercise, Impact of Health Education, Health education, Nepal.Publication Role of rehabilitation centres in reducing drug abuse problem in a town of Eastern Nepal(Kathmandu University, 2006) Niraula, SR; Chhetry, DB; Singh, GK; Nagesh, S; Shyangwa, PMObjectives: This paper focuses to describe the role and activities of Drug Rehabilitation Centres (DRCs) in reducing the drug-abuse problem in Dharan. It also offers suggestions for increasing the effectiveness of prevention programs. Materials and methods: Records of three DRCs working in Dharan for the past 9 years were analyzed using appropriate statistical tools. Results: The yearly clean rate is significantly higher in these centres. Harm reduction program was currently available only in one centre. Pharmacotherapy along with short-term rehabilitation was available at de-addiction unit of B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences whereas long-term rehabilitation was at others centres. Conclusion: Thus, there should be a strong coordination and network with each other to increase the effectiveness of the treatment program for drug abuse. The treatment centres should be increased in number as well as in quality. BPKIHS should take initiation to start long-term management with repeated booster programs. Key words: Role, rehabilitation, drug abuse, BPKIHS, Dharan, Nepal.Publication Smoking Habit among Male Medical and Dental Students of B.P.Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Nepal(Kathmandu University, 2013) Ghimire, A; Sharma, B; Niraula, SR; Devkota, S; Pradhan, PMSABSTRACT Background Smoking and health are intimately related and thus, smoking among future health care personnel is an important issue. As future physicians and dentists who will witness the continued burden of smoking-related diseases among their patients, represent a primary target for smoking prevention programs. Objectives To explore the magnitude of smoking problem and assess the major causes aggravating the burden of smoking among medical and dental students. Methods A cross sectional study was conducted between June and July 2009 among 345 medical and dental students. Pre-tested self-administered questionnaire containing questions regarding smoking and its various correlates were used to collect the data. Chi square test was used for testing hypothesis. Results Prevalence of smoking was estimated as 38.4%, among whom majority started smoking during 15 to 19 years of life. Peer pressure was the major cause behind smoking (29.5%). Nearly one third of the participants used to consume alcohol along with smoking. Presence of parental smoking and use of other drugs were significantly associated with smoking among the students. Conclusion Tobacco smoking is a significant health problem among the male medical and dental students. Medical and dental students were approached as they are the treatment providers for smoking and disease related to it in the future. The results in our study are discouraging and reveal that the medical knowledge regarding ill effects of smoking has not been able to check its use. KEY WORDS Medical and dental students, smokingPublication The Burden of Injury in terms of Economic Loss and Disability Days: A Community Based Study from Eastern Nepal(Kathmandu University, 2011) Ghimire, A; Nagesh, S; Jha, N; Niraula, SR; Devkota, SABSTRACT Background Injuries are already a substantial public Health problem all over the world and are expected to increase in the 211st Century. They are major causes of deaths and disability in the population and also involve high societal costs. Objectives This study was designed to assess the economic loss due to the injury and the disability days due to different types of injuries. Methods A systematic random sampling technique was used to select 1388 households from 19 wards. A detailed questionnaire was used to collect information related to injuries to the persons suffered from injuries including treatment obtained, cost of treatment (direct/indirect cost) and length of disability. Results Among the minor injured persons, majority (93.2%) did not spend any indirect cost. 36.7% of the major inured persons spent Nepalese rupees 10,001 to NRs 100,000 as direct treatment costs. But 50% spent less than 5000 NRs as indirect cost for major injury treatment. Maximum number (67.4%) of major injured persons had disability days of 31 to 90 days. Conclusion The high incidence of injuries, especially road traffic injuries, adds a huge economic burden to nation. KEY WORDS injury, disability days, economic burden