Browsing by Author "Poudel, K"
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Publication Community-based Screening of Cervical Cancer in an Urban Setting in Nepal: A Cross-sectional Study(Kathmandu University, 2024) Shrestha, A; Poudel, L; Khanal, B; Poudel, K; Shakya, S; Timsina, P; Shakya, P; Shrestha, S; Paneru, BABSTRACT Background In Nepal, cervical cancer is among the most prevalent cancers among females, yet only about 8% of women have undergone screening, highlighting significant barriers to access in low-resource settings. Objective To assess and report the outcomes of a community-based cervical cancer screening with visual inspection of acetic acid and an active follow-up program in Budhanilkantha municipality, Kathmandu Valley. Method We conducted a cross-sectional study in Budhanilkantha Municipality among 1360 women aged 30 to 60 who attended community-based cervical cancer screening camps. Trained research assistants collected socio-demographic and reproductive health data through interviews, abstracted medical records about Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid outcomes, and made follow-up calls to those who screened positive. We conducted descriptive analysis and logistic regression to assess associations between screen positivity and women’s characteristics. Result A total of 1,360 women visited the camp, with 98.3% undergoing visual inspection with acetic acid, and 7.25% screening positive. Among those referred, 78% followed up at the recommended hospital; diagnostic tests indicated that 12.3% had low- grade lesions and 1.36% had high-grade pre-cancerous lesions. The adjusted model revealed no statistically significant associations between Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid positivity and variables such as age, ethnicity, education, and reproductive history. Conclusion This study demonstrates that the community-based Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) cervical cancer screening method was highly acceptance and had high treatment follow-up among women in urban Nepal. KEY WORDS Cervical cancer, Screening, Visual inspection with acetic acidPublication Knowledge of Stroke among Hypertensive Patients in Dhulikhel(Kathmandu University, 2022) Nepal, GM; Chand, P; Poudel, K; Acharya, SRABSTRACT Background More than 50% of patients with stroke have hypertension, a common modifiable risk factor for stroke. Studies reported that 90% of diagnosed hypertensive patients do not seek for treatment in Nepal and the reason for this remains unexplored. There is a possibility that lack of knowledge of stroke and its potential causes may be the reason. Objective To assess the knowledge of stroke in a group of patients with hypertension in suburban Nepal. Method Hypertensive patients visiting a tertiary care hospital in Nepal were approached and were included if they were 18 years or older. We used the Nepali version of ‘Awareness of Stroke, Risk Factors, and Treatment’ questionnaire to assess the knowledge of stroke. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the results. Result A total of 273 patients were included with the mean age of 56 years. Almost half (48%) of the patients were uneducated. We found that only 24% of the patients identified brain as an organ affected by stroke, only 32% were aware about more than one warning signs of stroke, 64% reported that they were unaware of the treatment options for stroke and only 5% reported control of blood pressure as a part of stroke management. The commonest reported identifiable risk factor for hypertension was high blood pressure (44%). Conclusion There are significant knowledge gaps regarding stroke in hypertensive patients. Although most patients recognized hypertension as a risk factor for stroke, they were unaware of treatment options. Increasing awareness of hypertension as a risk factor for stroke may help to prevent the stroke burden in Nepal. KEY WORDS Awareness, Hypertension, Knowledge, Stroke