Browsing by Author "Timalsena, D"
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Publication Dietary Salt Intake in a Suburban Nepali Community: A Cross-sectional Study Using 24-Hour Urinary Sodium(Kathmandu University, 2025) Bhatt, RD; Shrestha, A; Karmacharya, BM; Timalsena, D; Dhimal, MN; Pradhan, P; Oli, N; Bista, D; Pyakurel, M; Barakoti, R; Mishra, R; Risal, PABSTRACT Background High dietary salt intake is a recognized contributor to hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Despite the high burden of hypertension in Nepal, robust estimates of salt intake using the gold standard 24- hour urinary sodium collection remain scarce, especially in suburban populations. Objective To accurately assess dietary salt intake using 24-hour urinary sodium excretion and evaluate factors influencing salt consumption in a suburban Nepali population. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023-2024 as part of the Dhulikhel Heart Study’s second phase. A total of 381 adult participants were recruited from randomly selected wards of Dhulikhel Municipality. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, dietary habits, salt-related knowledge, and anthropometry were collected. Salt intake was estimated from 24-hour urinary sodium excretion. Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) and multivariate analyses were used to identify associated factors. Result The mean age of the participants was 49.9 ± 15.5 years and average salt consumption was 9.55 ± 3.2 g/day. The mean dietary salt intake significantly exceeded WHO recommendations, with notable variations by sex, education, and frequency of eating out. Conclusion This study highlights alarmingly high salt intake in a suburban Nepali community and underscores the need for population-specific strategies to reduce sodium consumption. Policy action, public education, and promotion of healthier dietary behaviors are essential to combat the growing burden of salt-related non- communicable diseases. KEY WORDS Blood pressure, Dietary salt intake, 24-hours urine sodiumPublication Factors Associated with Urinary Tract Infection among Children Aged Less than 5 Years Visiting Department of Pediatrics of Dhulikhel Hospital(Kathmandu University, 2024) Siluwal, N; Bhandari, N; Prajapati, R; Timalsena, DABSTRACT Background Urinary tract infection (UTI) constitutes a significant cause of morbidity, especially among children under five years old. Early diagnosis and management are essential to minimize acute morbidity and prevent the long-term complications associated with urinary tract infections. Objective To identify factors associated with urinary tract infections among children under five years old. Method A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted at Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University Hospital in Nepal, involving face-to-face interviews with 105 parents of children under 5 years with suspected or culture-positive Urinary tract infections. Data collection occurred from July 2022 to December 2022, covering both outpatient (OPD) and inpatient cases. Logistic regression was employed to identify factors associated with urinary tract infections. Result The Urinary tract infection prevalence among children under five was 27.12%, with over half (55.2%) were female. Females had a seven times higher urinary tract infection risk than males (95% CI: 1.64 - 30.18; p = 0.009). Children with congenital anomalies faced a 22.8 times higher urinary tract infection risk (95% CI: 1.70 - 286.56, p = 0.01). Diaper changes exceeding 6 hours elevated the risk by 20.09 times (95% CI: 1.14 - 353.95; p = 0.04). Escherichia coli presence in urine culture correlated with a 9.43 times higher urinary tract infection risk (95% CI: 1.34 - 66.16, P = 0.02). Conclusion Implementing preventive measures, including maintaining personal hygiene and changing diapers frequently, can significantly reduce the incidence of urinary tract infections in children, ultimately minimizing medical costs. KEY WORDS Children, Cleaning, Risk factors, Urinary tract infection