Journal Issue: Volume: 59, No. 243, November (2021)
Loading...
Volume
Number
Issue Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
JNMA Print ISSN: 0028-2715; Online ISSN: 1815-672X
Journal Volume
Articles
Perinatal Mortality among All Deliveries in a Tertiary Care Center: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study Authors
(Nepal Medical Association, 2021) Bhattarai, Saraswoti Kumari Gautam; Ghimire, Roshana; Duwadi, Sapana; Khadka, Rabin; Gautam, Kanchan
Abstract:
Introduction: Perinatal mortality comprises the number of stillbirths and death of newborns within seven days of life which is the main contributor to infant and maternal mortality. The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of perinatal mortality among all the deliveries in a tertiary care center of a remote part of Nepal.
Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in a tertiary care center located in Jumla among 3798 deliveries (childbirth) from August 2014 to April 2020. Ethical approval was taken from the institutional review committee (2076/2077/05) of the same institution. A convenience sampling technique was used and the data were collected from the medical record section and then entered and analyzed in Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 16. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequencies and percentages for binary data.
Results: The prevalence of perinatal mortality was 187 (4.92%) (4.23-4.60% at 95% Confidence Interval) among 3798 deliveries. Regarding the primary causes; the highest proportion was intrapartum hypoxia 62 (33.3%), spontaneous preterm labor 40 (21.5%), and congenital anomalies 38 (20.4%). Similarly, about the final cause; the highest proportion was birth asphyxia 64 (34.2%), intrauterine fetal death 51 (27.3%), congenital anomalies 35 (18.7%), and complication of prematurity 32 (17.1%).
Conclusions: The perinatal mortality was quite high in this study with respect to similar studies done in other countries. The finding of this study showed that quality antenatal care with rural ultrasound service is essential to reduce the causes of perinatal mortality.
Road Traffic Accidents Presenting to the Emergency Department of a Tertiary Care Center: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study
(Nepal Medical Association, 2021) Jha, Rohan; Pathak, Priya; Koirala, Pallavi; Maharjan, Bishwash; Panthi, Srijana
Abstract:
Introduction: Road Traffic Accidents have emerged as the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally. The burden of road traffic accidents has escalated gradually in Nepal and is a common cause of injury and trauma. The study aims to identify the prevalence of road traffic accidents in the emergency department.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among hospital records of cases admitted to the emergency department of tertiary care hospital between March to August, 2020. Ethical approval was taken from the ethical review board of College of Medical Sciences (reference number: 2020-035). Information was collected through pro-forma and hospital records. Convenience sampling was done. The data were entered in the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 24 and analysed using descriptive statistics. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data.
Results: Among 4050 cases presenting to the emergency department, 228 (5.6%) (4.9-6.3 at 95% Confidence Interval) cases of road traffic accidents were seen. The most common injuries involved were soft tissue injury 90 (39.47%) and head injury 77 (33.77%). Most patients admitted to the hospital were male 178 (78.07%) aged 21 to 30 years 79 (41.38%). The vehicles mostly involved in the accidents were motorized two-wheelers 120 (50.6%) and pedestrians 51 (22.4%).
Conclusions: The prevalence of road traffic accidents was similar to the findings from similar studies. Strengthening the capacities of the pre-hospital care and emergency department is necessary along with preventive intervention in public to reduce such health burden.
Use of Postpartum Family Planning among Women Undergoing Deliveries in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study Authors
(Nepal Medical Association, 2021) Pradhan, Noora; Dongol, Anjana; Bastakoti, Rashmi; Karmacharya, Shailendra Bir; Shrestha, Om Hari
Abstract:
Introduction: The postpartum period is a high-risk time for unintended pregnancies. A short inter-pregnancy interval leads to a series of complications for both the mother and the fetus. Postpartum contraceptive knowledge helps women decide the time frame for future pregnancy and prepare. The study aimed to find out the prevalence of postpartum family planning among women undergoing deliveries in a tertiary care hospital.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from hospital records of all postpartum women delivering in a tertiary care hospital from Jan 2017 to Jan 2019. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee (IRC) of Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences/Dhulikhel Hospital (reference number: 62/19). Convenience sampling was done. Data was entered and analyzed using Statistical Package of the Social Sciences version 26. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data.
Results: Out of 4205 deliveries, 1211 (28.7%) (27.33-30.06 at 95% Confidence Interval) women utilized postpartum family planning. Depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate was adopted by a majority of the participants 802 (19.1%).
Conclusions: The use of postpartum contraception in this study was similar to the findings from studies done in national data and studies.
Sputum Smear Non-conversion at the End of Intensive Phase of Tuberculosis Treatment at a Tertiary Center: A Descriptive Cross-sectional study
(Nepal Medical Association, 2021) Shah, Naveen Prakash; Regmi, Anil; Acharya, Aakash; K.C., Jwala; Khatiwada, Bidur; Hada, Meera
Abstract:
Introduction: Sputum non-conversion is smear positive tuberculosis despite anti-tubercular therapy. Various factors may lead to sputum non-conversion including resistance to anti-tubercular drugs, age, gender, disease severity, non-compliance, drugs unavailability etc. Little is known and studied about the contribution of these individual factors. Our study sought to determine the prevalence of sputum smear non-conversion in patients at the end of intensive phase of tuberculosis treatment visiting a tertiary-level institution in Nepal.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among recorded data of patients undergoing sputum Acid Fast Bacilli staining at the end of intensive phase at National Tuberculosis Control Center from April 2018 to April 2020. The study was approved by Nepal Health Research Council (Registration no: 76012020 P). The convenient sampling method was adopted. The data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data.
Results: Our study found that out of 830 samples that were tested by Acid Fast Bacilli stain at the end of intensive phase, 40 (4.82%) (3.37-6.28 at 95% Confidence Interval) were sputum smear non-converters. The mean age of sputum non-converters was 41.25±15.543 years.
Conclusions: The study shows that a significant proportion of patients remain acid-fast stain positive despite the treatment. However, the proportion is low compared to other similar studies around the globe. This study provides program managers with evidence to support the development of more tailored tuberculosis care and need to conduct more intensive studies about various factors that may lead to non-conversion.
Fungal Infections among Teledermatology Consultations in Dermatology Department of a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study
(Nepal Medical Association, 2021) Jha, Sagar Mani; Dangol, Anil Kumar Singh; Suwal, Bhabendra; Yadav, Jyotshna
Abstract:
Introduction: Teledermatology provides virtual consultation to patients using telecommunication technology. Using this method dermatologists can diagnose a condition with the help of pictures of the lesions and short history. During the COVID-19 pandemic, practicing this method has become more relevant. Providing teleconsultations to patients with fungal skin infections can prevent inadvertent use of topical corticosteroids. The objective of this study was to find the prevalence of fungal infections among teledermatology consultations done in a tertiary care hospital.
Methods: It was a descriptive cross-sectional study where the store and forward and real-time methods were used between February 2020 to July 2020. Ethical clearance was taken from the institutional review board (reference number: 245). Data of those patients who wanted consultations from this department were sent by medical officers deployed in military hospitals that are under the central army hospital located in Kathmandu. Convenient sampling was used. The collected data was entered and analyzed in the Statistical Package of Social Sciences version 20. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and percentage for binary data.
Results: A total of 451 (33.45%) (30.93-35.97 at 95% Confidence Interval) were diagnosed with fungal infections out of 1348 patients who were enrolled for the study. About 361 (80%) of the patients suffering from fungal infections belonged to the Terai region and 90 (20%) belonged to mountainous areas.
Conclusions: The prevalence of fungal infection among teledermatology consultation was lower than the findings from a similar international study.