Journal Issue: Volume: 31, No. 3, December 2009
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Volume
Number
Issue Date
2009
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
ISSN (Print) : 1993-2979 | ISSN (Online) : 1993-2987
Journal Volume
Articles
Practice of contraceptives
(Institute of Medicine, 2009) Pandey, S; Karki, S; Pradhan, A
Abstract
Introduction: Over the past decades fertility rate have surprisingly been stagnated demanding further research on the ways it reduces rate to a level appropriate for healthy population. Considering the status of male in developing countries like Nepal, it is believed that men play vital role in achieving success in this sector. Therefore this study was done to find out the knowledge and practice of contraceptives among married males of Makwanpur, Nepal.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. Data were collected from the 387 respondents by personal interview using semi-structured questionnaire.
Results: Mean age of the respondents was 34.48 years. Most of the respondents knew at least four contraceptive methods. There is a strong relationship between knowledge and the use of contraceptives with the level of education and economic status having a direct impact. The attitude of male respondents to share responsibility for promotion of contraceptive was found to be positive.
Conclusions: Almost majority agree that the responsibility for contraception should shared by both partner, but use of contraceptive methods among men is still low. This study recommended in depth action research to promote male contraceptive methods and priority for service delivery program in Nepal.
Keywords: Contraceptives, family planning, knowledge and practice of contraceptives
Factors affecting male infertility
(Institute of Medicine, 2009) Pant, PR
Abstract
Introduction: Infertility is commonly defined as the failure of conception after at least 12 months of unprotected intercourse. 1 Accurate assessment of the prevalence of infertility has always been difficult because of the large scale population based studies. 2 Male factor is the only cause of infertility in about 20 % of infertile couples, but it may be a contributing factor in as many as 30 % to 40 % of cases.3 Factors like diabetes, bronchiectasis, high grade fever, long term medication, urinary tract infection, sexually transmitted infection, epididymitis, testicular injury, un-descended testis,mumps, orchitis, excessive alcohol, smoking, exposure to heat and certain chemicals effect in the spermatogenesis. Impotence or erectile dysfunction remains one of the important contributors in the male infertility.
Methods: This is a prospective descriptive study conducted during the health camps in Sindhupalchowk, Manang, Baitedi, Rauthat and Darchula districts of the Nepal. The objective of the study is to find out the factors contributing to male infertility. Couples who were unable to conceive after regular, unprotected coitus of at least one year were included in the study. Detail history, clinical examination and semen analysis was done.
Results: There was limited facility of investigation and treatment of infertility in the health camps.The diagnosis was based only on history, examination and semen analysis. Various factors like mumps, chemical exposure like men working in carpet factory, testicular trauma and smoking were found as contributing factor of male infertility in these districts.
Conclusions: Testicular trauma, mumps, smoking is common in all the districts. Exposure to chemicalssuch as dyes, used in carpet factories seems to be responsible for infertility in some men of Sindhupalchowk and Darchula.
Keywords: Azospermia, oligospermia, male infertility
Intestinal Parasitosis
(Institute of Medicine, 2009) Shakya, B; Bhargava, D; Shrestha, S; Rijal, BP
Abstract
Introduction :Intestinal parasitosis is highly prevalent among general population and hospital patients in Nepal. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis among patients in a hospital of Nepal.
Methods: A retrospective study was done by analyzing the findings of stool examined from April 2006 to March 2008 at Department of Microbiology of the hospital. χ 2_test was used for analytical assessment.
Results: Out of 2221 fecal samples, 20.7% were positive, the positivity being 23.9% and 15.8%, respectively in first and second year (P<0.05). Overall infection rate was nearly equal in male and female (20.2% vs. 21.2%). The infection rate was highest among patients of >60 years (25.3%) followed by those of <15 years (21.2%) and 15-59 years (20.1%) ( P>0.05). Ascaris lumbricoides (31.8%) and Entamoeba histolytica (38.0%) were the commonest helminth and protozoa, respectively. Other parasites were Hookworm (18.3%), Hymenolepis nana (2.6%), Taenia solium (2.6%), Strongyloides stercoralis (1.3%) and Giardia lamblia (5.5%).
Conclusions: Though, the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis among hospital visiting patients is declining, high detection of A. lumbricoides and E. histolytica signifies the need of public awareness regarding latrine use, water source protection from fecal contamination, proper sanitation and hygienic behavior.
Keywords: Ascaris lumbricoides, Entamoeba histolytica, intestinal parasites
Neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia and its early outcome
(Institute of Medicine, 2009) Nepal, D; Bastola, D; Dhakal, AK; Mishra, U; Mahashetha, C
Abstract
Introduction: Jaundice is an important cause of morbidity in the neonatal period, especially in the 1st week of life. our Objective of the study was to find out early outcome of babies admitted in Kanti Children Hospital with neonatal jaundice (NNJ) and its association with other co-morbidities.
Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted in tertiary care paediatric hospital from 1st March to1st June 2009. Altogether 73 babies were included in the study. Results: Male babies outnumbered females (72.6% vs. 27.4%). Only 2.4% babies were near-term. Low birth weight (LBW) babies constituted 19.2% of the study population. Clinical sepsis as defined by WHO criteria was observed in 86.3% of babies. Nearly 50% of the babies had serum bilirubin of 15-19.9 mg/dl. Most of the babies (94.5%) improved with 5.5% of mortality.
Conclusions: hyperbilirubinaemia is one of the most common causes of hospital admission in our nursery and it is associated with various other clinical morbidities. Phototherapy is effective in most of the time, but exchange transfusion should also be carried out when phototherapy fails. Causes of hyperbilirubinaemia should be searched extensively especially to rule out haemolysis.
Keywords: Hyperbilirubinaemia, kernicterus, neonates, phototherapy