Journal Issue: Volume: 9, No 4, Issue 36, OCT-DEC, 2011
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Volume
Number
Issue Date
2011
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
1812-2027
Journal Volume
Articles
Sex Preferences Among Mothers Delivering at Patan Hospital
(Kathmandu University, 2011) Chhetri, UD; Ansari, I; Bhandary, S; Adhikari, N
ABSTRACT
Background
High sex ratios at birth (SRB) are seen in China, Taiwan, South Korea, parts of India
and Vietnam. The imbalance is the result of son preference, accentuated by declining
fertility. Prenatal sex determination and female feticides are common in many countries.
It is reflected in sex ratio
Objective
To determine reasons for the preferences for different sex; to find out whether there is
altered sex ratio at birth and to find out whether female feticide are common among
women who had abortion.
Method
It is a prospective study. Women who had previous history of abortion and had delivered
at Patan Hospital in the year 2066 were interviewed as per questionnaires.
Results
Among 560 women with total live births of 965, (462 male and 503 female) during their
life time the overall sex ratio was 92 male per 100 female birth; total abortions were
663. Preferences for male were 10%, female 15.4% and either was for 74%. The reason
for male preference was to continue family lineage, to bring honor, old age security,
and performing funeral rites while the reasons for daughter preferences were that
they understand mother’s pain, help in household work. The sex ratio of the babies
born during the study period was 113 male per 100 female births. The Sex ratio at
birth from 1st to 6th deliveries was 61, 79, 101, 210, 286 and 1100 male per 100 female
birth respectively. Prenatal sex selection was 8% (by USG) but none had sex selected
abortion.
Conclusion
Sex ratio of those delivered during the study period was skewed (136 boys per 100
girls) towards male. There was shift in SRB in 4th and subsequent pregnancies in favor
of boys. As the male sex ratio increased the number of induced abortion decreased in
subsequent pregnancies.
KEY WORDS
Feticide, Induced abortion, Sex preferences, Sex ratio
Prevalence and Factors Associated with Current Smoking Among Medical Students in Coastal South India
(Kathmandu University, 2011) Ganesh Kumar, S; Subba, SH; Unnikrishnan, B; Jain, A; Badiger, S
ABSTRACT
Background
Smoking among health care personnel such as medical students is an important public
health issue. More effective measures to reduce tobacco smoking among medical
students are needed worldwide. Very few studies had been conducted in past in India
and other developing countries to understand the magnitude of problem.
Objectives
To determine the prevalence and associated factors of current smoking among medical
students.
Methods
Cross sectional study was conducted during January and February 2009 among 333
study subjects selected randomly from four batches of a teaching institution. Subjects
were administered a self administered pre tested questionnaire and smoking status
was assessed as per the criteria laid down by WHO. Proportion, chi square test and
multiple logistic regression analysis were used for statistical analysis.
Results
The prevalence of current smoking was found to be 22.4% (67). There were widespread
deficiencies in knowledge of smoking among students of different classes, as an
important causal factor in many diseases like gastro intestinal malignancy, heart
problems, asthma, and emphysema. It was found that only half of them were willing
to quit smoking (33). Fourth year students (OR=2.54) and presence of peer pressure
(OR=21.91) had independent significant association with current smoking.
Conclusion
Prevalence of smoking among medical students is high that warrants adoption of
comprehensive smoking control interventions among them.
KEYWORDS
Knowledge, Peer pressure, Prevalence, Smoking,
Use of Gabapentin, Esmolol or Their Combination to Attenuate Haemodynamic Response to Laryngoscopy and Intubation
(Kathmandu University, 2011) Shrestha, GS; Marhatta, MN; Amatya, R
ABSTRACT
Background
Laryngoscopy and intubation increases blood pressure and heart rate.
Objective
The study aims to investigate the effect and safety of gabapentin, esmolol or their
combination on the haemodynamic response to laryngoscopy and intubation.
Methods
A total of 72 patients undergoing elective surgery were randomly allocated to one
of the four groups. First study drug was administered orally as gabapentin 1200mg
or placebo. Second study drug was administered intravenously as esmolol 1.5mg/
kg or normal saline. Heart rate, rate pressure product, systolic blood pressure and
mean arterial pressure were recorded at baseline and at zero, one, three and five
minutes after tracheal intubation.
Results
Baseline values were compared with the values at various time intervals within the
same group. In group PE (placebo, esmolol), there was significant decrease in heart
rate and rate pressure product at five minutes. In group GN (gabapentin, normal
saline), there was significant decrease in systolic blood pressure and mean arterial
pressure at five minutes. In group GE (gabapentin, esmolol), there was significant
decrease in heart rate at zero, three and five minutes. Systolic blood pressure, mean
arterial pressure and rate pressure product was significantly lower at three and
five minutes. In group PN (placebo, normal saline), there was significant increase
in heart rate at zero, one, three and five minutes; systolic blood pressure at zero
and one minutes; mean arterial pressure at zero and one minutes & rate pressure
product at zero, one and three minutes. In group GN (gabapentin, normal saline),
there was significant increase in heart rate at zero, one and three minutes & rate
pressure product at zero, one and three minutes. In group PE (placebo, esmolol),
there was significant increase in systolic blood pressure at zero and one minutes &
mean arterial pressure at zero and one minutes. However, in group GE (gabapentin,
esmolol) none of the variables showed statistically significant increase at any time.
Inter-group comparison was made for each time point. At zero minute, there was
significant difference in heart rate between groups PN and GE, GN and PE & GN and
GE Significant difference was also noted in rate pressure product between PN and
GE at zero minute. At one minute there was difference in heart rate between PN
and PE, PN and GE, GN and PE & between GN and GE. Significant difference was
observed in rate pressure product between PN and PE & between PN and GE at one
minute. No significant side effects of the study drugs were observed.
Conclusions
Combination of gabapentin and esmolol in this study design is safe and better
attenuates both the pressor and tachycardic response to laryngoscopy and
intubation, than either agent alone.
KEYWORDS
attenuation of haemodynamic response, Esmolol, Gabapentin, laryngoscopy and
intubation
A Study of Risk Factors of Stroke in Patients Admitted in Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara
(Kathmandu University, 2011) Maskey, A; Parajuli, M; Kohli, S C
ABSTRACT
Background
Stroke is usually end result of predisposing conditions that originated years before
the ictus. Identification of its modifiable risk factors can help in planning preventive
strategies.
Objective
To study the risk factors of stroke in adult patients.
Methods
A hospital based prospective cross sectional study was carried out in 160 stroke
patients admitted in Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara from November 2007-
October 2010. Diagnosis of stroke was confirmed by CT scan of brain. Patients were
then investigated for presence of conventional risk factors. The data was statistically
analysed using Epi-Info.
Results
The mean age of stroke patients was 65.98 years ± 10.69 with 126 (78.8%) of patients
belonging to age group ≥ 60 years. It afflicted higher percentage of males 104
(65%) than females 56 (35%). Analysis of stroke subtypes showed preponderance
of haemorrhagic stroke in 85 (53.1%) as against infarction in 75 (46.9%) of cases.
Other conventional modifiable risk factors were seen as follows: hypertension 98
(61.2 %), cigarette smoking 95 (59.4%), alcohol use 43 (26.9%), left ventricular
hypertrophy 44 (27.5%), atrial fibrillation 37(23%), elevated triglyceride 37(23%),
diabetes mellitus 15 (9.3%) and elevated total cholesterol 12 (7.5%). Multiple risk
factors (≥2) were seen in 122 (76.5 %) cases.
Conclusions
The maximum occurrence of stroke was seen in patients > 60 years. Overall male
preponderance and higher occurrence of haemorrhagic stroke was seen in our
study. Significant risk factors in order of descending order were hypertension,
cigarette smoking, left ventricular hypertrophy, alcohol use, atrial fibrillation and
elevated triglycerides.
KEY WORDS
haemorrhagic stroke, ischaemic stroke, risk factors