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Objective: In South Asia, studies show secular trends toward slightly later women's marriage and first reproduction. However, data on related biological and social events, such as menarche and age of coresidence with husband, are often missing from these analyses. We assessed generational trends in key life events marking the transition to womanhood in rural lowland Nepal. Methods: We used data on 110 co‐resident mother‐in‐law (MIL) and daughter‐in‐law (DIL) dyads. We used paired t‐tests and chi‐squared tests to evaluate generational trends in women's education, and mean age at menarche, marriage, cohabitation with husband, and first reproduction of MIL and DIL dyads. We examined norms held by MILs and DILs on a daughter's life opportunities. Results: On average, MIL was 29 years older than DIL (60 years vs. 31 years). Both groups experienced menarche at average age 13.8 years. MIL was married at average 12.4 years, before menarche, and cohabitated with husbands at average 14.8 years. DIL was simultaneously married and cohabitated with husbands after menarche, at average 15 years. DIL was marginally more educated than MIL but had their first child on average 0.8 years earlier (95% CI −1.4, −0.1). MIL and DIL held similar norms on daughters' education and marriage. Conclusion: While social norms remain similar, the meaning of "early marriage" and use of menarche in marriage decisions has changed in rural lowland Nepal. Compared to DIL, MIL who was married earlier transitioned to womanhood more gradually. However, DIL was still married young, and had an accelerated trajectory to childbearing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The near miss concept and the criterion-based clinical audit are proposed as useful approaches for obtaining such information in newborn health care. There is currently no Standard definition and criteria for neonatal near miss especially for the community level intervention. Thus, lifesaving interventions could be an entry point to initiate the development of the neonatal near-miss definition. Mother and Infants Research Activities and Health Right International (HRI) developed a new tool for assessing neonatal near miss cases based on the Community based newborn care package programme. This is a part of operational research programme on strengthening the health facilities of Electoral constituency No; 2 of Arghakhanchi district of Nepal. The objective of this study was to identify and analyze neonatal near miss cases at different health facilities of Electoral constituency No; 2 of Arghakhanchi district, Nepal. Materials and Methods: One day of training on identifying neonatal near miss cases was given by an expert at Arghakhanchi district hospital to the health facilities staff in two groups. Health facility staffs were trained on identifying neonatal near miss cases and completing the modified neonatal near miss case forms. Neonatal near miss cases were documented for nine months period. Results: There were a total of 28 cases of neonatal near miss reported from different health facilities. Among them, 90% babies were delivered at health facility and 72% babies were of normal birth weight. Low birth weight incidence is 21% among near miss cases. Neonatal near miss contributed possible severe bacterial infection/ severe infection 47%, birth asphyxia in 43% cases and very low birth weight 7%. Conclusions: Birth asphyxia and PSBI were the two most common causes of neonatal near miss in the health facilities of Arghakhanchi district. There is a need to improve the quality of neonatal care in health facilities to properly manage these neonatal near miss cases which were referred to higher centre. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a prospective cross-sectional survey over a 12-month period in the principal maternity hospital of Kathmandu, Nepal, where over 50% of the local population deliver. The study aim was to estimate the contribution of birth asphyxia to perinatal mortality in this setting. During 1995, there were 14,371 livebirths and 400 stillbirths, a total stillbirth rate of 27 per 1000 total births. The fresh term (2000 g or more) stillbirth rate was 8.5 per 1000 total births [95% CI 7.1, 10.1]. Ninety-two cases of neonatal encephalopathy (NE) affecting term infants were detected (excluding those due to congenital malformations, hypoglycaemia and early neonatal sepsis). The birth prevalence of NE was 6.4 per 1000 livebirths [95% CI 5.2, 7.8]. There was evidence of intrapartum compromise in 63 (68%) of the cases of NE and 65 (76%) of the stillbirths, but only in 12 (12%) of controls. The cause-specific early neonatal mortality rate for NE was 2.1 per 1000 livebirths [95% CI 1.4, 3.0]. Combining the NE deaths and fresh stillbirths gives an upper estimate for term birth asphyxia perinatal mortality rate of 10.8 per 1000 total births [95% CI 9.2, 12.6], 24% of all perinatal deaths before hospital discharge. This study suggests that birth asphyxia remains an important cause of perinatal mortality in developing countries. The paper discusses the pros and cons of different strategies to reduce birth asphyxia in low-income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To study early neonatal metabolic adaptation in a hospital population of neonates in Nepal.Methods: A cross sectional study was made of 578 neonates, 0 to 48 hours after birth, in the main maternity hospital in Kathmandu. The following clinical and nutritional variables were assessed: concentrations and age profiles of blood glucose, hydroxybutyrate, lactate, pyruvate, free fatty acids (FFA) and glycerol; associations between alternative fuel levels and hypoglycaemia; and regression of possible risk factors for ketone availability.Results: Risk factors for impaired metabolic adaptation were common, especially low birthweight (32%), feeding delays, and cold stress. Blood glucose and ketones rose with age, but important age effects were also found for risk factors like hypothermia, thyroid hormone activities, and feeding practices. Alternative fuel concentrations, except FFA, were significantly reduced in infants with moderate hypoglycaemia during the first 48 hours after birth. Unlike earlier studies, small for gestational age (SGA) infants had significantly higher hydroxybutyrate:glucose ratios which suggested counter regulatory ketogenesis. Hypoglycaemic infants were not hyperinsulinaemic. Regression analysis showed risk factors for impaired counter regulation which included male and large infants, hypothermia, and poorer infant thyroid function. SGA infants and those whose mothers had received no antenatal care had increased counter regulation.Conclusions: Alternative fuels are important in the metabolic assessment of neonates, and they might provide effective cerebral metabolism even during moderate hypoglycaemia. Hypoglycaemic infants generally had lower concentrations of alternative fuels through either reduced availability or increased consumption. SGA and post term infants increased counter regulatory ketogenesis with early neonatal hypoglycaemia, but hypothermia, male gender, and low infant T4 were associated with impaired counter regulation after birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A child is described with rickets and alopecia who did not respond to high doses of vitamin D3 but who responded to a small dose of 1-alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3. Treatment was continued for 2 years and then stopped. She has not shown any signs of relapse 1 year after stopping treatment. Her alopecia, however, has remained unchanged. One year after stopping treatment, her serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol and parathormone levels were within normal limits but serum 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol was elevated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study of the accuracy and validity of self-reported age and actual age in children and young people in a rural low income setting like Makwanpur in Nepal. Topics mentioned include the sources of misclassification bias in international surveys of children and young people including the age reported by parents, the data considered for calculating the true age of a child, and the assessment of measurement agreement using Bland Altman plots.

Household Air Pollution (HAP) from biomass cooking fuels is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in low-income settings worldwide. In Nepal the use of open stoves with solid biomass fuels is the primary method of domestic cooking. To assess patterns of domestic air pollution we performed continuous measurement of carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate Matter (PM 2.5 ) in 12 biomass fuel households in Janakpur, Nepal. We measured kitchen PM 2.5 and CO concentrations at one-minute intervals for an approximately 48-h period using the TSI DustTrak II 8530/SidePak AM510 (TSI Inc, St. Paul MN, USA) or EL-USB-CO data logger (Lascar Electronics, Erie PA, USA) respectively. We also obtained information regarding fuel, stove and kitchen characteristics and cooking activity patterns. Household cooking was performed in two daily sessions (median total duration 4 h) with diurnal variability in pollutant concentrations reflecting morning and evening cooking sessions and peak concentrations associated with fire-lighting. We observed a strong linear relationship between PM 2.5 measurements obtained by co-located photometric and gravimetric monitoring devices, providing local calibration factors of 4.9 (DustTrak) and 2.7 (SidePak). Overall 48-h average CO and PM 2.5 concentrations were 5.4 (SD 4.3) ppm (12 households) and 417.6 (SD 686.4) μg/m 3 (8 households), respectively, with higher average concentrations associated with cooking and heating activities. Overall average PM 2.5 concentrations and peak 1-h CO concentrations exceeded WHO Indoor Air Quality Guidelines. Average hourly PM 2.5 and CO concentrations were moderately correlated (r = 0.52), suggesting that CO has limited utility as a proxy measure for PM 2.5 exposure assessment in this setting. Domestic indoor air quality levels associated with biomass fuel combustion in this region exceed WHO Indoor Air Quality standards and are in the hazardous range for human health., (Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

The exposure of children to air pollution in low resource settings is believed to be high because of the common use of biomass fuels for cooking. We used microenvironment sampling to estimate the respirable fraction of air pollution (particles with median diameter less than 4 μm) to which 7-9 year old children in southern Nepal were exposed. Sampling was conducted for a total 2649 h in 55 households, 8 schools and 8 outdoor locations of rural Dhanusha. We conducted gravimetric and photometric sampling in a subsample of the children in our study in the locations in which they usually resided (bedroom/living room, kitchen, veranda, in school and outdoors), repeated three times over one year. Using time activity information, a 24-hour time weighted average was modeled for all the children in the study. Approximately two-thirds of homes used biomass fuels, with the remainder mostly using gas. The exposure of children to air pollution was very high. The 24-hour time weighted average over the whole year was 168 μg/m(3). The non-kitchen related samples tended to show approximately double the concentration in winter than spring/autumn, and four times that of the monsoon season. There was no difference between the exposure of boys and girls. Air pollution in rural households was much higher than the World Health Organization and the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Nepal recommendations for particulate exposure., (Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Perinatal mortality rate is very high in developing countries including Nepal. Analyzing perinatal deaths help in identifying preventable factors thus help in reducing it. Analysis of causes of perinatal deaths over a period in a hospital will help to identify the perinatal mortality trend and preventable factors thus help in taking corrective measures to reduce the perinatal mortality rate. The aim of the study is to analyse perinatal deaths and ascertain perinatal mortality trend of Kathmandu Medical College Teaching hospital in the last 8 year period., Methods: Stillbirths and early neonatal deaths from 2002 to 2011 are collected from the register book of the labour room, special care baby unit and operation theatre of the hospital. Perinatal mortality rate and extended perinatal mortality rates are calculated and perinatal deaths were classified according to Wigglesworth's classification. Trend of Perinatal and Extended Perinatal mortality rates, stillbirth rates and early neonatal death rates among 5 perinatal death audits of the hospital were compared., Results: In the first perinatal death audit (Oct '02-Sept '03) perinatal mortality rate (PMR) was recorded as 30.7 per 1000 births and extended perinatal mortality rate (EPMR) as 47.9 per 1000 births, where as in the fifth perinatal death audit (Apr '10-Mar '11) PMR was recorded as 14.4 per 1000 births and EPMR as 19.6 per 1000 births. In Wigglesworth's classification, in the first perinatal death audit, most of the perinatal deaths were in group IV (41%) reflecting more asphyxial deaths however in fifth audit, group III mortality (41%) was highest indicating death of low birth weight or preterm babies. In the first audit, stillbirth rate (SBR) excluding <1 kg was 18.1 per 1000 births and early neonatal deaths (ENND) excluding <1 kg was 12.9 per 1000 live births. In the fifth audit, SBR (excluding <1 kg) and ENND rate (excluding <1 kg) were 7.1 per 1000 births and 7.2 per 1000 live births respectively reflecting declining trend of both SBR and ENND rate in the hospital., Conclusions: Distinct declining trend in PMR, EPMR, SBR and ENND rates at KMCTH were noted. As asphyxial deaths have been reduced significantly, more intensive efforts are needed to prevent premature births with care of preterm and very low birth weight babies.

The Publisher regrets that an error occurred in the name of the 6th listed co-author for this paper. B. Matthias was listed in the original paper instead of M. Borchert; the correct listing can be seen above.

Women's groups, working through participatory learning and action, can improve maternal and newborn survival. We describe how they stimulated change in rural Nepal and the factors influencing their effectiveness. We collected data from 19 women's group members, 2 group facilitators, 16 health volunteers, 2 community leaders, 21 local men, and 23 women not attending the women's groups, through semi-structured interviews, group interviews, focus group discussions and unstructured observation of groups. Participants took photographs of their locality for discussion in focus groups using photoelicitation methods. Framework analysis procedures were used, and data fed back to respondents. When group members were compared with 11 184 women who had recently delivered, we found that they were of similar socioeconomic status, despite the context of poverty, and caste inequalities. Four mechanisms explain the women's group impact on health outcomes: the groups learned about health, developed confidence, disseminated information in their communities, and built community capacity to take action. Women's groups enable the development of a broader understanding of health problems, and build community capacity to bring health and development benefit., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

Background: Perinatal (stillbirths and first week neonatal deaths) and neonatal (deaths in the first 4 weeks) mortality rates remain high in developing countries like Nepal. As most births and deaths occur in the community, an option to ascertain causes of death is to conduct verbal autopsy., Objective: The objective of this study was to classify and review the causes of stillbirths and neonatal deaths in Dhanusha district, Nepal., Materials and Methods: Births and neonatal deaths were identified prospectively in 60 village development committees of Dhanusha district. Families were interviewed at six weeks after delivery, using a structured questionnaire. Cause of death was assigned independently by two pediatricians according to a predefined algorithm; disagreement was resolved in discussion with a consultant neonatologist., Results: There were 25,982 deliveries in the 2 years from September 2006 to August 2008. Verbal autopsies were available for 601/813 stillbirths and 671/954 neonatal deaths. The perinatal mortality rate was 60 per 1000 births and the neonatal mortality rate 38 per 1000 live births. 84% of stillbirths were fresh and obstetric complications were the leading cause (67%). The three leading causes of neonatal death were birth asphyxia (37%), severe infection (30%) and prematurity or low birth weight (15%). Most infants were delivered at home (65%), 28% by relatives. Half of women received an injection (presumably an oxytocic) during home delivery to augment labour. Description of symptoms commensurate with birth asphyxia was commoner in the group of infants who died (41%) than in the surviving group (14%)., Conclusion: The current high rates of stillbirth and neonatal death in Dhanusha suggest that the quality of care provided during pregnancy and delivery remains sub-optimal. The high rates of stillbirth and asphyxial mortality imply that, while efforts to improve hygiene need to continue, intrapartum care is a priority. A second area for consideration is the need to reduce the uncontrolled use of oxytocic for augmentation of labour.

Introduction: Perinatal mortality rate is a sensitive indicator of quality of care provided to women in pregnancy, at and after child birth and to the newborns in the first week of life. Regular perinatal audit would help in identifying all the factors that play a role in causing perinatal deaths and thus help in appropriate interventions to reduce avoidable perinatal deaths., Aims and Objectives: This study was carried out to determine perinatal mortality rate (PMR) and the factors responsible for perinatal deaths at KMCTH in the two year period from November 2003 to October 2005 (Kartik 2060 B.S. to Ashoj 2062)., Methodology: This is a prospective study of all the still births and early neonatal deaths in KMCTH during the two year period from November 2003 to October 2005. Details of each perinatal death were filled in the standard perinatal death audit forms of the Department of Pediatrics, KMCTH. Perinatal deaths were analyzed according to maternal characteristics like maternal age, parity, type of delivery and fetal characteristics like sex, birth weight and gestational age and classify neonatal deaths according to Wigglesworth's classification and comparison made with earlier similar study., Results: Out of the 1517 total births in the two year period, 22 were still births (SB) and 10 were early neonatal deaths (ENND). Out of the 22 SB, two were of < 1 kg in weight and out of 10 ENND, one was of <1 kg. Thus, perinatal mortality rate during the study period was 19.1 and extended perinatal mortality rate was 21.1 per 1000 births. The important causes of perinatal deaths were extreme prematurity, birth asphyxia, congenital anomalies and associated maternal factors like antepartum hemorrhage and most babies were of very low birth weight. According to Wigglesworth's classification, 43.8% of perinatal deaths were in Group I, 12.5% in Group II, 28.1% in Group III, 12.5% in Group IV and 12.5% in Group V., Discussion: The perinatal death audit done in KMCTH for 1 year period from September 2002 to August 2003 showed perinatal mortality rate of 30.7 and extended perinatal mortality rate of 47.9 per 1000 births. There has been a significant reduction in the perinatal mortality rate in the last 2 years at KMCTH. Main reasons for improvement in perinatal mortality rate were improvement in care of both the mothers and the newborns and the number of births have also increased significantly in the last 2 years without appropriate increase in perinatal deaths., Conclusion: Good and regular antenatal care, good care at the time of birth including appropriate and timely intervention and proper care of the sick neonates are important in reducing perinatal deaths. Prevention of preterm births, better care and monitoring during the intranatal period and intensive care of low birth weight babies would help in further reducing perinatal deaths. Key words: Perinatal mortality rate (PMR), still births, early neonatal death (ENND), Total perinatal death (PND).

Objective of this study was to see the prevalence rate of anemia in children among the age of 6-60 months who attended paediatric out patient department of Kathmandu Medical College. 100 children aged 6-60 months were randomly selected for hemoglobin measurement and anthropometry. Detailed clinical examination including anthropometry was done. Hemoglobin was checked by Hemocue machine with prior consent from the attendant. Mean height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) were measured. Forty six percent of the study group population had hemoglobin <11 gm/dl, similar numbers of the children were in the various state of malnutrition. Twenty eight percent of the children came from outside of the valley residing in Kathmandu. Fifty percent were illiterate or had primary level education only. Poverty, high rate of illiteracy and lack of awareness on taking appropriate food were important factors related to such a high childhood anemia. Iron supplementation should be given to the children particularly in the age group of 6 months to 3 years.

The study aimed to determine the number of children and young people reported as having a disability by family members, and to classify impairments leading to disability. A Cross-sectional census was conducted of all households in 24 rural geopolitical units of Makwanpur district, Nepal. Heads of household were asked about family members under the age of 20 with disability. Such members were resident in 733 of 28,376 households, a household prevalence of 2.58%. 829 people under the age of 20 were reported as having a disability, a population prevalence of 0.95%. The commonest functional impairments reported were motor and the commonest anatomical impairments involved the limbs. More males with disability were identified than females.

Objective: To study the mean, standard deviation and centiles for anthropometry and haemoglobin in healthy term infants followed up to 12 months of age., Design: Cohort study., Settings: Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital (KMCTH) in Kathmandu., Subject: Consecutive healthy term newborns Method: 100 consecutive healthy term newborns were enrolled at birth.19 babies were lost in follow up. So, 81(45 male, 36 female) healthy, full term infants were followed up from birth to 12 months of age. Anthropometry (weight, length, and head circumference) and haemoglobin were measured at birth, 6 weeks, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months of age. Haemoglobin was estimated by Hemocue microcuvette method. The data so obtained was subjected to statistical analysis by using SPSS computer package., Main Outcomes: Mean, centile and standard deviation score values for weight (Kgs), infant length (cms), head circumference (cms) and haemoglobin (gm/dl) at birth, 6 weeks, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months of age., Results: Out of 100 babies enrolled, data presented here is for the remaining 81 babies. Among 81 babies, 76 were appropriate for gestational age (AGA) and 3 were small for gestation (SFD). The mean, standard deviation and percentile values are presented for anthropometry (weight, length and head circumference) and haemoglobin at birth, 6 weeks, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months of age. The mean birth weight was 3.05 kg (SD 0.41). The mean infant length and head circumference at birth were 49 cm (2.28) and 33.8 cm (SD1.4) respectively. The mean haemoglobin at birth was 15.7 gm/dl (SD 2.29). At 12 months of age mean weight, length, head circumference and haemoglobin were 9 kg (SD 0.81), 73.5 cm (SD 2.9), 45 cm (SD 1.2 ) and 11.1 gm/dl (SD 1.41) respectively. Almost 50% of the babies at 6 weeks, 9 months and 12 months of age were found to be anaemic (Hb < 11 gm/dl). Among the babies, 49% were exclusively breast fed for 6 months of age. Other feeding practices seen were, mothers breast feed with water supplementation (25%), mothers breast feeding with formula feed (16%) and formula feeding only (5%). National and international comparisons of anthropometry and haemoglobin data are shown in table.

Perinatal mortality rate (PMR), which indicates quality of care provided to women in pregnancy, at and after child birth and to the newborns in the first week of life, is high in Nepal. Published results show wide variation in PMR in the country. Higher rates are in the community and hospitals outside Kathmandu. Reduction of PMR is an important strategy in improving maternal and neonatal health and requires identification of factors related to perinatal deaths. Perinatal death audit is a process of assessing factors related to a perinatal death. It helps in reducing perinatal mortality by identifying preventable factors related to perinatal deaths. Classifying perinatal deaths into 5 groups of Wigglesworth helps in identifying major obstetric or neonatal factors related perinatal deaths. Major factors related to perinatal deaths in Nepal are poor antenatal care, poor monitoring and assistance at birth and lack of adequate neonatal care services. Regular perinatal audit would identify factors and lapses related to perinatal deaths and thus help in taking appropriate interventions to reduce avoidable perinatal deaths.

Introduction: Perinatal mortality is a sensitive indicator of the quality of service provided to pregnant women and their new borns. Regular audit of perinatal mortality will help in finding out preventive factors and thus helps in reducing perinatal mortality rate in an institution., Objective: This study was carried out to determine perinatal mortality rate (PMR) and the factors associated with it at KMCTH in the one year period (Bhadra 2059-Shrawan 2060), Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study of entire still births and early neonatal deaths that occurred at KMCTH during the one year period (Bhadra 2059-Shrawan 2060). The study was done by collecting the data of all stillbirths and early neonatal deaths from record books of the Special Care Baby Unit, Labour Room and operation theatre., Results: Out of 563 total births in the one year study period, 17 were still births (SB) and 10 were early neonatal death (ENND). Out of 17 SB, 7 were of < 1 kg and out of 10 ENND, 3 were of < 1 kg. Thus, perinatal mortality rate during the study period was 30.7 and extended perinatal mortality rate was 47.9 per 1000 births. Perinatal deaths were mostly due to extreme prematurity, birth asphyxia, septicemia and congenital anomalies. According to Wiggleworths classification, 18.5% of perinatal deaths were in Group I, 14.8% in Group II, 22.3% in Group III, 40.7% in Group IV and 3.7% in Group V. Intrapartum asphyxia was the commonest cause of perinatal deaths, but majority of these babies were of low birth weight. Prevention of preterm births, better care during intrapartum period, more intensive care of very low birth weight and preterm babies would help in reducing the present high perinatal mortality.

Gilbert syndrome is benign, often familial condition characterized by recurrent but asymptomatic mild unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia in the absence of haemolysis or underlying liver disease. If, it becomes apparent, it is not until adolescence and then usually in association with stress such as intercurrent illness, fasting or strenuous exercise. Virtually all patients have decreased level of UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase, but there also is evidence for a defect in hepatic uptake of bilirubin as well. This case is reported due to its rarity. The prevalence of Gilbert syndrome in U.S is 3-7% of the population.

Five and half years male child with one day history of pain abdomen and vomiting who was on aspirin for suspected rheumatoid arthritis presented initially with acute gastritis. Next day, however he developed the signs of encephalopathy with altered liver function.