Stigma related to tuberculosis among patients attending DOTS clinics of Dharan municipality.

BACKGROUND: The patients suffering from tuberculosis are receiving shame and unfair treatment from the people living around them within their own society attending DOTS clinic of Dharan municipality. OBJECTIVE: To assess the stigma experienced by tuberculosis patients and to find out the association between stigma experienced by Tuberculosis patient and the selected variables (socio-demographic characteristics, clinical profile and illness experience). METHODS: Descriptive Cross Sectional study was done among sixty tuberculosis patients. Stratified random sampling was used to select the main center and sub center of Tuberculosis treatment and population proportionate simple random sampling using lottery method was done. Data was collected using predesigned, pretested performa from Explanatory Model Interview Catalogue developed by World Health Organization. RESULTS: The study revealed that 63.3% of the subjects were stigmatized. There was association between stigma and variables such as occupation, monthly family income and past history of Tuberculosis. There was also association of stigma with treatment phase, category of the patient and past outcome of illness. CONCLUSION: Due to lack of knowledge and awareness about Tuberculosis, many patients were stigmatized. Efforts should be made to educate the public about Tuberculosis to reduce stigma experienced by Tuberculosis patients and improve the compliance of the patient.

Plasma and aqueous humur ascorbic acid levels in people with cataract from diverse geographical regions of Nepal.

Ascorbic acid in aqueous humor of the eye has a role as an antioxidant in delaying cataract formation. In a cross-sectional comparative study, ascorbic acid levels from aqueous humor and venous blood obtained from patients with cataracts in mountainous regions (1,300-2,000 meters) and subtropical lowlands (<100 meters) of Nepal were measured spectrophotometrically with the objective of comparing the levels of aqueous humor ascorbic acid in patients with cataracts from these two diverse geographical regions. Of 131 patients included in the study, 59 were from the mountainous region of Nepal (Group A) and 72 were from the subtropical lowlands (Group B). The mean (+/- SD) plasma ascorbic acid level (mg%) of the subjects in Group A was 0.65 (+/- 0.20) and Group B was 0.85 (+/- 0.31). The aqueous ascorbic acid levels ranged from 12-28 mg % (mean +/-SD = 17.5+/-4.52) and 14-50 mg % (mean +/-SD =23.47+/-8.66) in Groups A and B, respectively. The difference of the plasma and aqueous humor ascorbic acid levels between the two groups was statistically significant (p<0.01). The plasma and aqueous humor ascorbic acid levels in the people with cataracts from the mountainous region of Nepal were significantly lower than those from subtropical lowlands. This may be because of the effect of high altitude and ultraviolet rays on ascorbic acid metabolism.