Intimate partner violence against married women of reproductive age in Nepal during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health concern in Nepal and its prevalence has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of IPV among married women of reproductive age in Nepal during the pandemic. Methods: A web-based survey was conducted with 420 participants using a validated questionnaire adopted from the World Health Organization. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed. Results: Our study found that 52.62% of participants experienced IPV during the COVID-19 pandemic with economic violence being the most prevalent type (38.81%) and followed by behavioral control (37.14%), emotional violence (26.20%), physical violence (21.43%), and sexual violence (14.05%). Despite the high level of IPV, only 14% of participants sought help and only 6% reported the violence to the police. Univariate analyses showed that factors such as the husband's level of education and occupation, number of children, property ownership, husband's alcohol use, relationship and quarrels with the husband, fear of the husband, and participation in decision-making were associated with an increased risk of IPV. Multivariate analysis revealed that women involved in decision-making faced a 2.52 times higher risk of violence, that women who reported daily quarrels had a risk 5.47 times that of women who did not endorse fights, and that women who were afraid of their husbands had a risk 16 times that of women who did not report fear. Conclusion: This study reveals a concerning prevalence of IPV among married women in Nepal during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings emphasize the low reporting rates and help-seeking behavior among IPV victims. They also highlight the significant influence of factors such as participation in decision-making, frequent quarrels, and fear. These findings underscore the urgent need to establish support systems for IPV victims and develop targeted interventions tailored to the local context. Furthermore, conducting comprehensive research and understanding the interplay of contributing factors can guide the formulation of effective strategies to combat this pervasive societal problem.

Plasmablastic lymphoma of the colon in HIV negative patient; a case report with literature review.

Introduction: Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a rare and aggressive variant of diffuse large B cell lymphoma characterized by weak or absent expression of conventional B cell markers and strong expression of plasma cell markers. Very few cases of PBL of the colon have been reported in HIV negative patients. Case presentation: A 57 years female with HIV negative serology, a known case of hypertension under medication presented with right lower abdominal pain associated with vomiting and significant weight loss. On abdominal examination, soft, tender, and globular lump was palpable. Contrast enhanced computed tomography of abdomen and pelvis revealed asymmetrical enhancing mass like wall thickening involving ileocaecal region, caecum, and ascending colon, which on colonoscopy was found to be ulceroproliferative in nature. Open right hemicolectomy was performed and postoperative histopathology and immunohistochemistry results confirmed plasmablastic lymphoma as the final diagnosis. She was treated with nine cycles of chemotherapy. Clinical discussion: Although PBL is commonly found in the oral cavity, and HIV positive patients, it can rarely occur in extra-oral sites, and HIV negative patients. Due to its rarity, no optimal therapeutic approach has yet been defined for the treatment of PBL. It has a poor prognosis, and the overall survival rate has been correlated with international prognostic index score and achievement of complete remission. Conclusion: As plasmablastic lymphoma is rare and highly aggressive, its delayed diagnosis will lead to poor outcome. Thus, awareness about its clinical presentation, histopathological features, and immunophenotype is essential.

Intestinal Obstruction among Patients Admitted in the Department of Surgery of a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction: Although intestinal obstruction is a very common surgical emergency, there is a dearth of evidence regarding its prevalence at our institute. The objective of this study is to find out the prevalence of intestinal obstruction among patients admitted to the Department of Surgery of a tertiary care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study on a total of 6735 admitted patients' in Department of Surgery a tertiary care centre was conducted from 1st January, 2014 to 31st March, 2015. Data were collected retrospectively with ethical approval from Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 106/071/072). All patients admitted to the surgery ward of the hospital with an age of 18 and above were included in the study. Convenience sampling was used. The data were recorded and analyzed using Microsoft Excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 16.0. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data. Results: Out of the 6735 admitted cases, the prevalence of intestinal obstruction among the admitted patients in the surgery department of the tertiary care centre was found to be 100 (1.48%) (1.19-1.77 at 95% Confidence Interval). The most common presentations were pain in the abdomen 93 (93%), vomiting 74 (74%), and abdominal distension 55 (55%). Conclusions: The prevalence of intestinal obstruction in our study was lower than the similar studies done in similar settings. Keywords: intestinal obstruction; large intestine; small intestine; surgery.