Health literacy and its determinants among school-going children: a school-based cross-sectional study in Nepal.

Limited health literacy is linked to unhealthy behaviors, adverse health outcomes, poor quality of life and financial burdens on society. However, little is known about the level of health literacy, especially among school-going children. This cross-sectional study assesses health literacy levels and their determinants in 354 school children from Kathmandu Metropolitan City, utilizing a multi-stage cluster sampling method. The 10-item Health Literacy for School-Aged Children was used to measure the student's literacy levels. Bivariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression at the significance level of 0.05 were performed to determine factors associated with limited health literacy. The majority of participants (76.6%) had moderate health literacy, while 13.8% had a high level and 9.6% had a low level of health literacy. Students from nuclear families had lower odds [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 0.4; 95% CI: 0.2-0.8] of having limited health literacy. Students whose mother education was up to secondary school (aOR: 10.1; 95% CI: 1.3-78.9), students with pre-existing mental health conditions (aOR: 3.7; 95% CI: 1.4-9.6) and students with unsatisfactory health status (aOR: 3.9; 95% CI: 1.5-10.5) had higher odds to have limited health literacy. These results suggest the importance of prioritizing school health promotion and education activities for students with pre-existing mental health conditions and mothers with low educational attainment. Implementing peer support group programs for children with mental illnesses, mobilizing school health professionals and introducing interventions such as vocational training of mothers can collectively improve health literacy among school-going children.

Sexual Dysfunctions among Diabetic and Non-diabetic People Attending in Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu Nepal.

BACKGROUND: Sexual dysfunctions including erectile dysfunction among men, a widespread sexual health issue, pose challenges to sexual satisfaction. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of sexual dysfunctions in both diabetic and non-diabetic individuals aged 30-70. METHODS: A study at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, surveyed 350 participants (176 men, 174 women), aged 30-70, with 52.6% having diabetes. The structured interviews and validated questionnaires like IIEF-5 for men and FSFI-6 for women to assess the prevalence and factors associated with erectile dysfunction were used. Statistical tools were employed to measure the associations of different variables with Sexual dysfunctions. RESULTS: Overall, the prevalence of sexual dysfunction was 73.7% (95% CI: 72.4- 73.7) with higher rates in men 83.9% (95% CI: 83.1- 84.7) than women 63.6% (95% CI: 62.0 - 65.2). Individuals with diabetes experienced an 81.5% prevalence of sexual dysfunction (95% CI: 80.6-82.4), whereas non-diabetic individuals exhibited a 65.1% prevalence (95% CI: 63.5-66.7). In the diabetic male population, the prevalence of sexual dysfunction was 97.5% (95% CI: 97.4-97.6), while diabetic females had a prevalence of 68.9% (95% CI: 67.5-70.3). Among non-diabetic men, the percentage of erectile dysfunction was 72% (95% CI: 70.7-73.3), and among non-diabetic women, sexual dysfunction remained 56.2% (95% CI: 54.4-58.0). Among individuals with diabetes, those who used tobacco exhibited a sexual dysfunction prevalence of 93.8% (95% CI: 93.5-94.1), while non-tobacco users had a prevalence of 74.8% (95% CI: 73.6-76.0). In non-diabetic individuals, obesity was associated with a higher prevalence of sexual dysfunctions, reaching 84.6% (95% CI: 83.8-84.6). High blood pressure showed a strong association with sexual dysfunctions in both diabetic (83% with 95% CI: 81.9-83.4) and non-diabetic (70% with 95% CI: 67.7-70.1) groups. Individuals with diabetes for more than five years had a higher rate of sexual dysfunction as 87.8% (95% CI: 86.6-89.0) with 100% in men and 79% in women. However, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of sexual dysfunctions related to obesity and alcohol consumption between diabetics and non-diabetics. CONCLUSIONS: The research highlights a noteworthy association of sexual dysfunctions with individuals with diabetes, male sex, tobacco use, and hypertension. The observed high prevalence of sexual dysfunctions in both diabetic and non diabetic people is a public health concern, emphasizing the need for culturally tailored approaches to address the sexual health of the affected individuals.

Tobacco Use and Its Associated Factors among Undergraduate Public Health Students in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.

Background: Despite the crucial role of public health students in tobacco control, there is a paucity of information regarding tobacco use among this population in Nepal. This study aims to assess the prevalence of tobacco use among undergraduate public health students in Kathmandu valley, Nepal. Methods: A web-based survey was conducted among 386 undergraduate public health students in Kathmandu valley, Nepal, using the Global Health Professions Student Survey (GHPSS) questionnaire. Associated factors were examined using multivariate logistic regression analyses at the level of significance of 0.05. Results: A total of 16.8% of students were current cigarette smokers, 39.9% had ever smoked cigarettes, and 62.2% had smoked their first cigarettes during adolescence. Among the participants, 11.7% currently used other tobacco products. Male students (aOR: 15.4; 95% CI: 4.9-47.8), students with higher age (aOR: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.0-5.4), students belonging to non-Brahmin/Chhetri ethnic group (aOR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.2-4.4), and those staying without family (aOR: 2.0; 95% CI: 1.1-5.0) had higher odds of being current smoker. Similarly, students with a parental history of tobacco use (aOR: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.3-5.0) and friends with smoking habits (aOR: 7.9; 95% CI: 2.3-27.0) were more likely to be a current smoker. Conclusion: There is a notable prevalence of tobacco use among public health students in Kathmandu valley, Nepal. Concerned stakeholders should work jointly to implement a cessation program to discourage tobacco use among these populations who have a potential role in educating communities about the hazards of tobacco smoking, tobacco use prevention, and control.

Perception And Use Of Intrauterine Contraceptive Devices (IUCD) Among Married Women Of Reproductive Age In Bhaktapur, Nepal.

PURPOSE: The copper-T (TCu-380A), an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD), is widely available and is highly effective in terms of safety and effectiveness. Despite this fact, there is low utilization of IUCD in Nepal. This paper describes the perception and use of IUCD among married women of reproductive age attending an institutional clinic in Bhaktapur, Nepal. METHODS: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 273 married women attending the institutional clinic of Bhaktapur hospital who were interviewed by trained staff nurses using semi-structured questionnaires. Systematic random sampling method was applied to select the participants. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between factors associated with utilization of IUCD. RESULTS: Just below half (48.7%) of the participants had heard about IUCD. Only 7.0% of the potential users were currently using IUCD, and all of them had discussed using it with their husbands. Among women aware of IUCD, nearly a quarter of them (23.8%) did not want to use it because of their husband's disapproval and their assumed fear of decreased sexual pleasure. There was a significant association between previous abortion and use of IUCD, where the women who had a history of abortion had increased odds of using the IUCD by 5.45-times compared to those who had not (p=0.01). The women who were counseled about IUCD by health workers were 2.83-times more likely to use an IUCD than those who were not. The women who had a good knowledge level about IUCD as a method of modern contraception had 2.85-times increased odds of using the IUCD compared to those who had poor or no knowledge about it. CONCLUSION: The use of IUCD depends on the support of husbands, knowledge about its safety, efficacy, and counseling.