Level and Associated Factors of Knowledge regarding Menstrual Hygiene among School-Going Adolescent Girls in Dang District, Nepal.

BACKGROUND: Adolescent girls in developing countries do not have proper information, and proper information is covered up by sociocultural boundaries resulting in various morbidities. This study aimed to determine level of knowledge and its associated factors regarding menstrual hygiene amongst adolescent school girls in Dang district, Nepal. METHODS: Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted between April and October 2019 among 406 adolescent girls studying in grades 8-10 between ages of 10-19 years in Dang district, Nepal. From a total of 10 local units, 5 were selected randomly. Out of the selected 5 units, 10 schools consisting of 5 government and 5 private schools were selected through disproportionate stratified random sampling. A further 406 students were then selected randomly from the 10 selected schools. Bivariate analysis was used primarily to assess the association between dependent and independent variables. Variables which were associated with bivariate analysis were entered into a multivariable logistic regression model to identify associated factors of menstrual hygiene practice. RESULTS: The mean age and family size were 15.13 ± 1.19 and 5.58 ± 1.81, respectively. A total of 87.7% of adolescents had good knowledge regarding menstrual hygiene. Adolescents living in rural area (AOR = 0.27, CI: 0.12-0.61, p ≤ 0.001), private schools (AOR = 6.10, CI: 1.58-23.46, p ≤ 0.001), mothers who can read and write (AOR = 0.22, CI: 0.07-0.64, p ≤ 0.001), fathers who have up-to-grade-10 education (AOR = 5.15, CI: 1.84-14.39, p ≤ 0.001), and living only with mothers (AOR = 0.29, CI: 0.12-0.69, p ≤ 0.018) were significantly associated with level of knowledge of menstrual hygiene. CONCLUSIONS: Though the majority of respondents had a good level of knowledge regarding menstrual hygiene, there was a knowledge gap in specific areas. The level of knowledge was significantly poor among adolescents in rural areas and those living only with mothers. Thus, this study concerns the need for policy makers to focus on specific education regarding menstrual hygiene in rural areas including both parents.

Prevalence of E. Coli in Urinary Tract Infection of Children Aged 1-15 Years in A Medical College of Eastern Nepal.

INTRODUCTION: Urinary tract infection is one of the commonest causes of childhood morbidity. Early diagnosis and appropriate choice of antimicrobials is essential. Hence, this study aims to identify the prevalence of Escherichia coli in childhood urinary tract infections. METHODS: This was a hospital based descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in Nobel Medical College, Biratnagar over a period of one year. A total of 163 cases aged 1-15 years were included and clinical profile, laboratory reports including bacterial isolates in urine cultures and their sensitivity patterns were documented. RESULTS: The prevalence of Escherichia coli is 45 (53.57%) C.I. Escherichia coli was the most common organism isolated in bacterial cultures followed by Klebsiella 12 (14.29%), Enterococcus 10 (11.90%). Urinary tract infection was common among females with male: female ratio of 1:2.3. Fever 152 (93.2%) and abdominal pain 113 (69.3%) were the most common presenting symptoms. Escherichia coli was found most sensitive to Nitrofurantoin 43 (95.5%) followed by Ciprofloxacin 41 (91.1%) and Amikacin 40 (88.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Urinary tract infections in childhood require prompt attention and treatment to prevent significant morbidity and mortality. From this study it can be concluded that Escherichia coli is one of the most common isolates in urine culture and Aminoglycosides and Fluoroquinolones can be accepted as empirical treatment regimens for childhood Urinary tract infections.

Mean Birth Weight and Mean placental Weight among Deliveries in a Tertiary Care Hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Placenta is an organ that connects the developing fetus to the uterine wall to allow nutrient uptake, provide thermo-regulation to the fetus, waste elimination, and gas exchange. The present study was undertaken to look for mean birth weight and placental weight among deliveries in a tertiary care hospital. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary hospital of Nepal. Ethical clearance was taken from institutional review comittee of hospital. Mothers with term and preterm gestation, their infants and the placentas were the subjects for the study. The study was conducted on 158 term and preterm deliveries. Placental weight, birth weight, gestational age, neonates' gender, weight, length and head circumference were recorded. RESULTS: The mean of weight of total 158 placentas was 449.24±82.07 g and the mean of birth weights was 2872.84±478.88 g. Out of 158 deliveries, 138 (87.4%) babies were of term gestation and 20 (12.6%) babies were preterm. CONCLUSIONS: Mean birth weight and placental weights are similar to that found on similar studies done on other hospitals. Knowing the mean placental weight and birth weight which relates to different functional dimensions of placenta and baby growth helps for further evaluation of placenta and baby.