Practice among Healthcare Workers Regarding the Use of Respiratory Protective Equipment during COVID-19 Pandemic in a Tertiary Care Center: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Healthcare workers are always at the risk of exposure to different diseases like respiratory illness including COVID-19. Using appropriate face mask or respiratory protective equipment correctly can prevent transmission of diseases from and to healthcare workers while caring for patients. The study aimed to find out the practice regarding use of face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in a tertiary care center. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital during June-July 2020 after receiving ethical approval from the review committee regarding practice of use of face masks. Convenience sampling method was used and a sample size of 162 was taken. Descriptive statistical analysis was done. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data. RESULTS: Among 162 participants, 123 (75.9%) knew the correct way of using the masks (72.5-79.3 at 95% Confidence Interval). CONCLUSIONS: In this study regarding practice of use of face masks, most of the healthcare workers knew the correct way of using masks and practised hygiene before and after using masks.

Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components in Adults with Central Obesity at Janakpur Zone, Nepal.

BACKGROUND: Urbanization, surplus energy uptake, decreased physical activities are general risk factors of metabolic syndrome However, it's status, and associated components remain unexplored in the Terai region of Nepal. This study evaluated the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components among adults with central obesity of Terai region of Nepal using International Diabetes Federation criteria. METHODS: Community based cross-sectional study was conducted in three Terai districts of Janakpur Zone, Nepal. A total of 378 adults having central obesity were selected using cluster sampling by camp approach. Interview, physical and clinical examination, measurement of fasting blood sugar, and lipid profile were conducted for all participants. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components with 95% CI were estimated. RESULTS: The metabolic syndrome prevalence was 74.9% (95% CI:70.2-79.2%), with no significant differences between male (77.7%, 95% CI:71.0-83.5%) and female (72.2%, 95% CI: 65.2-78.3%). The most common factors observed were low high density lipoproteins with highly significant differences between male (77.7%, 95% CI:71.0-83.5%)) and female (90.2%, 95% CI: 85.094.0%-; p=0.001) and hypertriglyceridemia with significant differences between male (57.6%, 95% CI: 50.1-64.5%) and female (46.9%, 95% CI: 39.7-54.2%; p=0.037). CONCLUSIONS: Higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its risk factors in Janakpur of Nepal likely suggest lack of awareness and health promotion activities for metabolic syndrome and indicate an urgency for a public health program to maintain quality of life.

Groundwater arsenic contamination, its health impact and mitigation program in Nepal.

About 47% of Nepal's total population is living in Terai region and 90% of them are relying on groundwater as their major source of drinking water. About 200,000 shallow tubewells have been installed by different agencies in 20 Terai districts, serving 11 million people. Recently, arsenic contamination of groundwater has been recognized as a public health problem in Nepal. This has sensitized government, national and international nongovernment organizations working on water quality sector to carry out water quality assessment for arsenic in the affected communities. So far, 15,000 tubewells has been tested where 23% samples exceeded World Health Organization guideline value of 10 microg/L and 5% exceeded "Nepal Interim Arsenic Guideline" of 50 microg/L. It is estimated that around 0.5 million people in Terai are living at risk of arsenic poisoning (>50 microg/L). Some recent studies have reported the prevalence of dermatosis related to arsenicosis from 1.3 to 5.1% and the accumulation of arsenic in biological samples like hair and nail much higher than the acceptable level. Though some steps are being taken by government and private organizations to combat the problem, it has not been able to cover all the affected communities. Nepal still needs more research work on arsenic occurrence and effects and mitigation programs simultaneously.