Background Universal health coverage (UHC) assures all types of health service and protects all citizens financially in any conditions due to illness. Globally, the UN sustainable development goal (SDG) provides high priority for UHC as a health related goal. The National health system of Nepal has prioritized in similar way. The aim of this study is to explore the challenges and opportunities on the road to UHC in Nepal. Method We used varieties of search terminologies with popular search engines like PubMed, Google, Google Scholar, etc. to identify studies regarding Nepal’s progress towards UHC. Reports of original studies, policies, guidelines and government manuals were taken from the web pages of Ministry of Health and its department/division. Searches were designed to identify the status of service coverage on UHC, financial protection on health particularly, health insurance coverage with its legal status. Other associated factors related to UHC were also explored and presented in Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) flow chart. Results We found 14 studies that were related to legal assurance, risk pulling and financing of health service, 11 studies associated to UHC service coverage status and, 7 articles linked to government stewardship, health system and governance on health care. Constitutional provision, global support, progress on the health insurance act, decentralization of health service to the grass root level, positive trends of increasing service coverage are seen as opportunities. However, existing volunteer types of health insurance, misleading role of trade unions and high proportion of population outside the country are main challenges. The political commitment under the changing political context, a sense of national priority and international support were identified as the facilitating factors towards UHC. Conclusion To achieve UHC, service and population coverage of health services has to be expanded along with financial protection for marginalized communities. Government stewardship, support of stakeholders and fair contribution and distribution of resources by appropriate health financing modality can speed up the path of UHC in Nepal.

Background: Preterm births are vulnerable to morbidities and require hospitalization in the neonatal care unit (NCU). The situation is stressful for mothers influencing their attachment and care to the newborns. Therefore, this study was conducted to explore the experience of mothers having preterm newborns in NCU. Methods: The qualitative study was conducted among purposively selected 13 mothers of NCU admitted preterm infants at Tribhuvan University, Teaching Hospital. Data was collected using in-depth interview. Colaizzi content analysis method was used for data analysis. Results: Among 13 mothers, 8 were primipara, 25-30 years, homemakers; 6 had Bachelor or above education; 11 had ANC visit > 4 times. Ten infants were very preterm (< 32 weeks gestational age), 11 have very low birth weight (< 1500 gram), 9 born by caesarian section and stayed NICU for 7-14 days. Study identified 5 themes and 18 subthemes: loss of control (fear and anxiety, distress towards pain and suffering, guilt feeling, hopelessness); sense of difference (newborn’s appearance, needs and problems, breastfeeding and parental roles); care of newborn (trust to nurses, confidence and emotional attachment with care involvement,), support for coping (support from family, nurses and other mothers); and difficulties faced (distance to NCU, inadequate guidance and information, and lack of supportive environment) Conclusion: The hospitalization of preterm newborns in NCUs was usually stressful situation for mothers. Their positive experience and coping was related with provided guidance support and involvement in newborn care. Therefore, nurses working in NCU should consider these care components in their practice.

Introduction: Job satisfaction refers to the employees having a feeling of job stability, career growth and a comfortable work life balance which implies that the employee is having satisfaction at job and the individual’s expectations are met. Job satisfaction is one of the most important factors that determine efficiency and productivity of human resources. It is vital to increase nurse’s job satisfaction to improve patients care quality and ensure adequate nursing workforce which helps in the development of effective strategies to address the nursing shortage and increase the quality of patient care. The objective of this study was to assess the level of job satisfaction among nurses working in the government hospital. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted. All the nursing staffs working in Kanti Children’s Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal were the study population and the total sample size was 81, selected using stratified random sampling techniques from different wards. The information was collected by using self-administered structured questionnaire. Level of job satisfaction was assessed by using 5point Likert Scale. The collected data were entered into SPSS version 16 and were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The study findings showed that almost half (46.9%) of the respondents were satisfied with their current job. The satisfaction mean score obtained by work itself and nursing practice was (23.35 + 4.25) followed by advancement opportunity with mean value (20.44 + 4.97). Similarly, the satisfaction score obtained for recognition and reward (6.80 + 2.62) followed by participation in decision making with mean value (9.45 + 2.24). There was a statistical association between the level of job satisfaction and ethnicity (p = 0.41), marital status (p = 0.005), professional qualification (p = 0.001) and work experience (p = 0.002) of the respondents. Conclusions: Based on the findings it is concluded that nearly half of the nurses were satisfied with their job. The most satisfying factor is the work itself whereas the least satisfying factor is the recognition and reward given to them followed by participation in decision making.

Background and Objectives: Nursing is practice oriented education where knowledge, skill and attitudes are taught simultaneously. Learning environment, resources and supportive measures are the important factors for determining academic success and learning. The objective of this study was to find out the perception of the B.Sc. level pass out students towards the academic course provided to them.Material and Methods: Descriptive study was conducted to find out the perception of the students. Self-administered questionnaire were used to collect information regarding demographic information of the respondents and their perceptions were viewed in terms of learning environment, resources and supportive measures. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data and findings were presented in tables in terms of frequency and percentage.Results: Almost all (93%) of the respondents were living in Kathmandu permanently, only 41% of them had nursing as their first professional career. Most of them (82.8%) responded that the course content were enough. More than half of the respondent (58.6%) suggested adding more content on FP/MCH/ Immunization. Very few 13% felt that courses like health teaching (13.8%) in first year, nail care (6.9%) and bed making (10.3%) seems unnecessary. Very few that were only 31% of teachers met the student’s expectation and were not satisfied with the teaching strategy of most of the teachers. Senior students were the most (56.7%) helping characters in their learning period. More than ninety percent (93%) had their plan to go abroad for job/study and the choice of country was USA (41.3%).Conclusion: Based on the findings it was concluded that certain changes in the course is necessary and teaching strategies has to be modified for better results. Janaki Medical College Journal of Medical Sciences (2017) Vol. 5(1): 49-54

Introduction: Corona virus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel corona virus outbreak a global pandemic on March 11 2020 due to its rapid spread on a global scale. Now the world is in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic. More than 157289118 cases have been reported in 222 countries and mortality has reached a total of 3277272. The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is to be well informed about COVID-19 virus, the disease its causes and how it spreads. Adequate knowledge, positive attitude and good practice are the only key to control the pandemic. This review aims to study the present level of knowledge, attitude and practice done among respondents in various countries. Methods: The review presents a summary of studies done on knowledge, attitude and practice during COVID-19 pandemic among the primary level students, graduate and post graduate students and the general population. Research articles were accessed through online search from November 2020 to April 2021. Collected articles were reviewed and conclusions were drawn in terms of knowledge score, attitude score and the level of practice.  Results: The study population were from China, Nepal, India, Iraq, Bangladesh, Palestine, Nigeria, and Egypt. The population of study varies from primary level students to post graduate university level students and most of the studies were done on general population. Among the studies knowledge score ranged from minimum 48.3% in Bangladesh to highest 99.5% in Nigeria where knowledge was gained mainly through social media and television. The attitude score ranged from minimum 4.54 + 1.76 (Range 0 - 8) in Wuhan, China to maximum 79.5% in Nigeria. Similarly, the practice score ranged from 51.6% in Bangladesh to 87.9% in China. Conclusions: Analysis reveals that the level of knowledge was average, have positive attitude and good practices. Utility of knowledge and positive attitudes and application of knowledge into practice will hopefully can control the spread of COVID-19. Key Words: Attitude; Knowledge; Practice; Review