Introduction: Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is the new public health crisis rapidly threatening the world. A deeper understanding of these devastating lifetime experiences helps to develop a more complete picture of how holistic health may have been affected in survivors from pandemic. The objective of the study was to explore the lived experiences of COVID-19 survivors. Methods: A phenomenological qualitative research design was adopted following purposive sampling traced from the hospital record of Koshi Covid Hospital of Biratnagar, Province 1 Nepal. Based on principles of data saturation, ten covid survivors were interviewed following the interview guide. The obtained data were transcribed in reference to notes and tape recordings, and themes were generated. The data collection and analysis were carried out simultaneously, using thematic analysis phases of Gibson manually. Results: The study findings emerged five themes: key stakeholders in COVID-19 pandemic, mystery of COVID-19, social stigma and discrimination, mass media influence, and safety measures. Most (8/10) of the participants reported COVID-19 as mysterious disease with unknown cause and few (2/10) reported peculiar symptoms (something stuck in throat, presence of abscess in chest, etc). Seven of them faced stigmatizing responses from health care workers and most of them reported inadequate health counseling at health care institutions. Conclusions: COVID-19 survivors were scared of infecting their family and neighbors and of death related to infection. Interventions for breaking the chain of transmission were carried out, however, healthcare workers’ approach of care was inadequate along with stigma and discrimination. Adequate counseling is vital to address physical and psychological issues among survivors.

Introduction: There are many effective prevention interventions available for those experiencing occupational exposure, and post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is one of them. Different studies worldwide have shown low utilization of PEP for HIV due to lack of adequate knowledge. Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge on PEP of HIV among nurses. Methodology: Descriptive cross-sectional research design was used and all the 130 nurses working in a private hospital of Biratnagar were the sample. Self-administered semi-structured questionnaire was used. Descriptive statistics as percentage, mean, median and standard deviation were used to analyse the data. Results: Almost all of the nurses knew the meaning of PEP and the majority were aware about components, indications and best time for initiating PEP after exposure. Less than half had knowledge about appropriate treatment regimen, antiretroviral drugs used for PEP, PEP drugs contraindicated during pregnancy, effectiveness of PEP and duration of protection by PEP. Findings also revealed that only one-third of the nurses (35.8%) had adequate knowledge on PEP of HIV. Conclusion: In least developed and developing countries like Nepal, healthcare workers including nurses have to work in resource-limited settings, putting themselves at higher risk of contracting different blood borne infections, including HIV, a disease without cure so far. Thus the findings reflect the need for the in-service awareness program and the integration of content in the pre-service curriculum on PEP of HIV for the nurses who are at risk for occupational exposure.

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Background: Hypertension is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease, especially for coronary artery disease. Healthy lifestyles will delay the progression of coronary artery disease.Objectives: To find out the life style pattern on prevention of coronary artery disease among hypertensive clients.Methodology: This is a descriptive; cross sectional research design based on quantitative approach. Non probability purposive sampling was used to select 202 respondents attending Outpatient Department at Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Centre, Kathmandu. Data was collected by interview technique using semi-structured questionnaire by researcher herself. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data.Results: Findings of the study showed that 7.90% of hypertensive clients consumed ≥ 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day, whereas 97.52% were engaged in vigorous intensity work and current tobacco and alcohol consumers were 28.57% and 33.80% respectively. Adherence to all four healthy lifestyle pattern (Diet, Physical Activity, Tobacco Use and Alcohol Consumption) was 32.7%, whereas more than half (58.9%) of the clients adhered to three lifestyle pattern. There was significant association between dietary pattern and economic status (p = 0.018) and ethnicity (p = <0.001); and tobacco use and sex (p = <0.001).Conclusion: Adherence to healthy lifestyle pattern of hypertensive clients was inadequate. Thus, health education and other interventions to promote healthy lifestyle pattern are suggested.

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