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Background: Menstrual hygiene is very important aspect for adolescent girls and proper menstrual hygiene has not been sufficiently addressed in developing countries including Nepal. This study aimed to assess the knowledge on menstruation and menstrual hygiene practices among adolescent girls. Methods:Descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescent girls studying in selected schools of Chitwan district. A total 193 girls who had menstrual flow experience for at least three consecutive menstrual cycles were selected as sample using the consecutive sampling technique. Data were analyzed in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0 using descriptive and inferential statistics.Results: Most of the girls knew about menstruation as physiological process, normal age of menstruation, and causes of menstruation as hormonal change. Overall, 66.8% of girls had adequate level of knowledge on menstruation. Regarding practice, 94.8% cleaned their genitalia properly, 93.8% used the sanitary pads, and 97.4% wrapped and disposed the pads in dustbin after use. Overall, 72.5% of girls had good level of menstrual hygiene practices. Adolescent girl's age and grade, and occupation status of their father were significantly associated (p < 0.05) with menstrual hygiene practice. Further, significant positive relationship found between knowledge on menstruation and menstrual hygiene practice. Conclusions:One third of adolescent girls have inadequate knowledge on menstruation and one fourth have poor menstrual hygiene practice. Therefore, an awareness and advocacy programs on menstruation and menstrual hygiene practices are needed for the adolescent girls to safeguard themselves against reproductive tract infections.

Background: Student’s positive perception towards the academic environment determines the quality of education. This study aimed at finding students’ perception on educational environment of the postgraduate nursing programme of Nepal. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional design was conducted among 104 masters level nursing students from four selected nursing campuses under Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University. Enumerative sampling technique was used to select the sample. Data were collected using validated standard tool Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) scale and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Most of the nursing students (81.7%) had positive level of perception on their educational environment and few had excellent perception. Total DREEM mean score was 134.37± 21 out of 200. Specifically, mean score of learning was 31.93 ± 5.1 out of 48, students’ perception of teachers was 30.02 ± 5.072 out of 44; students’ academic self-perception was 22.32 ± 3.54 out of 32; students’ perception of atmosphere was 32.26±5.1 out of 48 and mean score for students social self-perception was 17.82± 3.3 out of 28. Lower mean score < 2.0 was identified on teaching factual learning, opportunities to memorize learning, supporting during stress, time management of programs, well preparation for classes and student’s self-perception. Conclusions: The findings indicate more positive perception on educational environment among postgraduate nursing students. Still some aspects such as teaching factual learning, memorizing learning, supportive students during stress, and social environment need to be emphasized to enhance the students’ educational environment of post-graduate nursing program by the academic institution.

Background: Together with increase in lifespan of human beings, mental health problems among elderly people are also being noticed more. The common problems are anxiety and depression. Timely identification and treatment improve the quality of life of elderly. This may prevent suicide and premature death too. This study aimed to find out anxiety and de­pression among elderly in a community of Tarakeshwor Municipality, Kathmandu. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional survey was done among 84 elderly, aged 65 years and above, residing in rural communities of Kathmandu. Data was collected through interview method in the household survey using tool translated in Nepali language including Geriatric Depression Scale short version (GDS-15) and Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS-10). Data analysis was done using SPSS version 22 for window. Descriptive findings were presented in tables including frequency, percent­age, mean and standard deviation. Chi-square test was used to measure the association between variables. Results: The mean age of the elderly was 72.29±6.96 years. Proportion of females (59.4%) was greater than male (40.6%). Among the surveyed elderly, 14.3% were having depression and 27.4% were having anxiety where 13.1%, 3.6% and 10.7% had mild, moderate and severe anxiety respec­tively. Anxiety and depression were not associated with any socio-demographic characteristics, except anxiety was significantly associated with their ability to move (p=0.006). Anxiety and de­pression among elderly were positively correlated (r=0.388, p=<0.001) Conclusions: Few elderly residing in a community have symptoms of depression but more than one forth have anxiety symptoms. Elderly with problem in movement should be assessed and cared for potential anxiety.

Introduction: Sustainable maintenance of good menstrual hygiene practice is crucial for sound reproductive health, education, dignity, and empowerment of adolescent girls. Menstrual hygiene is less addressed in Nepalese context. So this study aimed to assess the menstrual hygiene practices among adolescent girls in the public schools of Mahalaxmi Municipality in Lalitpur district. Methods: A cross sectional study was adopted among 190 respondents of grades 8, 9 and 10 from three public schools of Mahalaxmi Municipality in Lalitpur District. Sample was selected by using simple random technique through lottery method. Data were collected using pre-tested self-administered semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed in SPSS version 16 for window. Bivariables and multivariable logistic analysis were computed to identify factors associated with good menstrual hygiene practice. Results: The mean age (±SD) of the study participants and menarche were 15.04 ±1.10 years and 12.86 ±0.96 years. About 43.7% used sanitary pad to absorb their menstrual bleeding, 65.8% disposed the used absorbent in dustbin, 41.1% took daily bath and 40% changed their absorbent three or more times during menstruation. Overall, 62.1% of them had good level of menstrual hygiene practices. Good menstrual hygiene practice was significantly associated with increase in age (AOR: 1.186, 95% CI: 0.540-2.603) living in nuclear family (AOR: 1.664, 95% CI: 0.884-3.281) up in grade (AOR: 2.688, 95% CI: 1.216-5.940) having regular menstruation one year and more(AOR:1.763, 95% CI: 0.838-3.711) and availability of water inside the toilet (AOR:1.226, 95% CI: 0.533-2.820). Conclusion: Considerable percentages of adolescent girls in the public schools have poor menstrual hygiene practice. Therefore, provision of appropriate school health programs and basic sustainable sanitation is needed to enhance menstrual hygiene practices among adolescent girls.

Introduction: Hospitalization of the preterm infant (PTI) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a stressful situation for mothers requiring nurses’ care and support for adjustment and coping. Understanding mothers’ experience is valuable for enhancing care and support for them. Therefore, this study was conducted to explore mothers’ experience regarding hospitalization of PTIs in NICUs. Methods: The qualitative pilot study was conducted among purposively selected 5 mothers of NICU admitted PTIs in a public academic hospital of Bagmati province from May to July 2019. After obtaining ethical approval, in-depth interviews were conducted using interview guideline. The data were analyzed using the content analysis method. Results: Exploration of mothers’ experience has identified 4 themes: worry and uncertainty regarding the condition and outcome of the PTIs; altered attachment and maternal roles; attachment, and care enabling with care involvement; mixed experience of care, and support. Conclusion: Hospitalization of PTIs in NICUs was distressing to mothers related to inadequate and altered attachment, and maternal roles. They experienced mother-infant attachment, contentment, and care enabling with involvement in PTI care. They valued nurses’ PTI care and care guidance and expected more guidance, communication, and emotional support. Considering study findings might be worthwhile for enhancing care status in NICUs.

Background: Menstrual hygiene is very important aspect for adolescent girls and proper men­strual hygiene has not been sufficiently addressed in developing countries including Nepal. This study aimed to assess the knowledge on menstruation and menstrual hygiene practices among adolescent girls. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescent girls studying in selected schools of Chitwan district. A total 193 girls who had menstrual flow experience for at least three consecutive menstrual cycles were selected as sample using the consecutive sampling technique. Data were analyzed in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0 using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Most of the girls knew about menstruation as physiological process, normal age of men­struation, and causes of menstruation as hormonal change. Overall, 66.8% of girls had adequate level of knowledge on menstruation. Regarding practice, 94.8% cleaned their genitalia properly, 93.8% used the sanitary pads, and 97.4% wrapped and disposed the pads in dustbin after use. Over­all, 72.5% of girls had good level of menstrual hygiene practices. Adolescent girl’s age and grade, and occupation status of their father were significantly associated (p < 0.05) with menstrual hygiene practice. Further, significant positive relationship found between knowledge on menstruation and menstrual hygiene practice. Conclusions: One third of adolescent girls have inadequate knowledge on menstruation and one fourth have poor menstrual hygiene practice. Therefore, an awareness and advocacy programs on menstruation and menstrual hygiene practices are needed for the adolescent girls to safeguard themselves against reproductive tract infections.

Background: Student’s positive perception towards the academic environment determines the quality of education. This study aimed at finding students’ perception on educational environ­ment of the postgraduate nursing programme of Nepal. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional design was conducted among 104 masters level nursing stu­dents from four selected nursing campuses under Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University. Enu­merative sampling technique was used to select the sample. Data were collected using validated standard tool Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) scale and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Most of the nursing students (81.7%) had positive level of perception on their educational environment and few had excellent perception. Total DREEM mean score was 134.37± 21 out of 200. Specifically, mean score of learning was 31.93 ± 5.1 out of 48, students’ perception of teachers was 30.02 ± 5.072 out of 44; students’ academic self-perception was 22.32 ± 3.54 out of 32; students’ perception of atmosphere was 32.26±5.1 out of 48 and mean score for students social self-perception was 17.82± 3.3 out of 28. Lower mean score < 2.0 was identified on teaching factual learning, oppor­tunities to memorize learning, supporting during stress, time management of programs, well prepara­tion for classes and student’s self-perception. Conclusions: The findings indicate more positive perception on educational environment among post­graduate nursing students. Still some aspects such as teaching factual learning, memorizing learning, supportive students during stress, and social environment need to be emphasized to enhance the students’ educational environment of post-graduate nursing program by the academic institution.