Introduction: Breastfeeding provides ideal food for newborns and prevents recurrent infection and malnutrition in infants. In Nepal, breastfeeding is a universal practice but exclusive breastfeeding is low. As there is increased involvement of women in workforce, practice of breastfeeding may have been compromised. The main objective of the study was to examine the practice and barriers of breastfeeding among women working in tertiary level hospitals of Nepal. Methods: This was a hospital based descriptive cross-sectional study. Study participants were wom- en working in Dhulikhel Hospital and Kathmandu Medical College and Teaching Hospital and was conducted from December 2017 to June 2018. Ethical approval was taken from institutional review committee of both institutions. Total of 208 women were included in the study and face to face interview was conducted. Data entry and analysis was done using statistical package of social sciences (SPSS).Results: Breastfeeding practice was universal and colostrum was fed by 195 (94%) women. Pre- lacteal feeding was given by 14 (7%) women and 119 (57%) initiated breastfeeding within one hour of birth. Total of 93 (45%) children were exclusively breastfed for any duration while 10 (11%) were exclusively breastfed for six months. The mean duration of breastfeeding was 14.57 months and 90 (43%) started complementary feeding before six months. Total of 97 (51%) women and 42 (47%) women stated work as barrier for not exclusively breastfeeding and early complementary feeding respectively. Conclusions: Exclusive breastfeeding was very low and children were breastfed for less than two years. Complementary feeding was also started earlier and work was stated as the main barrier for poor breastfeeding practice. Keywords: breastfeeding; complementary feeding; working women.

Background: Diarrhea and acute respiratory tract infection are the commonest cause of morbidity and mortality in Nepal. Proper hand washing techniques help to reduce the incidence of diarrhea and acute respiratory infection in children.Objective: Objective of this study was to identify hand washing knowledge and practice among school children of Duwakot, Bhaktapur.Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 340 students of grade V, VI and VII from both the government and private schools of Duwakot, Bhaktapur. Convenient sampling technique was applied in government schools (due to less number of students) whereas students were randomly selected from private school (due to large number).Result: All the students had knowledge about the hand washing technique before meal and after defecation. Almost all (99.4%) students reported that they wash hand before meal and 92.4% students reported that they practiced hand washing after defecation. But, only 8.5% students at school and 47% students at home regularly washed hand with soap and water. However 91.6% students at school and 81% students at home washed hand only by water due to unavailability of soap.Conclusion: Although students had hand washing knowledge; proper hand washing practices was lagging behind.

DPPH (1, 1‐Diphenyl‐2‐Picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity was performed to find out the antioxidant activity (AA) of all the antioxidants used at a concentration of 5, 10, and 15 μl/ml. Effect of spice oleoresins (clove, black pepper, and ginger) (200 ppm) and TBHQ (200 ppm) were incorporated in stabilizing refined, bleached, and deodorized (RBD) sunflower oil heating at frying temperature (170°C) and during accelerated oxidation storage (70°C) was studied in comparison to Tert‐Butylhydroquinone (TBHQ). Antioxidant activity (AA) was found to be in the order TBHQ > clove > ginger > pepper at a concentration of 5; 10; 15 μl/ml. A direct correlation was found between AA and the effectiveness of oleoresins and TBHQ in controlling AV and PV of the sunflower oil. During both heating and storage, TBHQ was found most effective to control AV and PV followed by clove, pepper, and ginger.

Introduction: Vitamin D also known as the sunshine vitamin, helps in bone metabolism and calcium homeostasis. It is estimated that one billion people in the world have vitamin D deficiency making it a public health problem. The objective of this study is to find out the knowledge regarding vitamin D among first-year medical undergraduate students of a medical college. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out from 2nd February 2020 to 15th February 2020 at Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital, Duwakot among medical undergraduate students of a medical college. Ethical clearance was received from the Institutional Review Committee of Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital (Reference Number: 2812201809). A structured self-designed multiple-choice questionnaire on vitamin D knowledge was used. Convenient sampling method was applied and statistical analysis was done with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 20 version. Results: Out of total 157 undergraduate medical students, 21 (13.3%) exhibited good knowledge, 116 (73.9.8%) had average, and 20 (12.8%) had poor knowledge. There were 83 (52.9%) Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery students, 39 (24.8%) were Bachelor of Dental Surgery and 35 (22.3%) were Nursing students. Conclusions: We found a satisfactory level of knowledge of vitamin D among first-year undergraduate medical students of a medical college when compared to similar studies. The majority of students from all three disciplines had average knowledge of vitamin D.

Congenital vaginal atresia and cervical agenesis is a rare congenital abnormality of the female genital tract. Here we report a case of 15-year old girl with primary amenorrhea with hematometra, presented with lower abdominal mass. She was symptomatic since 5 months and visited local hospital after 4 months of onset of her symptoms when it became severe, where diagnostic laparotomy was performed for suspected Adnexal mass. Intraoperatively adnexal mass was adhered with and extended up to the uterus with 16 weeks size of uterus. Abdomen was closed without any further intervention and was referred to higher center for needful. When she presented to Kathmandu Model Hospital, she was asymptomatic on her 5th post-operative day of laparotomy. We planned for surgical intervention after examination and investigation. Drainage with vaginoplasty with amnion graft with placement of mould was done.

Community diagnosis refers to the identification and quantification of health problems in a community in terms of mortality and morbidity rates and ratios, identification of their correlates for the purpose of defining those individuals or groups at risk or those in need of health care.1 Community diagnosis program (CDP) is a community-oriented educational program for medical students which includes the teaching learning activities within the community for students and gives idea to policy makers for planning and improving the health care delivery system. Nepal Government's new health policy, National Health Education, Information and Communication Centre (NHEICC) is supporting the health households from Bhaktapur and Kavrepalanchok districts respectively were included in this study . In Bhaktapur district, a slight female predominance 549 (50.42 %) was observed, whereas in Kavrepalanchok district male predominated marginally 270 (51.1%). In Bhaktapur district, 35 (47.9%) were addicted to alcohol and smoking behaviors, whereas in Kavrepalanchok district it was 12 (29.3%). In Bhaktapur and Kavrepalanchok districts, 102 (48. 3%) and 50 (47.61%) households respectively consulted in hospital when became sick. The most prevalent health problem was cardiovascular diseases in both the districts i,e 39 (39%) in Bhaktapur and 14 (37.8%) in Kavrepalanchok district respectively. Conclusion: Community diagnosis program assisted students to identify problems in the community, to raise the health awareness, practicing research skills and establishing relations with the community. The community also benefitted by getting knowledge on improving the health status and social aspects from the students during their door to door visit.

Introduction: Almost a billion people in the world are affected by Vitamin D deficiency. During pregnancy, the deficiency of Vitamin D can manifest as gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, or miscarriage in the early stages of pregnancy. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice, and importance of Vitamin D among pregnant women via a focus group. Methods: A qualitative study was carried out at Changu Narayan Municipality, Duwakot ward no. two, Bhaktapur district from November to December 2019 after approval from the Institutional Review Committee of Kathmandu Medical College (Ref. 181020192). Participants were selected via the Female Community Health Volunteer’s pregnant women list by purposive sampling method. Focus group discussion was conducted among pregnant women. The interview questions were open-ended and the data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Study participants showed limited knowledge on vitamin D. Few participants had information regarding sun exposure for vitamin D. But many participants had negative attitudes towards sun exposure and lack of knowledge on sun exposure requirements. The participants have a huge knowledge gap between Vitamin D and its importance in pregnancy. Conclusions: Increasing awareness of the importance of Vitamin D among pregnant women is required.

Introduction: It is estimated that one billion people in the world have vitamin D deficiency and observed as a  public health problem. The main objective of this study is to assess and compare the Vitamin D knowledge among MBBS, BDS and BSc. Nursing students of Kathmandu Medical College, Duwakot (before and after educational training). Methods: This is a cross sectional study carried out at Kathmandu Medical College, Duwakot among 1st year MBBS, BDS and B.Sc Nursing students. Data was collected from 2nd -15th February 2020. A structured self designed multiple choice questionnaire was used. A written  pretest assessment regarding vitamin D knowledge followed by a written posttest assessment  was taken after a lecture class on vitamin D. Ethical approval was obtained from Institutional Review Committee of Kathmandu Medical College (Ref. 2812201809). The census data of students were taken. The data was analyzed using SPSS software version 20.0 Results: Mean differences between the pretest and posttest scores showed an increment of vitamin D knowledge among MBBS students (t = 22.155, p = 0.000), BDS students (t = 16.46, p = 0.000) and B.Sc. Nursing students (t = 18.615, p = 0.000). Conclusions: Interactive lecture class showed moderate gain on knowledge regarding vitamin D among the under graduate students. Health education interventions can improve the knowledge and increases self-efficacy of future doctors and nurses about vitamin D.