Purpose:To collect information regarding awareness and knowledge of eye health and diseases among the population of the hilly region of Nepal.Methods:In a population-based survey, 1834 participants were enrolled in to the study. Field procedures included the development of a survey questionnaire, field orientation, pretesting, and household data collection. Association between knowledge of eye diseases was derived using the Chi-square test and odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval. A P value of ≤0.05 was considered significant.Results:Most participants were 31–40 years old (33.4%), female (51.1%), of upper caste (43.4%), Hindus (83.3%), received secondary level of education (34.4%), and involved in agriculture (48.6%). Awareness of cataract, night blindness, glaucoma, strabismus, and systemic diseases was 74.6%, 53.4%, 17.4%, 70.8%, and 46.5%, respectively. Knowledge regarding these diseases among those aware was 39.1%, 72.2%, 50.9%, and 92.3%, respectively. Awareness of cataract was significantly higher (88.4%) among higher caste groups (P < 0.001; OR, 4.29; 95% CI, 3.34–5.54), followed by business as an occupation (88.2%; P = 0.001; OR, 2.65; 95% CI, 1.44–4.9). Awareness of night blindness was significantly higher among students (72.6%; P < 0.001; OR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.65–3.67).Conclusion:There was a general lack of awareness and knowledge of common eye diseases. Improved awareness and knowledge are required for the prevention, early treatment, and access to eye care.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hprospect.v10i0.5670Health Prospect Vol.10 2011, pp.89-90

Background Nutrition asserts to be a fundamental for child growth and development. Undernutrition increases the risk of child morbidity and mortality becomes a major public health challenges in developing countries. The aim of study was to assess prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight among children aged 6-23 months in Dalit and Non-Dalit and associated factors.Method A cross sectional comparative study was conducted among mothers with their children aged 6-23months in Dhanusha district. Overall, 599 respondents were taken through multistage simple random sampling of which 300 from Non-Dalit and 299 from Dalit. Anthropometry measurement and interview were used for data collection technique and structure questionnaire was applied as a tool. Using Statistical Package for the Social Science, descriptive and inferential analysis were done.Results Prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting were 49.9%, 34.8% and 13.4% in Dalit and 39.0%, 25.0% and 8.7% in Non-Dalit respectively. Stunting was significantly associated with family type (AOR=1.93, 95% CI: 1.11-3.34) among Dalit while age of child (AOR=0.24, 95% CI: 0.10-0.57), ante natal care visit (AOR=3.20, 95% CI: 1.15-8.90) and media exposure (AOR=3.10, 95% CI: 1.11-8.64 in Non-Dalit. The underweight were significantly associated with age of child(AOR=0.50; 95% of CI: 0.27-0.93), knowledge on child feeding (AOR=2.00; 95% of CI: 1.13-3.54) and media exposure (AOR=1.78; 95% of CI: 1.01-3.14) in Dalit while media exposure (AOR=2.45; 95% of CI: 1.23-4.89) and duration of food sufficiency (AOR=2.51; 95% of CI: 1.10-5.71) in Non-Dalit. The wasting were significantly associated with minimum meal frequency (AOR=2.48; 95% of CI: 1.04-5.93) in Dalit while birth interval (AOR=0.27; 95% of CI: 0.08-0.92) in Non-Dalit.Conclusion Prevalence of undernutrition got high in both groups. Family type in Dalit and age of child, knowledge on child feeding and media exposure in Non-Dalit were key factors of stunting. Age of child, knowledge on child feeding and media exposure in Dalit while media exposure and duration of food sufficiency were important factors of underweight. Minimum meal frequency in Dalit whereas birth interval in Non-Dalit were the major factors of wasting. Community based nutrition education, food security and health service utilization programme should help in reduction of undernutrition.

BackgroundNutrition contributes to the growth, development and survival of children, while inadequate feeding practices increase the risk of stunting. Inadequate feeding manifests severe impact on child physical and cognitive development. The aim of the study was to assess the status and to identify factors associated with minimum acceptable diet (MAD) and stunting among children aged 6-23 months in Dalit and Non-Dalit.MethodsThe study design was cross-sectional comparative and was conducted among mothers with their children aged 6-23 months children of Dhanusha district. A sample of 599 respondents was taken. Multistage simple random sampling was applied to the sample of which 299 were Dalit and 300 were Non-Dalit. Interview and anthropometry measurement and structure questionnaires were practiced as tools of data collection techniques. Descriptive and inferential analyses were carried out by using Statistical Package for Social Science.ResultsThe prevalence of MAD and stunting were 131(43.8%) and 149(49.9%) among Dalit and 133(44.3%), and 117(39%) among Non-Dalit respectively. Children aged 6-11 months (AOR=0.25, 95 CI: 0.11-0.54), child having no illness (AOR=4.31, 95% CI: 1.56-11.88) and mothers with no knowledge on child feeding (AOR=0.31, 95% CI: 0.16-0.61) were significantly associated with MAD among Dalit. Children aged 6-11 months (AOR=0.37, 95 CI: 0.21-0.64), children having no illness (AOR=4.80, 95% CI: 2.23-10.32), mothers with no knowledge on child feeding (AOR=0.26, 95% CI: 0.16-0.42) and birth interval up to two years (AOR=1.92, 95% CI: 1.56-3.19) were also significantly associated among Non-Dalit. Nuclear family types (AOR=1.93, 95% CI: 1.11-3.34) among Dalit while no ante natal care (ANC) visit (AOR=3.20, 95% CI: 1.15-8.90), no media exposure (AOR=3.10, 95% CI: 1.11-8.64 and 6-11 months children (AOR=0.24, 95% CI: 0.10-0.57) in Non-Dalit were significantly associated with stunting.ConclusionThe prevalence of MAD practices was observed similar in both the groups, but stunting was higher in Dalit than Non-Dalit. Being key associated factors of MAD practices, age of child, child illness and knowledge on child feeding existed in Dalit and Non-Dalit, while birth interval also among Non-Dalit. Nuclear family in Dalit while age of child, ANC visit and media exposure among Non-Dalit were the major factors of stunting. Maternal nutrition education, access and utilization of health services should help in improving the nutritional status of children.