Background In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, incoming travelers were quarantined at specific centers in Nepal and major checkpoints in Nepal-India border. Nepal adopted a generic public health approaches to control and quarantine returnee migrants, with little attention towards the quality of quarantine facilities and its aftermath, such as the poor mental health of the returnee migrants. The main objective of this study was to explore the status of anxiety and depression, and factors affecting them among returnee migrants living in institutional quarantine centers of western Nepal. Methods A mixed method approach in this study included a quantitative survey and in-depth interviews (IDIs) among respondents in quarantine centers of Karnali province between 21st April and 15th May 2020. Survey questionnaire utilized Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) tools, which were administered among 441 quarantined returnee migrants. IDIs were conducted among 12 participants which included a mix of six quarantined migrants and healthcare workers each from the quarantine centres. Descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted on quantitative data; and thematic analysis was utilized for qualitative data. Results Mild depression (9.1%; 40/441) and anxiety (16.1%; 71/441) was common among respondents followed by moderate depression and anxiety {depression (3.4%; 15/441), anxiety (4.1%; 18/441)} and severe depression and anxiety {depression (1.1%; 5/441), anxiety (0.7%; 3/441)}. Anxiety and depression were independent of their socio-demographic characteristics. Perceived fear of contracting COVID-19, severity and death were prominent among the respondents. Respondents experienced stigma and discrimination in addition to being at the risk of disease and possible loss of employment and financial responsibilities. In addition, poor (quality and access to) health services, and poor living condition at the quarantine centres adversely affected respondents’ mental health. Conclusion Depression and anxiety were high among quarantined population and warrants more research. Institutional quarantine centers of Karnali province of Nepal were in poor conditions which adversely impacted mental health of the respondents. Poor resource allocation for health, hygiene and living conditions can be counterproductive to the population quarantined.

BackgroundIn response to the COVID-19 pandemic, incoming travelers were quarantined at specific centers in Nepal and major checkpoints in Nepal-India border. Nepal adopted a generic public health approaches to control and quarantine returnee migrants, with little attention towards the quality of quarantine facilities and its aftermath, such as the poor mental health of the returnee migrants. The main objective of this study was to explore the status of anxiety and depression, and factors affecting them among returnee migrants living in institutional quarantine centers of western Nepal.MethodsA mixed method approach was used which included a quantitative survey and in-depth interviews (IDIs). Survey questionnaire utilized Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) tools, which were administered among 441 quarantined returnee migrants and IDIs were conducted among 12 participants which included a mix of quarantined migrants and healthcare workers from the quarantine centres. Descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted on quantitative data; and thematic analysis was utilized for qualitative data.ResultsMild depression (9.1%; 40/441) and anxiety (16.1%, 71/441) was common among respondents followed by moderate depression and anxiety {depression (3.4%; 15/441), anxiety (4.1%, 18/441)} and severe depression and anxiety {depression (1.1%; 5/441), anxiety (0.7%, 3/441)}. Anxiety and depression were independent of their socio-demographic characteristics. Perceived fear of contracting COVID-19, severity and death were prominent among the respondents.Respondents experienced stigma and discrimination in addition to being at the risk of disease and possible loss of employment and financial responsibilities. In addition, poor (quality and access to) health services, and poor living condition at the quarantine centres adversely affected respondents’ mental health.ConclusionDepression and anxiety among quarantined population warrants more research. Institutional quarantine centers of Karnali province of Nepal were in poor conditions which adversely impacted mental health of the respondents. Poor resources allocation for health, hygiene and living conditions can be counterproductive to the population quarantined.

Introduction: Migration is the result of interplay of many factors, which guide the individual’s decision to emigrate. Health workers tend to go where the working conditions are best. This study aims to identify the determinants and aspirants of nurse migration from Nepal. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted using interview technique. A semi structured questionnaire was administered to all nurses working at a private hospital who met the inclusion criteria. Results: Majority of the participants were 20- 30 years old (93.20%), Hindu (86.5%), Chhetri (35.1%), unmarried (66.2%), had completed intermediate level (58.1%). Among the total respondents, 93.20% intended to migrate to abroad and more than half of the respondent (62.20%) preferred Australia as destination. The general factor provoking migration was bad nature of politician (98.6%) followed by political instability (90.5%) and non-availability of job (90.5%). The major working condition and social factors provoking migration were occupational security in other country (85.10%) and peer influence (91.9%) respectively. The reasons for migration as mentioned by respondents were education (59.50%) followed by better job opportunities (40.50%), better living standard (21.60%) and family and/or peer pressure (8.10%). Conclusions: The present study concluded that majority wanted to migrate and Australia was famous choices for nurses. Bad nature of politician, occupational security in other country and peer influence were factors for migration.  The major purpose for migration was education.

Introduction. Birth preparedness is crucial for health quality of mother and newborn and acts as a strong contributor in mitigating maternal and newborn mortalities. Different factors are predicted to have an influence upon birth preparedness practice. This paper aims at exploring relationship between various factors and birth preparedness practice. Methods. A cross-sectional study design was used to find out the relationship between various factors and birth preparedness practice. One hundred sixty-five women residing at ward number 1 of Rapti Municipality, Chitwan who delivered in the last twelve months were selected consecutively and interviewed using a semistructured questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and bivariate techniques. Results. Three quarters (75.2%) of the respondents had better birth preparedness, institutional delivery was 63.0%, antenatal care (ANC) visit as per protocol was about 62.0%, and about 90% of the respondents had received counseling during ANC. Age, religion, family types, education, age at marriage, parity, number of children, knowledge on birth preparedness, knowledge on danger sign, place for ANC and delivery, and decision-makers were found to be statistically significant (P value < 0.05) with birth preparedness practice. Conclusion. Better knowledge on birth preparedness led to a better preparedness status. Age, religion, family type, education of women and partners, parity, and number of children were the factors that influence birth preparedness. Counseling during ANC played a significant role in birth preparedness.

BackgroundOf the children born every year in Nepal, 57.4% are delivered in health facilities. Disrespect and abuse of women during maternity care are problems that can significantly impact women’s willingness to seek out life-saving maternity care. However, evidence suggests ongoing disrespectful maternity care worldwide. This study aims to identify perceived disrespect and abuse during labor and delivery among postnatal women delivering at Bheri Hospital, Nepal.MethodsA cross sectional study was conducted among 445 purposively selected women admitted in postnatal ward of Bheri Hospital, Nepal from February to March 2020. Ethical approval was obtained from Nepal Health Research Council. Informed written consent was obtained from each participant and a face-to-face interview was conducted for data collection. A semi-structured questionnaire consisting of demographic information and a pre-validated Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) tool was used. The information was then checked, coded, and entered in SPSS for descriptive and inferential analysis.ResultsIn this study, the participants perceived very high friendly care, abuse-free care and discrimination-free care but moderate timely care only. Timely care was found to be significantly associated with age, ethnicity, occupation, monthly income, gravida, type of delivery, and complications. On multinomial regression, monthly income and type of delivery were the only factors found to be significant. Those mothers who had spontaneous vaginal delivery were 2.07 times more likely to have neutral RMC, and those who earn less than twenty thousand Nepalese rupees per month were likely to perceive high timely RMC.ConclusionThis study concludes that disrespectful or abusive maternal care is not perceived among women delivering at Bheri Hospital in terms of friendly care, abuse-free care and non- discriminatory care. However, timely care is less reported. Appropriate interventions to provide timely care to delivering women must be instituted.