Background. Low birth weight (LBW) is defined as the birth weight of live born infants below 2500 g, regardless of gestational age. It is a public health problem caused by factors that are potentially modifiable. The purpose of this study was to determine the socioeconomic, obstetric, and maternal factors associated with LBW in Lumbini Provincial Hospital, Nepal. Methods. The study was conducted using case control study design with 1 : 2 case control ratio. A total of 105 cases and 210 controls were taken in this study. Data were entered on Epi data software version 3.1 and exported to Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software version 25 for analysis. Characteristics of the sample were described using mean and standard deviation. Bivariate analysis was done to assess the association between dependent and independent variables. The ultimate measure of association was odds ratio. Variables found to be associated with bivariate analysis were entered into a multivariable logistic regression model to identify predictors of LBW. Results. The mean age of the participants was 25.98 years with ±4.40 standard deviation. Mothers with literate educational background (AOR 0.32, 95% CI 0.13–0.81), housewife (AOR 2.63, 95% CI 1.11–6.20), vaginal mode of delivery (AOR 0.45, 95% CI 0.25–0.82), gestational age <37 weeks (AOR 2.51, 95% CI 1.15–5.48), history of LBW (AOR 5.12, 95% CI 1.93–13.60), and maternal weight <50 kilograms (AOR 2.23, 95% CI 1.23–4.02) were significantly associated with LBW. Conclusion. Educational and occupational status, mode of delivery, gestational age, maternal weight, and history of LBW were found to be independent predictors of LBW. There is need of developing coordination with education sector for increasing educational status of mothers and adolescent girls. Social determinants of health need to be considered while developing interventional programs. Similarly, interventional programs need to be developed considering identified predictors of low birth weight.

INTRODUCTION: Prevention of disease is the necessity of today's life. Immunization is the most important component of preventive medicine. Knowledge and attitude of health professionals have significant role in increasing the acceptance of immunization. This study is aimed to determine the association between knowledge and attitude towards immunization and its practice among medical students and emphasis on the need of immunization education intervention among medical students. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Institutional based cross-sectional study among 397 medical students studying Bachelor in Medicine and Bachelor in Surgery (MBBS) was conducted in Universal College of Medical Sciences, Bhairahawa, Nepal. Purposively 1st to 4th year medical students were selected. RESULTS: Among 397 students, 59% had good knowledge regarding immunization, 63% had positive attitude and 47% had applied the knowledge and attitude in practice. Level of knowledge, attitude as well as practice regarding immunization was found statistically significant among medical students with their year of study. The analysis found that level of knowledge was more with 4th year students 89.47±7.92 and least with 1st year students 62.82±13.01. Third year and 4th year students had good attitude with mean score of 85.66±9.13 and 85.49 ± 9.51 respectively. Similarly, practice level was found more among 3rd  and 4th  year student, while least among 1st year students 39.89±21.16. There is statistically weekly positive correlation between knowledge, attitude and practice in overall among the medical students. CONCLUSION: The acceptance of immunization can be increased by increasing the level of knowledge and attitude regarding immunization thus providing a foundation to include a comprehensive immunization education to medical students.

Background: Despite the several efforts made in the development plans to reduce the population growth rate, the population of Nepal has rapidly been increasing from last few decades. This study aims to find the associated factors to have more than two children in Suddhodhan rural municipality of Rupandehi, Nepal.Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in a Suddhodhan rural municipality of Rupandehi district, Nepal among 440 ever married women selected by using disproportionate stratified random sampling. Chi Square test was used to find the associated factors to have more than two children.Results:The study found that mean number of children ever born on Suddhodhan Rural Municipality of Rupandehi district, Nepal was 4.1. Among 440 women included in the study, 57.27% women had more than two children. There was statistically significant association between children ever born with religion, age of women and husband, age at marriage, literacy rate of respondents and her spouse, respondent occupation, knowledge of contraceptive methods, exposure to mass media.Conclusions: The study concluded that religion, age of women and husbands, age at marriage, literacy rate of husband and wife, respondents occupation, knowledge of contraceptive methods, exposure to mass media were the main factors for determining the children ever born. Hence local level policy maker, planner and stakeholders of local municipal office should focused on providing informal education such as PraoudSikshya involving both the women and their husbands, should provide the intervention related to contraceptive methods through group discussion as well as through the use of mass media. Keyword: Children ever born; fertility; population.

INTRODUCTION: Antenatal Care (ANC) services utilization during pregnancy plays an important role in prevention and management of pregnancy related complication thus improving the maternal and child health. Hence this study aimed to identify the factors influencing utilization of ANC service among women visiting for institutional delivery in tertiary hospital of Bhairahawa, Nepal. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Hospital based cross-sectional study was carried among 396 women admitted in the postnatal ward of Universal College of Medical Sciences and Teaching Hospital, Bhairahawa, Nepal form September 2019 to December 2019 following ethical clearance and verbal consent from participants. Variables with significant association (p<0.05) in bivariate analysis were entered into multivariate logistic regressions to find the factors affecting utilization of antenatal care services.  RESULTS: This study revealed that 18.43% of respondents did not receive any ANC services. Among those who were not receiving ANC service, 86.3% never felt the need for ANC services throughout the period of pregnancy. ANC service utilization was found to be associated with religion (AOR=3.15, 95% CI: 1.40-7.08) and husband education (AOR=5.09, 95% CI: 1.63-15.92). CONCLUSION: In spite of being an essential component for the care of pregnant women ANC services was not utilized by all of them as many of them did not felt the need of this service. Thus it is recommended to increase awareness regarding the available services and its importance by local stakeholders to prevent further morbidity and mortality.

Background: High maternal morbidity and mortality has been a major public health problem in Nepal which may be due to the low utilization of maternal health services in Nepal. Utilization of maternal services is found very low in slum areas as compared to upscale areas. This study aims to find out the prevalence of utilization of maternal health services and its associated factors in slum areas of Butwal sub-Metropolitan city. Methods: A community based cross sectionalstudy was conducted among 202 women who had given birth to baby within 1 year. Semi-structured questionnaire and face to face interview was done to collect the data. Descriptive as well as inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Results:The results showed thatabout 81.18% women had taken complete ANC and 34.65% had taken complete PNC services as per protocol of WHO. Multivariate logistic regression showed that respondent education, monthly income, nearest to health care facilities, knowledge level, and women’s autonomy was found to be associated significantly with complete utilization of ANC services. Similarly, Respondent occupation and nearest to health care facilities were found to be associated significantly with complete utilization of PNC. Conclusion: Though ANC utilization was found to be satisfactory but PNC utilization was found very low so more focused should be given to increase the utilization of PNC services in slum area.

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a grave problem posing various complications in mothers and their children. We aimed to assess the prevalence and predictors of PPD among women attending a university hospital in western Nepal. Methods: This institution based cross-sectional study enrolled 218 postpartum (< 12 weeks post-delivery) mothers either admitted in the in-patient-units of Obstetrics department or visiting Immunization clinics from February to July 2020. Purposive sampling technique was used. The presence of PPD was assessed by using Nepali version of Edinburgh Post- partum Depression Scale. A face-to-face interview was conducted. Mothers with mental disorders, hearing impairment and migrants were excluded. The predictors of PPD were determined by multivariate analysis. Results: PPD affected 39% of women. Multivariate binary logistic analysis showed that PPD was associated with nuclear family (AOR: 6.74, 95% CI: 3.00-15.12), husband consuming alcohol (AOR: 2.47, 95% CI: 1.18-5.18), and preference of boy child (AOR: 2.93, 95% CI: 1.32-6.50). However, planned pregnancy (AOR: 0.23, 95% CI: 0.11-0.47), vaginal delivery (AOR: 0.37; 95% CI: 0.17-0.81), male baby (AOR: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.16-0.68), and presence of husband throughout pregnancy (AOR: 0.31; 95% CI: 0.10-0.92) were found to be negatively associated with PPD. Conclusion: The prevalence of PPD was common and was positively associated with nuclear family, male child preference and alcohol consuming husband and negatively associated with planned pregnancy, vaginal delivery, male baby, and presence of husband throughout pregnancy.