The present prospective study was conducted at two urban slums of Delhi, Kusumpur Pahari and Kathputly Colony, in the peak winter season from November 1994 through February 1995. We studied 642 infants to determine the incidence of acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) and its relationship to indoor air pollution due to fuel used for cooking (wood or kerosene). In Kusumpur Pahari, there were 317 children (142 wood and 175 kerosene), including 64 controls and 78 cases of ALRI in the wood fuel group and 81 controls and 94 ALRI cases in the kerosene group (p > 0.05). Out of 316 children in Kathputly Colony (174 wood and 142 kerosene), there were 33 and 45 ALRI cases in the wood and kerosene groups, respectively (p < 0.05). Controls were children without ALRI and were used as controls in different groups. The demographic data and risk factors, namely, nutritional and immunization status, were comparable in ALRI cases and controls in both study areas. Pneumonia was the most common ailment in all the groups. Bronchiolitis was reported in 22.5% of the wood group and 27.1% of the kerosene group in Kathputly Colony versus 13.7% in the wood group and 12.1% in the kerosene group in Kusumpur Colony. Only one case of croup was reported from Kusumpur Pahari among wood users. The duration of illness was longer in the Kusumpur Pahari due to poor compliance, feeding, and child rearing habits. In conclusion, a higher incidence of ALRI was reported in kerosene users in Kathputly Colony, a high pollution area; however, the reasons for the differences observed need further elucidation.

Background: Health-risk behaviours are those activities that contribute to the leading causes of mortality, morbidity, disability, and social problems among youth and adults, often are established during childhood and adolescence, extend into adulthood, and are interrelated. The objective of the study was to assess health risk behaviours and their influencing factors among adolescent students in higher secondary school of Kathmandu metropolitan city.Methods: The study was a school based cross-sectional quantitative type. The study was conducted in three government schools of Kathmandu metropolitan city, Nepal. The purposive sampling technique was applied to select total 250 respondents from grade 11 and 12. The self-administered questionnaire was used for the data collection.Results: Study shows that majority of respondents were between aged 17-20 years, 62.4% were female and 76.8% from Hindu religion. Out of the total respondents, 6.4% smoked cigarettes, 18.4% drank alcohol and 6.8% used drugs. Regarding Initiation risk behaviour, 25% first smoked, 32.6% first drank alcohol and 11.76% first used drug at age <14 years (pre-adolescence). The major influencing factor for involving health risk behaviours are peer pressure (70.58%) followed by their curiosity (29.42). Likewise, this study revealed highly association between risk behaviours of respondents and peer pressure.Conclusions: Despite the widespread of knowledge about negative effect of health risk behaviours, the prevalence is of smoking, drinking alcohol and drug use is higher. There is urge need of initiation and activities regarding health risk behaviour targeting to preadolescents and adolescents’ students.

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<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Maternal health refers to the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. Despite various attempts and schemes made by government. maternal mortality remains as one of the biggest public health challenges in Nepal. The aim of the study was to assess the association of women autonomy with maternal health service utilization among the women having 2 years children in Paroha municipality ward no. 3 and 4, Rautahat, Nepal.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> Cross sectional study was conducted. Simple random sampling was used to select respondents. Data were collected through face to face interview. Data were entered in Epi data and analyzed using SPSS. Chi square test was applied to test the significance of association at 95% confidence interval.  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Majority (76.8%) of the respondents had antenatal care visit and more than half of them had four or more antenatal care visits. similarly, overwhelming majority (88.4%) of the birth were institutional delivery. Almost (91%) of the women had postnatal care visit for their last child. The study indicates that almost (95.5%) of the decisions were made without the involvement of the women. Most of women had medium level autonomy in all aspect (score= 17-32). Autonomy was positively associated with use of maternal health services i.e.; ANC visit (p=0.000), place of delivery (p=0.036), PNC visit (p=0.045).</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Findings of the study show that if women autonomy will be higher, there will be increase in maternal service utilization. Whereas autonomy has link with better education and employment opportunity of the women.</p>

Background: Geriatric depression, which has primarily been studied in high-income nations, is anticipated to become more prevalent as the world's old population grows. In low- and middle-income nations like Nepal, similar studies are rare. Objectives: This aimed to determine the prevalence of geriatric depression and its associated factors in 60 years and above age group of both sexes. Setting and Design: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in the Kalika rural municipality of Rasuwa district, Nepal. Methods and materials: Face to face interview technique and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) was used to collect information from 305 respondents aged above 60 years which was the required sample size of the study. Simple random technique was used for the selection of respondents. Statistical analysis used: Chi-square test at 5% level of significance was used to identify association between socio-demographic, individual, contextual factors with geriatric depression. Results: A total of 305 elderly people were participated in this study. The mean age was 70.91(±9.165) years. Overall prevalence of depression was 31.1%. Study also found that geriatric depression was significantly associated with living with children, family type, working status, family income, chronic illness, physical capabilities, involving in social activities, worried of being elderly, feeling of stress about life, family support, communication with family member and vital role in decision making (p<0.05). Conclusion: Geriatric depression was prevalent in kalika rural municipality. Based on these identified variables, current health programs should focus on addressing these challenges. Key words: Geriatric depression, community based cross-sectional study, Geriatric Depression Scale, prevalence.