Early (or child) marriage is a global public health issue influenced by a complex web of factors including socio-demographic conditions of the people. The present paper aims to examine factors associated with early marriageamong the people in rural communities of Nepal. A cross-sectional end-line study was carried out among 155 married respondents selected through cluster cum convenience sampling from six clusters of two rural districts of Mid-western Nepal. The mean age at first marriage was 18.4 years (SD=3.83). Two-third of them had an early marriage and the proportion of early marriage was remarkably higher among women than men (77.8% vs. 42.6%). The prevalence of early marriage was the most common among those of women, age-group of 35-44 years, illiterate and basic literate ones, nuclear and small families, and Janajatis. Sex and educational status of the respondents had a statistically significant association with their marital age (p < 0.05) and were major factors associated with early marriage but other socio-demographic factors such as age, caste/ethnicity, family type, family size and source of income were notfound directlyassociated with early marriage for the sample. Future research efforts should prioritize gender-transformative interventions to recognize and confront inequitable gender norms and actions.

Junk food consumption (JFC) is increasing and it is common mostly among schoolchildren and adolescents (SCA). The consequences of JFC have become a public health concern. The study aims to explore the factors associated with the JFC among SCA using the socioecological model (SEM). Electronic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and bibliographic references were used to obtain the related papers following the standard process of identification, screening, eligibility assessment, study quality assessment, and data extraction from the selected articles. Strengthening the reporting of observational studies in the epidemiological (STROBE) checklist was used to assess the quality standards of the papers. Out of the 785 papers, we synthesized the results from 22 quantitative articles based on merits. The findings of the study indicate that JFC behavior among the SCA is influenced by multilevel factors that extend from intrapersonal to public policy through interpersonal, organizational, and community levels. The results of the study suggest that more than two-thirds, more than one-third, near to one-third, and half of them supported with microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, and macrosystem constructs of the SEM respectively. However, age, sex/gender, taste and pleasure of eating junk food, knowledge of junk food and attitude towards dietary choices of the microsystem (individual factors) and mass media exposure and marketing strategies of the macrosystem (public policy factors) remain the most influencing systems. The results indicate that individual and public policy level constructs are important to explaining JFC among the SCA. This implies that the researchers and policymakers need to consider multilevel factors while designing and implementing the school-based nutrition education programme to promote healthy dietary outcomes in the SCA.

The article aims to explore the experiences on the risky sexual behaviours of the gender and sexual minorities in Surkhet district. It is a narrative study based on interview data. Thirty seven sexual minorities selected through snowball sampling were interviewed and the data were analyzed using thematic framework approach. The gender and sexual minority’s involve in sexual activity before their maturation at the age below 20. They have multiple sexual partners and have active sex life preferring anal and oral sexes the most. Many of them do not use condom in every sexual contact, do not visit health institutions for regular check-up, and do not test for HIV and other STDs which make them more vulnerable to diseases and poor health. They have made their sexual behaviors at more risk by their sexual involvement with drug users and their monetary involvement in sex. There is diversity in sexual orientations and behaviours among them. So an extensive and in-depth study in this issue is urgently required for the fuller understanding of socio-demographic influence on risky sexual behaviours of sexual minorities.

The article analyzes sexual behaviours at risk and safety against the risk among the sexual minorities in Surkhet district of Nepal. It is a cross-sectional descriptive study based on quantitative data. One hundred thirteen sexual minorities selected through snowball sampling were interviewed. The data were analyzed using simple statistical tools such as number, percent and mean - nearly two-thirds of sexual minorities were involved in sexual activity before their maturation at the age below 20. Most (84.1%) of them had multiple sexual partners, and all had an active sex life preferring anal and oral sex the most. Many have put their sexual behaviours at risk through their sexual involvement with drug users and commercial motives in sex. However, they have adopted a few measures of safety to prevent them from sexually transmitted infections and other worsening health conditions. Above three-quarters of them used condoms while indulging in anal sex and vaginal sex with their sex partners. One-fifth of them visited health institutions for general health check up, and nearly half of them tested for HIV and STDs. Despite their efforts to adopt health safety by many of them, a large proportion of the sexual minorities have been exposed to risky sexual behaviours, making them more vulnerable to diseases and poor health. So, a joint effort from governmental, non-governmental, and public sectors is urgently required to minimize the risks from their sexual behaviours and accelerate the safety against the risks.

Isolation is the separation and restriction of movement of people diagnosed with COVID-19 positive. Isolation is one of the best measures for preventing and controlling pandemics; however, it might be stressful. This study intends to explore the perceptions of COVID-19 infected people towards the COVID-19 pandemic and their experiences at Nepal's isolation centers with the broad theoretical frame of the transactional theory of stress and coping by Lazarus & Folkman (1986). This qualitative study was conducted in institutional isolation centers in Nepal's Morang, Rautahat, Sindhupalchowk, Tanahun, Banke, Surkhet, and Kailali districts. Thirty-five participants, five from every seven provinces, were selected using a purposive-convenient sampling method. Data were collected through interviews in the period of October to December 2020. The findings of the study have been presented in four different themes: personal and environmental attributes, perception of COVID-19 as a stressor, short-term outcome based on situation, and adoption of coping mechanism. There were individual differences in perceiving the COVID-19 as a stressor. Environment and available facilities acted as another source of stress. Similarly, anxiety, irritation, lack of sleep, loss of appetite resulted from stress while staying in isolation. Regarding the coping mechanism of the stress, most participants were found to use mobile phones, play games, watch movies, and talk to family members. We recommend emphasizing psychological intervention comprising meditation, outdoor games, yoga, and counseling in institutional isolation based on this study.