Introductions: Stigma and unfavorable view of people towards mental illness is prevailing in Nepal due to lack of awareness. Stigma among family members of people with mental illness has a serious impact on the outcome. This study aims to identify the level of perceived stigma by family members and association with selected demographical variables. Methods: A cross-sectional research design was used to assess the stigma perceived by family members of patients visiting psychiatry outpatient department of Patan Hospital, Patan Academy of Health Sciences during 12 August to Sep 7, 2018. Questionnaire on socio-demographic variables and self-stigma of mental illness scale was used to interview the family members to assess the level of perceived stigma. Chi-square was used to examine the association between demographic variables and stigma, p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Out of 180 family interviewed 94 (52.2%) had perceived high level of stigma and 86 (47.8%) low level of stigma. There was significant association between age and perceived stigma (p value=0.030) at 95% of significance. Conclusions: More than half of the family members of psychiatric patients had perceived high level of stigma and was associated with the age.

Introduction: COVID-19 poses a great challenge to the global health system. The nurses worked in COVID ward and fever clinic act as gatekeepers to the health care system in the public health response to COVID-19 epidemic. The consequences of lockdown, quarantine of COVID-19 pandemic has not only caused physical sufferings but also affected the mental health of the nurses around the globe. This study aimed to assess psychological impact and associated factors of COVID 19 pandemic among nurses working in different level of hospital at Bharatpur Municipality Chitwan, Nepal. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 150 nurses working in different hospitals of Bharatpur Municipality. Non-probability Purposive Sampling Technique was used and Data was collected via online survey using Google Form questionnaire. COVID-19 peritraumatic distress index (CPDI) questionnaire was used to find out psychological impact. Statistical analysis of data was done using SPSS version 20. Results: Total of 150 nurses were involved in the study where 99.3% were female, 45.3% in the age group of 26-35 years, mean age 27.22±6.612 years, 87.2% bachelor in nursing. Mild to moderate peritraumatic distress was found in 47.33% and 16% of respondents found to have severe distress level. Chi-square test showed that respondents level of knowledge (p=0.003) and presence of chronic disease (p=0.007) was statistically significant with level of distress. Conclusions: Majority of the nurses had some form of psychological distress. Study highlights the need for counseling for distress and mental health during COVID-19 pandemic. A focus on improving mental wellbeing of nurses should be immediately initiated.

Background: Malnutrition is responsible directly or indirectly for over half of all childhood deaths. Infants and young children are higher risk of malnutrition from six months of age onwards. The aim of the present study was to assess the complementary feeding practice and nutritional status of children between 6-23 months attending pediatric OPD of Bharatpur Hospital, Chitwan, Nepal. Methods: A cross sectional, study was conducted among 333 mothers and their children aged 6-23 months from July to November 2022. The data was collected through semi-structured interview schedule from mothers along with infant anthropometric measurement. The data was analyzed in SPSS 26 version. Results: Overall prevalence of malnutrition was 46%. Among them the prevalence of wasting, stunting and under-weight were 35.29%, 32.67% and 32.02%, respectively. There were significant association between the education qualification, occupation of mother, type of delivery, number of children, timely introduction of complementary feeding, egg consumption, and on demand breastfeeding with wasting. Conclusions: Quiet practice of complementary feeding and noticeable prevalence of malnutrition were found among children 6-23 months of age children. These outcomes focus the need to increase the complementary feeding practices ultimately improve the nutritional status of children.