Background and Objective Antenatal care (ANC) is one of the main components of maternal health. Utilization of safe motherhood is deprived in women who belong to low-caste groups like Dalit of Nepal. Low socioeconomic status, poor knowledge and awareness on obstetric complications, lack of decision-making autonomy, and limited health care options lead to underutilization of existing maternal health care service. The aim of this study was to ascertain the utilization of antenatal care services in terms of ANC visits with health personnel, receiving recommended period of iron tablets, consumption of antihelminthes and number of Tetanus Toxoid (TT) vaccines taken among child bearing women in Dalit community. Materials and Methods Descriptive cross-sectional research design was used to conduct the study of 150 child bearing women of reproductive age (15-49 years) having at least one child up to three years of age in a Dalit community of Gorkha from March 2015 to March 2016. The data was collected from each mother by conducting face to face interview with each household by using a questionnaire. Result The study revealed that mean age at marriage of respondents was 17.7 years and mean age at first pregnancy was 18 years. 44.6% of respondents experienced complication during last pregnancy, labour, and postpartum period in their last pregnancy. 59.3% of respondents stated that neighbors, relatives, and traditional healers were the best first contact person during health problem of women. 76.0% of respondents had attended antepartum visit during their last pregnancy whereas 24.0% of respondents did not attend any antepartum clinic. 68.3% of the mothers had consumed Iron/Folates within 45 days after delivery. Only 30.0% of respondents received antihelminthes (albendazole) while 70.0% of respondents had received TT Vaccines during their last pregnancy. Age, type of family, and education of the mothers were significantly associated with utilization of antenatal care services. Conclusion Even though there is reasonable good utilization rate of antenatal service, the study revealed that low education and awareness among mothers, low socioeconomic condition, early marriage and pregnancy, inappropriate antenatal health check-up, and cultural taboos were significant factors affecting the satisfactory utilization of services among the Dalit community. Hence, there is a need to emphasize on raising awareness of Dalit mothers for receiving available prenatal services.

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Introduction: It is known that a pregnant person’s body is undergoing immune system changes and is not operating the same way as a non-pregnant person’s body, which threatens the emotional states of women trying to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic situation. The present study aimed to identify the psychological distress during COVID-19 among pregnant women. Method: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at the antenatal outpatient department of Patan Hospital, Nepal. The non-probability purposive sampling technique was used to select 457 samples. Ethical approval was obtained. Data were collected through a face-to-face interview using the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (5 items) and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (10 items). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for analyzing the data. Result: The average age of the respondents was 27 years. Results revealed that only 5(1.1%) pregnant women had anxiety, while 23(5.0%) had possible depression due to COVID-19. None of the sociodemographic variables were significantly associated with psychological distress (anxiety and depression) among pregnant women. Conclusion: Psychological distress was found to be minimal among pregnant women attending antenatal OPD in Patan Hospital.

Objective: Novel Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) has not only brought the risk of morbidity and mortality but also psychological burden on individuals. The objective of the study was to assess psychological effect of COVID- 19 among nursing students of Patan Academy of Health Sciences School of Nursing and midwifery, Lalitpur, Nepal. Method: A cross sectional analytical study was conducted in July 2020 among 382 nursing students. Stress was assessed by Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) 10 item scale, Anxiety level was assessed using Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale and depression with Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) 9 item scale. The total enumerative sampling technique was used for sample selection and data was collected by an online survey. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data. Result: The findings of the study revealed that that 278 (72.8%) nursing students had moderate level and 11 (2.9%) had high perceived stress, 202 (52.9%) had mild anxiety and only 8 (2.1%) had severe anxiety. Regarding depression, 220 (57.6%) did not have depressive symptoms and only 4 (1%) had severe depression. Significant mean difference in stress, anxiety and depression between PCL, BSc and BNS were found with p value <0.05 which indicated that PCL students were more likely to be stressed, anxious and depressed than B.Sc and BNS due to COVID 19. Conclusion: The survey revealed that the majority of nursing students had moderate level of stress, mild anxiety and no depressive symptoms during COVID 19. In order to improve the psychological status of students, the government and organizations should collaborate with educational institutions to ensure psychological support to the students. Key words: Anxiety, COVID 19, depression, nursing students, psychological effect, stress, students.

Introduction: Family planning refers to a conscious effort by a couple to limit or space the number of children through the use of contraceptive methods. This study aims to identify the factors affecting the choice of contraceptives among married women of reproductive age. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted among 326 samples at Family Planning Sansthagat Clinic, Lalitpur from July to September 2017. Face-to-face interview using a structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Association between married women’s socio-demographic variables with the factors affecting the choice of contraceptives were analyzed. SPSS 16 was used for statistical analysis. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Board of Tribhuvan University, Institute of Medicine. Result: The study revealed that 100% of the respondents had known about condoms and pills as contraceptives methods. 314(96.3%) of the respondents were using a modern method of family planning. Among them, 186(59.2%) were using an implant. One hundred and seventy-three women (53.1%) had started using contraceptives after the birth of their first child. 142(43.6%) stated that they discontinued using some contraceptives in the past. The main reason for discontinuation was due to side effects of 70(49.3%). Purposes of using contraceptives, preference for child sex are the significant factors for the choice of contraceptives. Conclusion: This study result revealed that most of the respondents were using a modern method and among them, Implant was the most practiced family planning method. Women’s active involvement in decision-making regarding the use of contraceptives can play an important role in its utilization.