Shishir Subba

Twenty-one standardized non-repeated 1-5 rank order questionnaires were administered to 480 students from twelve districts of Nepal. Twenty-four schools (12 governments and 12 private) and ten boys and ten girls of average level from each school were chosen randomly for the survey. The questionnaires covered the six different areas of studies e.g. foundation of the study, hardworking, interpersonal relationship, study habits, study skills and study related problems. This study found noticeable similarities and differences in various issues related to study habit among government and private schools students. About 50 percent Nepalese students like to study in silent and free of an interrupted room. For 36.25 percent Nepalese students (Table-2) qualified teachers and effective teaching methods are the major factors that determine the effective study habits. About 28.95 percent Nepalese students believe that aim and future vision is the key motivating factors for the effective study h...

Introduction: This is a cross-sectional study with the objective of identifying modification in delivery practice in Rajbanshi mothers of Nepal. Methodology: Both qualitative and quantitative tools were used. Semi-structured questionnaires covering 375 samples of its resident districts Morang, Jhapa and Sunsari districts and check lists

Background: Establishment of accurate diagnosis of participants is vital before starting the development of diagnostic scale. The aim of this study was to develop psychometrically sound Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder diagnostic scale for children. Methods: Informed consent was taken. Initial diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder was made by using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5. Socio-demographic data were obtained. Behavior observation, parental information and teacher’s report were also analyzed. Then, Kiddie-Schedule for Affective disorders and Schizophrenia, Child and Adolescent Symptoms Inventory, Stroop Color and word test were done to obtain confirmatory data. Verbatim collection was done to develop the culture specific items. Likewise, standardization was doneResults: Accurate diagnosis was established with the help of various tools and techniques. Comorbid conditions were excluded. Diagnostic accuracy was assessed where reliability of each item...

Article Info This study was carried out with the purpose of assessing the practice of learner-centered approach in teaching speaking skill in English Language classroom in grade seven and eight of Wolaita Sodo City. It also aimed to explore the restraints that inhibit the practice of this approach and the coping strategies teachers use to minimize these constraints. The study was conducted in five government primary schools. Seven English language teachers who are currently teaching at grade seven and eight level participated in the study. The instruments used were interview, written reflection and classroom observation. The qualitative data generated through these instruments were analyzed and categorized thematically and presented in a narrative form. The results of the study indicated that teachers were not practicing learner-centered approach to the level that the policy advocates because there were various factors that hampered the practice of learner-centered approach in teaching speaking skill in English Language classroom. The first factor was students" background such as mother tongue interference, lack of vocabulary, lack of self-confidence, and low level of motivation. The other factors include time constraints, large class size, seating arrangement and lack of adequate teaching materials. The findings also suggest that the teachers in the study lack sufficient trainings on how to apply the learnercentered approach. The results of the study indicate that teachers do not use coping strategies that would help to minimize the challenges that impede the practice of learner-centered approach. Therefore, it was recommended that teachers should be provided with adequate preand in-service trainings on how to apply the learner-centered approach, and teachers should give due emphasis to find effective ways of practicing communicative activities in speaking teaching classrooms.

Background: Microbial examination of smear of AFB by Z-N stain is currently the most rapid method for the detection of M. tuberculosis but its sensitivity is low i.e. required at least 10,000 bacterial cells per ml of sputum and also none specific, but auramine staining method has higher sensitivity than that of the Z-N stain but there are chances of false positive. Objective of this study was to find the correlation between chest X-ray, direct sputum smear examination by Ziehl-Neelsen stain, Auramine fluorochrome stain and sputum culture for M. tuberculosis. Methods: During that study period 250 x 3 samples were taken three each from 250 patients and divided into two groups A and B by performing Auramine fluorochrome stain in all samples . In group A, there were 150 fluorochrome stain positive samples. One each from 150 patient for comparative study of direct sputum smear examination by Ziehl-Neelsen stain, , culture on LJ medium and chest X-ray. Similarly in group B, next 100 fluo...

Introduction: This is a cross-sectional study with the objective of identifying modification in delivery practice in Rajbanshi mothers of Nepal. Methodology: Both qualitative and quantitative tools were used. Semi-structured questionnaires covering 375 samples of its resident districts Morang, Jhapa and Sunsari districts and check lists for in-depth interview were used in the study. Results: People were adopting both traditional and modern care practices concurrently. Among 375 households; 40% adopted local clinic/ hospital/ traditional healer concurrently. Similarly 31.20% adopted local clinic/ traditional healer/ hospital, 10.67% adopted hospital/traditional healer. There were 11.47% (urban 0.54% and rural 10.93%) respondents were having traditional care system as a first choice. During first delivery among 375 mothers 265 (70.67%) had traditional home delivery and 110 (29.33%) had hospital delivery. During last delivery, this was 115 (30.67%) in traditional home delivery and 260 ...

Visual impairment (VI) has a significant negative impact on quality of life (QoL) amongst older people living in nursing homes. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of VI and blindness and to explore the association between severity of VI and vision-specific QoL among older people living in nursing homes of Kathmandu, Nepal. This cross-sectional study involved 158 residents aged 60 years or older residing in seven nursing homes of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Near acuity, presenting and the best corrected distance visual acuity (VA) were assessed in each eye and considered in the better eye after adequate refraction. A complete anterior and posterior segment examination was carried out. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a 57-item Nursing Home Vision-Targeted Health-Related Quality of Life (NHVQoL) questionnaire. The mean age of residents was 75.60 ± 7.12 years and the majority were female (66.46%). The prevalence of VI and blindness was 45.57% and its leading cause was cataract, which was followed by age-related macular degeneration, corneal opacity, glaucoma and macular scar. The mean composite score of NHVQoL questionnaire was 52.22 ± 12.49. There was a consistent overall deterioration in the mean composite score as well as each subscale score of NHVQoL questionnaire with a worsening of VA. VI and blindness are highly prevalent among older people living in nursing homes. VI has a significant negative impact on vision-specific QoL. Vision-specific QoL is reduced, and the reduction in the QoL bears a positive association with severity of VI among older people living in nursing homes.

In vitro activities of 17 antibiotics against 53 clinical strains of Mycobacterium marinum, an atypical mycobacterium responsible for cutaneous infections, were determined using the reference agar dilution method. Rifampin and rifabutin were the most active drugs (MICs at which 90% of the isolates tested were inhibited [MIC90s], 0.5 and 0.6 μg/ml, respectively). MICs of minocycline (MIC90, 4 μg/ml), doxycycline (MIC90, 16 μg/ml), clarithromycin (MIC90, 4 μg/ml), sparfloxacin (MIC90, 2 μg/ml), moxifloxacin (MIC90, 1 μg/ml), imipenem (MIC90, 8 μg/ml), sulfamethoxazole (MIC90, 8 μg/ml) and amikacin (MIC90, 4 μg/ml) were close to the susceptibility breakpoints. MICs of isoniazid, ethambutol, trimethoprim, azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, and levofloxacin were above the concentrations usually obtained in vivo. For each drug, the MIC50, geometric mean MIC, and modal MIC were very close, showing that all the strains had a similar susceptibility pattern. Percent agreement (within ±1 ...

Introduction: This is a cross-sectional study with the objective of identifying modification in
delivery practice in Rajbanshi mothers of Nepal.
Methodology:Both qualitative and quantitative tools were used. Semi-structured questionnaires
covering 375 samples of its resident districts Morang, Jhapa and Sunsari districts and check lists
for in-depth interview were used in the study.
Results:People were adopting both traditional and modern care practices concurrently. Among
375 households; 40% adopted local clinic/ hospital/ traditional healer concurrently. Similarly
31.20% adopted local clinic/ traditional healer/ hospital, 10.67%adopted hospital/traditional
healer. There were 11.47% (urban0.54% and rural 10.93%) respondents were having traditional
care system as a first choice. During first delivery among 375 mothers 265 (70.67%) had traditional
home delivery and 110 (29.33%) had hospital delivery. During last delivery, this was 115 (30.67%)
in traditional home delivery and 260 (69.33%) in hospital delivery. Therefore trend of hospital
delivery was increasing whereas trend of traditional home delivery was decreasing. It was
statistically highly significant (p=<0.0001). There was also remarkable increased in using trained
Health Worker/Nurse/Doctor at hospitals is 66.4% during lastdelivery which was only 6.13%
during first delivery. It is statistically highly significant (p= <.0001).
Conclusion:Trend of hospital delivery was increasing (from 30.67% to 69.33%) and trend of
home delivery was decreasing (from 69.33% to 29.23%) in between first and last child delivery.
There was remarkable increased in using trained HW/Nurse/Doctor at hospitals is 66.4% during
last delivery which was only 6.13% during first delivery. Traditional care was more practiced in
rural than in urban population.

Background:Visual impairment (VI) affects physical, psychological, and emotional well-being, and social life as well.
The purpose of this exploratory study was to assess the psycho-social impact of VI on health-related quality of life
(HRQoL) among nursing home residents.
Methods:This cross-sectional study involved 272 residents of 60 years or older residing in seven nursing homes of
the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Comprehensive ocular examinations, including near and distance vision assessment
and refractions were carried out. VI was defined as visual acuity (VA) less than 6/18 in the better eye. Residents were
divided into two groups: one group did not have VI (in whom VA was greater than or equal to 6/18 in the better
eye), and the other had VI (in whom VA was worse than 6/18 in the better eye).
Face-to-face interviews were conducted filling out a 36-item The Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form (SF-36)
questionnaire. The SF-36 questionnaire was scored according to the scoring algorithm SF-36 subscales.
Results:The mean age of residents was 74.68 ± 8.19 years (range, 60–99 years) and the majority were female
(78.68%). The mean composite score of SF-36 was 46.98 ± 13.08. VI detrimentally affected scores of both the physical
and the mental components, but the impact of VI was slightly greater for the physical component than that for the
mental component. There was a trend towards a lower composite score as well as each subscale score of the SF-36
in participants with VI than in those without VI.
Conclusion:VI has a negative effect on HRQoL. HRQoL is reduced among nursing home residents and the
reduction in the HRQoL bears a positive association with VI.
Keywords:Nursing home, Quality of life, Visual impairment, SF-36, Kathmandu

Background: Visual impairment (VI) has a significant negative impact on quality of life (QoL) amongst older
people living in nursing homes. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of VI and blindness
and to explore the association between severity of VI and vision-specific QoL among older people living in
nursing homes of Kathmandu, Nepal.
Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 158 residents aged 60 years or older residing in seven nursing
homes of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Near acuity, presenting and the best corrected distance visual acuity (VA)
were assessed in each eye and considered in the better eye after adequate refraction. A complete anterior and
posterior segment examination was carried out. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a 57-item
Nursing Home Vision-Targeted Health-Related Quality of Life (NHVQoL) questionnaire.
Results: The mean age of residents was 75.607.12 years and the majority were female (66.46%). The prevalence
of VI and blindness was 45.57% and its leading cause was cataract, which was followed by age-related macular
degeneration, corneal opacity, glaucoma and macular scar. The mean composite score of NHVQoL
questionnaire was 52.2212.49. There was a consistent overall deterioration in the mean composite score as
well as each subscale score of NHVQoL questionnaire with a worsening of VA.
Conclusion: VI and blindness are highly prevalent among older people living in nursing homes. VI has a
significant negative impact on vision-specific QoL. Vision-specific QoL is reduced, and the reduction in the QoL
bears a positive association with severity of VI among older people living in nursing homes.
Keywords:: Blindness, kathmandu, nursing home, prevalence, quality of life, visual impairment