Far-Western Region Of Nepal Research Articles

Deforestation controls landslide susceptibility in Far-Western Nepal

Landslides are a major problem in the Far-Western region of Nepal, where one of the highest densities of shallow landslides within the country is observed. However, there is still a lack of understanding around the relative impact of deforestation as a predisposing factor. Here, we use remote-sensing techniques and freely accessible satellite data to quantify the effects of deforestation and related agriculture practices in the assessment of landslide susceptibility. We use a new regional landslide inventory of 8,778 events dated between 1993 to 2018 to train and validate bivariate landslide susceptibility models, in which preceding land cover/land use is included as a predisposition factor. Our results show that the use of land-cover /land-use maps enhances the average probability of model success by 7.9%. Besides, we assess land-cover changes for a period of 1 to 10 years prior to each landslide event to analyze the relative incidence of changes related to deforestation and agricultural uses. The analysis suggests that agricultural practices and deforestation that occur 5–7 years preceding the landslide event have a significant influence on the landslide occurrence (+16%). Our results reveal that negligent anthropological land use practices can significantly enhance landslide risk.

Effectiveness of an educational intervention in improving healthcare workers’ knowledge of early recognition, diagnosis and management of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in rural far-western Nepal: a pre/post-intervention study

ObjectivesRheumatic fever (RF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remain among the major heart problems among children in Nepal. Although these conditions are preventable and treatable, the lack of proper knowledge...

Urbanization in Far-Western Region of Nepal

Nepal is one of the developing countries of the world. Nepal's level of urbanization was low in terms of urban population and number of urban centers until 2011, but it has been increasing over the recent years. The rate of urban growth in the country has also been faster lately. The research work is mainly based on secondary data. In this context, this paper is concerned with urbanization in Far-western Region of Nepal. This paper is mainly focused on analysing the growth of urban population and centers, spatial pattern of urbanization, size of urban areas, ranking of urban areas of Far-Western Region utilizing data from the population census 1881 to 2011 and recent data which are published by Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development 2016 of Nepal. The urban population has increased from 71108 in 1981 to 1058305 in 2016 while the number of urban centers has increased from 2 to 25 in the study area. The level of urbanization in this region was 5.38% in 1881 and it became 43.77% in 2016. The urban growth and urbanization of the Far-western Region is at accelerating stage in the present time. It is notable that out of 9 districts of this region, Kailali and Kanchanpur which are located in the Terai region share 77.55% of total urban population. According to the data we can say Far-western Terai (Kailali and Kanchanpur districts) is the hub of Far-western's urbanization. The spatial pattern of urbanization is disproportionate in the study area.

Deuki Pratha in Nepal: Problems and Changing Beliefs

In the far-western region of Nepal, particularly, in Doti, Baitadi and Dadeldhura, deuki pratha has been practiced as a long established tradition. However, Deuki pratha is considered illegal in Nepal. Deukis are offered to different deities by parents or others (wealthier couples). The reason behind deuki pratha rests on the belief that one’s family gets protection and good favour from the gods. Once offered as Deuki, the girl is not allowed to get married and is devoid of the family support. The major duty of Deuki is to serve the goddess and temple such as cleaning and looking after the temple.
 The study was conducted in Melauli Municipality of Baitadi district in Sudurpaschim province. This paper aims to highlight the social issues due to deuki in the study area. The study aimed to understand the socio-cultural beliefs of deuki tradition in the changing social and cultural contexts from the gender perspective and development.
 The study was based primarily on qualitative methods. The study revealed that deuki tradition is still practiced, though it is reported to be declined in the recent years. Unlike in the past, with the growing awareness by the joint efforts of government and non-government organizations' agencies, practice of Deuki has declined to a great extent but not abolished yet. There was mixed reaction regarding beliefs upon Deuki tradition among the locals.
 The study found that Deuki women who had been offered to the deity was unknowingly been isolated, when still as a girl and abused from the society as these came at the cost of personal and social life of women. With the growing awareness, and changing society, the locals and the followers of deuki pratha seem to welcome the changes and attitudes towards deuki pratha. However, the social and economic life styles of deukis are at stake. Though, some deukis own some private property, due to the lack of emotional and social support are bound to live forbidden and isolated life. Unlike, in the past, where deukis received reverence and importance, the perception towards deukis has worsened in the study area often belittled as prostitution and the disgrace to the society.

Initiation and completion rates of isoniazid preventive therapy among people living with HIV in Far-Western Region of Nepal: a retrospective cohort study

ObjectivesIsoniazid preventive therapy (IPT), for people living with HIV (PLHIV) is the proven and recommended intervention to avert tuberculosis (TB). In 2015, Nepal implemented 6 months of IPT for all...

Performance Appraisal of HDI in Far-Western Region of Nepal

This study has based on analytical and descriptive design. It has been started from the experiences and arguments of a person. Then the empirical evidence of Far-Western region has examined by using correlation and regression test for the period of 1996 to 2011. The data has been considered five years interval periods. All the data have been taken from UNDP reports and CBS reports of Nepal. The association between human development indicators found highly satisfactory except GDP per capita from the evidence of five developmental regions. Whereas, the association between human development indicators from the evidence of Far-Western Region has found very week with poverty rate and GDP per capita and other indicators have moderate. The influential variable GDI, LEAB, GDP per capita showed significant role and poverty rate, adult literacy and mean years of schooling have shown insignificant role to influence the HDI. This paper has aimed to examine the relationship between human development indicators to justify whether the Government of Nepal and supporting agencies have properly formulated and implemented equal human development mechanism incorporating all the social dimensions or not.

HIV-Related Risk Behaviors Among Labor Migrants, Their Wives and the General Population in Nepal.

Nepalese labor migrants and their wives are considered as at-risk populations for HIV infection. There may be a risk of HIV transmission from the labor migrant and their wives to the general population due to HIV-related risk behaviors, but so far empirical evidence to support this hypothesis is scarce. Therefore, this study was conducted to compare HIV-related risk behaviors between labor migrants, their wives, and males and females from the general population in the far-western region of Nepal. This was a cross-sectional study, in which structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with 261 male labor migrants, 262 wives of labor migrants, 123 males and 122 females from the general population. We found that the proportion of the labor migrants and their wives reporting having had extramarital sex in the previous year did not differ significantly with the males (11.9 vs. 13.4 %, p value 0.752) and females (2.0 vs. 1.7 %, p value 0.127) from the general population. However, the labor migrants compared with the males from the general population were 1.51 times and the wives of labor migrants compared with the females from the general population were 2.37 times more likely to have been tested for HIV. Both the males from the general population and the labor migrants are equally engaged in unprotected extramarital sex. Therefore, it is recommended that the prevention programs, including access to condoms and HIV testing, should be scaled up targeting a broader range of individuals in the far-western region of Nepal.

Improvements of Efficiency of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) for Project Priority in International Rural Development

This research was designed to review improvements of efficiency of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) as a way to facilitate decision-making on project priority in international rural development in the following ways; to apply an AHP method; to discover issues that might arise in the research preparation, conduct, and analysis; and ultimately to expand a practical use of AHP in recipient countries. The survey questioned residents of the Dadeldhura district in Far-Western Region of Nepal, on the assumption that one donor country has a plan to implement projects for rural development in a community. This research collected 104 questionnaires. 55 questionnaires with a Consistency Ratio (CR) greater than 0.2 were excluded and 49 questionnaires were accepted for AHP analysis. The rejection rate reached 52.9%. The results of AHP analysis showed that residents considered Number of Beneficiaries the first priority in terms of Criteria. They selected Education as the first priority project that most reflected their opinion. The top three priority projects were Education, Public Health/Hygiene/Sanitation, and Income Generation. Although the AHP method can be a useful tool in deciding project priority, some problems were revealed during the process of preparing and carrying out a survey. By addressing these problems and improving on its application, the AHP method can be expected to contribute to the academic field of international rural development and to allow for a more accurate selection of projects that fully reflect residents’ needs at the early stages of implementation in rural communities of recipient countries.

Spectrum of Typical and Atypical Clinico- Histopathological and Radiological Presentation of Soft Tissue and Muscular Cysticercosis in Mid-Western and Far-Western Region of Nepal

Soft tissue and muscular involvement in cysticercosis is a relatively rarer presentation. Twenty seven histopathologically confirmed cases of soft tissue and muscular cysticercosis were collected and the clinical, radiological data was reviewed. There was female predominance for the lesions (19 cases among 27 cases). The most common location for the lesion was in the arm (9 cases), thigh (4 cases), forearm (7 cases), abdominal wall (4 cases) followed by nape of the neck (2 cases). Lesion ranged from 8 mm to 5 cm in size. Ultrasound was diagnostic in 24 cases and inconclusive in three cases. Histopathologically, intact cyst wall was noted in 12 cases, scolex in 5 cases. Seven cases showed degenerating cyst wall surrounded by inflammatory cells, granulation tissue and fibrosis. Fine needle aspiration cytology and histopathological assessment is prudent in the diagnosis of soft tissue and muscular cysticercosis in cases posing clinical diagnostic dilemma.

English

In spite of being the principal producers of food, women and child girls are often suffer from malnutrition and hunger. Most of the discussions regarding their food insecurity have focused so far on the intra-household access and distribution of food. This article analyzes the broader spectrum of gender dimensions of inter and intra-household entitlement to food. This study conducted in the far-western region of Nepal, which is established as a resource poor region, shows the institutions such as patrilinearity, patriarchal inheritance law, patrilocality and early marriage, the cultural norms, discriminatory food distributional practices, caste and ethnicity still function among some categories women in terms of land ownerships, share tenancy, acquiring sufficient and nutritious food, wage and employment, and credit, resulting their entitlement failure. At a time, this article discusses how new initiatives such as market, women’s self-help agencies, Government’s new policy and NGOs have been playing crucial role to change in the institutions that resulted into women’s capability enhancement.

High Risk Of Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome Development Among People Living With HIV/AIDs In Far-Western Region Of Nepal

Introduction: Absolute CD4+ cell counts and CD4/CD8 ratio continue to be an important marker for clinical management of human immunodefi ciency virus (HIV) infection and diagnosis of AIDS. CD4/ CD8 ratio has been also used for prediction of immune reconstitution infl ammatory syndrome (IRIS). The objective of the study was to determine the immunological status in HIV infected people taking anti retroviral therapy (ART) on the basis of CD4+ level and to assess the risk of development of (IRIS) on the basis of CD4+ /CD8+ ratio. Methodology: The study was carried out at Antiretroviral Therapy Centre of Seti Zonal Hospital (SZH), Dhangadi in Western region of Nepal; the second biggest ART center. The study included 760 HIV infected heterosexual, migrant laborer to India from Nepal and their spouses and children. CD profi le was enumerated by FACS Count System. Results: Out of 760, 33(5%) had normal (between1-4) CD4/CD8 ratio, 727 (95%) had abnormal ratio (less than1) of CD4/CD8. The chance of getting IRIS after ART treatment initiation in HIV infected people was 47% among which 30% found to be in high risk of getting IRIS (having CD+/CD8+ ratio less than 0.15) and 17% had chance of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) in future course of treatment (having CD+/CD8+ ratio between 0.15-0.30). Conclusion: The study provides the first baseline data on CD4, CD8, and CD4+/CD8+ ratio in HIV infected people in far-western region of Nepal and will sensitize the clinician about the risk of developing IRIS during ART treatment. Furthermore no test is currently available to establish a IRIS diagnosis. Standardized disease-specific clinical criteria for common infectious manifestations of the disease should be developed. SAARC Journal of Tuberculosis, Lung Diseases & HIV/AIDS; 2013; X(2); 35-40 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/saarctb.v10i2.9711

Factors associated with small size at birth in Nepal: further analysis of Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2011

BackgroundThe global Low Birth Weight (LBW) rate is reported to be 15.5% with more than 95% of these LBW infants being from developing countries. LBW is a major factor associated with neonatal deaths in developing countries. The determinants of low birth weight in Nepal have rarely been studied. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with small size at birth among under-five children.MethodsData from the 2011 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) were used. The association between small size at birth and explanatory variables were analysed using Chi-square tests (χ2) followed by logistic regression. Complex Sample Analysis was used to adjust for study design and sampling.ResultsA total of 5240 mother- singleton under five child pairs were included in the analysis, of which 936 (16.0%) children were reported as small size at birth. Of 1922 infants whose birth weight was recorded, 235 (11.5%) infants had low birth weight (<2500 grams). The mean birth weight was 3030 grams (standard deviation: 648.249 grams).The mothers who had no antenatal visits were more likely (odds ratio (OR) 1.315; 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.042-1.661)) to have small size infants than those who had attended four or more antenatal visits. Mothers who lived in the Far-western development region were more likely to have (OR 1.698; 95% CI (1.228-2.349)) small size infants as compared to mothers from the Eastern development region. Female infants were more likely (OR 1.530; 95% CI (1.245-1.880)) to be at risk of being small than males.ConclusionOne in every six infants was reported to be small at birth. Attendance of antenatal care programs appeared to have a significant impact on birth size. Adequate antenatal care visits combined with counselling and nutritional supplementation should be a focus to reduce adverse birth outcomes such as small size at birth, especially in the geographically and economically disadvantaged areas such as Far-western region of Nepal.

Gaddi Buffalo: An Indigenous Breed of Far-Western Nepal

A study on indigenous Gaddi buffalo of far-western region of Nepal was conducted to understand the production parameters and husbandry practices intending to make future strategy for improvement. The breed is well known in the far-western districts of Nepal and adapted in hills and mountains of the region with diverse climatic conditions. Among 3 identified buffalo breeds (Gaddi, Lime and Parkote) and one under study (Terai), Gaddi was found morphologically larger (p<0.01) and docile in temperament. Major population of Gaddi was found to be black in color and some brown and light brown. Morphologically, it looks like Indian Murrah, however white round patch on the middle of forehead and tuft of the tail, and semi-curved horn shape are the distinguished characters. The average ages at puberty, first calving and calving interval was 3.8, 5.7 and 2.0 years respectively. Lactation length varied from 14 to 22 months and milk yield from 2.5 to 5.5 liters/day. Major problems recorded were lack of pure breeding bulls, negative selection, feed scarcity, poor technical know-how and health management. The paper discusses on the overall buffalo management system in the far-western region of Nepal and suggests improvement plan with maximum utilization of locally available farm resources.