The use of formal and informal health care by female adolescents in eastern Nepal

Doing a doctorate using a participatory action research framework in the context of community health

The use of participatory action research (PAR) for doctoral research in a health setting is still a fairly rare phenomenon. The author explores what is meant by PAR and examines some of the obstacles to undertaking PAR for doctoral research so that these constraints can be overcome. The barriers are seen in terms of methodological conflicting interests, timing, and the information generated. There are also institutional obstacles. The author expresses the viewpoint that it is essential for academic institutions to consider how to minimize such obstacles for students to be able to engage in PAR in a meaningful way.

Working with women's groups to promote health in the community using the Health Analysis and Action Cycle within Nepal

The Health Analysis and Action Cycle was conceived as an empowering approach that enables women to review their health and environmental situation. It considers health in its socioenvironmental context and does not focus only on the biomedical dimension. The women are able to consider their own beliefs surrounding health and illness in a nonthreatening way and to plan and take action for themselves. The approach was first developed for use in Nepal among literate women's groups; later, a more visual approach was adapted from this for nonliterate groups. This second step was felt necessary due to the high level of illiteracy (75%) among women. This article will provide information on the steps involved in the Health Analysis and Action Cycle and some of the outcomes of this approach.

Factors influencing health practices of Nepalese adolescent girls

INTRODUCTION

Nepalese adolescents, like their counterparts in other places of the world, need to focus on positive health care practices. There is a paucity of studies on factors that influence positive health practices among adolescents in developing countries such as Nepal. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationships between social support, self-esteem, hopefulness, and positive health practices among Nepalese adolescent girls.

METHODS

A convenience sample of 101 Nepalese adolescent girls participated in the study. The Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, Personal Resource Questionnaire, Part II, The Hopefulness Scale for Adolescents, and The Personal Lifestyle Questionnaire were used to measure self-esteem, social support, hope, and health practices of adolescents, respectively. Pearson product moment correlations were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

Statistically positive correlations were found between positive health practices and social support, self-esteem, and hope.

CONCLUSION

The data demonstrated that social support, self-esteem, and hope relate to positive health practices of Nepalese adolescent girls. Nurse practitioners and other health care providers need to better understand factors that impact the health of adolescents around the world.

Cancer care in Nepal: variables that affect diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis: a case study

This manuscript presents a case study of a Nepalese woman experiencing breast cancer. Six themes were identified to have an impact on the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. They include: cultural impact on women's roles, socioeconomic status and education, surgical oncologist-patient relationship, surgical oncologist-nurse relationship, nurses' lack of oncology knowledge, and lack of a cancer screening and prevention program in Nepal. Cancer care is on the rise in Nepal. However, many of the variables identified above are not considered in the cancer care provided. Nepal has just opened its first national cancer center with the intent to improve cancer care throughout the country.