Journal of Health and Social Welfare

The Digital Payment Adoption on Local Small Businesses in Urban and Semi-Urban Areas of Kathmandu Valley

2026-01-12T02:03:35+00:00

The global financial ecosystem has been completely transformed by the quick development of digital technologies, especially with the emergence of digital payment systems, including point-of-sale (POS) platforms, mobile wallets, internet banking, and QR code payments. The adoption, use, and effects of digital payment systems among small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in the Kathmandu Valley's urban and semi-urban districts are examined in this study. Data were gathered from 103 small enterprises using a mixed-method approach that included structured questionnaires, interviews, and observations. Results show that although digital payment usage is dominated by platforms like eSewa and IME Pay, infrastructural and digital literacy constraints continue to cause discrepancies across urban and semi-urban locations.

The findings show that using digital payments has a major positive influence on both operational and financial performance. These benefits include increases in sales volume, operational effectiveness, customer satisfaction, record keeping, and payment security. Transaction cost decrease is still less noticeable, though. The survey also shows that service-based organizations are more engaged in digital payment training, and companies with modest turnover have higher adoption rates. The Kruskal-Wallis H test reveals that while digital payment usage has a substantial impact on all operational and financial performance measures, digital payment intensity has a considerable impact on operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and record maintenance. These findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions to enhance digital literacy, improve infrastructure, and foster trust in digital payments, especially in semi-urban regions, to bridge the digital divide and promote inclusive financial growth.

Knowledge and attitude of physical education students, teachers, coaches, and players towards visual correction in sports

2026-01-30T12:47:51+00:00

Background: Sports vision is a specialty of optometry that enhances athletic performance by assessing and improving visual skills. Understanding the visual requirements of various sports is critical to obtaining peak performance. The invention of contact lenses had a tremendous impact on sports vision since it provided players with a convenient and effective visual correction option. However, sports professionals' knowledge and attitudes toward vision corrective technologies remain limited.

Objective: The study assessed the knowledge and attitudes of physical education students, teachers, coaches, and athletes towards visual correction in sports.

Methods: A prospective, questionnaire-based study was carried out on 250 sports personnel who met the inclusion criteria. Each participant was questioned individually with a structured questionnaire, and their replies were recorded for analysis.

Results: Among the 250 participants, 185 (74%), including students/players and teachers/coaches, had limited expertise (0-15%) of visual correction. Teachers/coaches (41.27%), ophthalmologists (23.82%), and optometrists (19.14%) were the top three recommenders of vision correction. There was a strong correlation (p < 0.001) between the recommender and the technique of visual correction. Contact lenses were recommended less frequently than spectacles.

Conclusion: Sports professionals have a limited understanding of refractive defects and ways of vision correction. Teachers/coaches and students/players demonstrated equal degrees of awareness. Spectacles remained the most popular means of correction, while contact lenses were less usually advised for sporting activities.

The Role of Digital Media in Positioning Buddha’s Birthplace as a Global Heritage Site

2026-01-30T14:24:49+00:00

Abstract: Lumbini is the birthplace of Gautama Buddha, protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, embraces deep religious, cultural, and archaeological implications for global Buddhist communities and beyond. Despite increasing international tourist arrivals and growing digital visibility, Lumbini has not fully leveraged its global distinction to achieve sustainable socio-economic benefits and a strong digital heritage character. This study examines the role of digital media in promoting Lumbini as a Buddhist pilgrimage destination and its influence on sustainable Buddhist tourism development. Using a qualitative, descriptive research design based on secondary data, the study is grounded in Digital Heritage Theory, Soft Power Theory, Participatory Culture Theory, and Heritage Branding Theory. The findings indicate that digital platforms like social media campaigns, virtual reality experiences, mobile applications, and user-generated content have played a critical role in enhancing global awareness, intercultural dialogue, and symbolic soft power related to Buddhism. However, uneven digital strategies, weak institutional coordination, infrastructural limitations, and ethical anxieties in representative sacred heritage limit their effectiveness. The study concludes that an integrated, participatory, and ethically grounded digital heritage strategy is crucial for enhancing Lumbini’s global presence, fostering sustainable Buddhist tourism, and promoting Nepal’s cultural heritage in the digital era.