Journal of Health and Social Welfare

Sleep Pattern and Academic Performance among Nursing Students at Nepal Police Hospital School of Health Sciences

Nirmala Rayamajhi — 2025-07-03

Introduction: The cognitive performance of an individual is determined by sleep duration. Adequate sleep is required for general alertness and attention. Fewer than seven hours’ sleep per night causes slowed cognitive processing. Students who do not sleep or wake up at consistent times daily are more likely to have lower grades. Hence, this study is to find out the relationship between sleep patterns and academic performance in nursing students of Nepal Police Hospital School of Health Sciences.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional analytical study conducted in the Nepal Police Hospital School of Health Sciences, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, from August 2024 to November 2024. A total of 80 students participated in the study, as that is the maximum sample size available at the school of nursing. A self-structured questionnaire was used to collect the data, which had already been used by the researcher.

Results: More than half (68.8%) of students go to bed later than the usual time around the final examination, whereas only 1.3% never go to bed around the final exam. The majority (86.3%) of students wake up earlier than usual in the morning every time around the final exam, whereas fewer students (3.8%) never or rarely wake up earlier than usual in the morning before the final exam. Similarly, nearly half of the students (40%) wake up earlier than usual around the final examination, and 45% of the students sleep for about 4 hours during the night before final exams, whereas fewer (3.8%) of the students sleep for about 7 hours in the night before final exams.

There was a significant association between performance in the final exam and typical wake-up time (p=0.036), duration of sleep at night during normal school days (p < 0.001), earlier makeup than usual time in the morning (p < 0.001), and duration of sleep during the night before the final exam (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: The score obtained in the final exam was significantly associated with duration of sleep and wake-up time during normal school days, as well as in the morning before the final exam. So, this study concludes that a short sleep pattern and bad sleep habits are associated with a higher risk of poor academic performance.

Factors Associated with the Nutritional Status of Adolescent School Children in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal: A Cross-Sectional Study

Bishal Raj B.K — 2025-07-03

Background: Adolescence is a critical period of growth, making nutrition a key determinant of long-term health. In Nepal, where adolescents comprise nearly 24% of the population, their nutritional status is a significant public health concern, yet they are often overlooked in national programs. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with the nutritional status of adolescent school children in the Kathmandu Valley.
Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 391 adolescent students (10-19 years) selected via simple random sampling from schools in the Kathmandu Valley. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire covering socio-demographic characteristics, and anthropometric measurements were taken to determine nutritional status (underweight or normal weight). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0, with statistical significance set at a p-value < 0.05.
Results: The study included 64.5% male and 35.5% female students. The majority (95.4%) were Hindu. A statistically significant association was found between the adolescents' weight status and their age, as well as their mother's age. Underweight was significantly more prevalent in older adolescents (15-20 years) at 20.0% compared to younger adolescents (10-14 years) at 4.1% (p=0.001). Adolescents whose mothers were in the 30-40 year age group had a higher rate of underweight (15.1%) compared to those with mothers aged 41-50 years (5.6%) (p=0.007). No significant association was observed between nutritional status and family size, ethnicity, religion, or parental education and occupation.
Conclusion: Age of the adolescent and maternal age are significant factors associated with nutritional status among school children in the Kathmandu Valley. The higher prevalence of underweight in older adolescents highlights a critical window for intervention. Nutritional programs in Nepal should be expanded to specifically target this demographic to prevent long-term health consequences and improve academic performance.

Empowering Schools for Inclusive Hearing Care: A Public Health Approach to Early Detection and Prevention of Hearing Loss in Nepal

Ashok Pandey — 2025-07-03

Background: Hearing loss is a neglected public health concern in Nepal, affecting an estimated 16.6% of the population, with significant implications for children, occupational groups, and underserved communities. Despite its prevalence, ear and hearing care remain underprioritized in national health policy. This study aimed to assess the burden of hearing impairment in Nepal and evaluate interventions to inform inclusive and context-sensitive strategies.

Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate, following PRISMA guidelines. Sixteen studies meeting the inclusion criteria were synthesized, encompassing cross-sectional surveys and randomized trials. Quantitative analyses included Q-Q plots, P-P plots, and forest plots to assess prevalence distributions and intervention outcomes.

Results: It revealed hearing loss prevalence ranging from 5.4% to 49.6% across different populations, with conductive hearing loss due to chronic otitis media being most common. Children in monastic schools and rural areas, workers exposed to occupational noise, and patients at tertiary hospitals were disproportionately affected. Surgical interventions like tympanoplasty showed high success rates, while telemedicine emerged as a promising tool for remote care. School-based programs and community outreach initiatives demonstrated potential but faced barriers such as low awareness, cultural stigma, and economic constraints.

Conclusion: The study addressing hearing loss in Nepal requires a multifaceted approach that integrates early screening, community engagement, surgical capacity-building, and telemedicine. Inclusive and sustainable ear care interventions, especially in schools, are essential to reduce the burden of preventable hearing impairment in low-resource settings.

Global Economy: An Analysis in Nepal's Context to Increase Gross Domestic Product

Nimananda Rijal — 2025-07-03

Abstract: Nepal is between two superpowers, and it should always maintain its good neighbor policy, causing no harm to its neighbors. Nepalese need to utilize their comparative advantage in the production of daily agricultural products. Biodiversity needs to be utilized for the benefit of the masses. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) comparison has been made, and other neighboring countries recognized their potential and used it for development, still lacking by Nepal. Nepal is not the only market concept that needs to be changed; it should turn into a competitive producer as well. The Youth need to be attracted to the sector of production, and a market guarantee should be made by the government. Nepal can sell electricity optimum level; it is only possible with good diplomacy and motivation to the Nepalese diaspora for investment. Hassle-free Electricity production should be made. Nepal has deposits of more than 100 minerals, which should be mined as soon as possible to increase its GDP. All countries have exploited natural resources for their development, and Nepal should not lag.