Delays In Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation Among Hiv-Positive Individuals: Results Of The Positive Living With Hiv Study, Krishna C. Poudel, David R. Buchanan, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar
Mar 2019
Delays In Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation Among Hiv-Positive Individuals: Results Of The Positive Living With Hiv Study, Krishna C. Poudel, David R. Buchanan, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar
Krishna C. Poudel
Background: Lack of early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains a major health concern due to increased risk of premature mortality and further HIV transmission. This study explored CD4+ cell count monitoring in relation to delays in ART initiation among HIV-positive individuals in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, where ART coverage was only 23.7% in 2011.
Design: We recruited a total of 87 ART-naïve, HIV-positive individuals aged 18 to 60 years through the networks of five non-government organizations working with HIV-positive individuals. We collected data on the history of ART initiation, CD4+ cell count monitoring, socio-demographic variables, perceived family …
Perceived Family Support And Antiretroviral Adherence In Hiv-Positive Individuals: Results From A Community-Based Positive Living With Hiv Study, Krishna Poudel, David Buchanan, Rachel Amiya, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar
Mar 2019
Perceived Family Support And Antiretroviral Adherence In Hiv-Positive Individuals: Results From A Community-Based Positive Living With Hiv Study, Krishna Poudel, David Buchanan, Rachel Amiya, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar
Krishna C. Poudel
The purpose of this study was to examine the association between perceived family support, either positive or negative, and adherence to antiretroviral medication regimens among HIV-positive individuals in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. We measured past 3-month antiretroviral adherence among 233 HIV-positive individuals, in relation to perceived family support, both positive (in terms of emotional and instrumental support) and negative (in the form of negative interactions), using the 10-item Nepali Family Support and Difficulty Scale. Medium and high levels of perceived emotional support from family were associated with reduced risk of antiretroviral nonadherence, compared with low levels of perceived emotional support …
Perceived Family Support And Antiretroviral Adherence In Hiv-Positive Individuals: Results From A Community-Based Positive Living With Hiv Study (International Quarterly Of Community Health Education), Krishna C. Poudel, David R. Buchanan, Rachel Amiya, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar
Oct 2015
Perceived Family Support And Antiretroviral Adherence In Hiv-Positive Individuals: Results From A Community-Based Positive Living With Hiv Study (International Quarterly Of Community Health Education), Krishna C. Poudel, David R. Buchanan, Rachel Amiya, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar
Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar
The purpose of this study was to examine the association between perceived family support, either positive or negative, and adherence to antiretroviral medication regimens among HIV-positive individuals in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. We measured past 3-month antiretroviral adherence among 233 HIV-positive individuals, in
relation to perceived family support, both positive (in terms of emotional and instrumental support) and negative (in the form of negative interactions), using the 10-item Nepali Family Support and Difficulty Scale. Medium and high levels of perceived
emotional support from family were associated with reduced risk of antiretroviral nonadherence, compared with low levels of perceived emotional support …
Serum Zinc Concentration And C-Reactive Protein In Individuals With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: The Positive Living With Hiv (Polh) Study (Biological Trace Element Research), Krishna Poudel, Elizabeth Bertone-Johnson, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar
Sep 2015
Serum Zinc Concentration And C-Reactive Protein In Individuals With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: The Positive Living With Hiv (Polh) Study (Biological Trace Element Research), Krishna Poudel, Elizabeth Bertone-Johnson, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar
Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar
Low zinc levels and chronic inflammation are common
in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV). Zinc deficiency may promote systemic inflammation,
but research on the role of zinc in inflammation
among HIV-positive individuals taking account of antiretroviral
therapy is lacking. We assessed the association between
serum zinc and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration
in a cohort of HIV-positive individuals. A cross-sectional survey
was conducted among 311 HIV-positive individuals (177
men and 134 women) aged 18–60 years residing in Kathmandu,
Nepal. High-sensitive or regular serum CRP concentrations
were measured by the latex agglutination nephelometry
or turbidimetric method, and zinc concentrations were …
Perceived Family Support And Depression Among People Living With Hiv/Aids In The Kathmandu Valley, Nepal (Plos One), Sadhana Shrestha, Krishna Poudel, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Jun Kobayashi, Basu Dev Pandey, Junko Yasuoka, Keiko Otsuka, Masamine Jimba
Dec 2013
Perceived Family Support And Depression Among People Living With Hiv/Aids In The Kathmandu Valley, Nepal (Plos One), Sadhana Shrestha, Krishna Poudel, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Jun Kobayashi, Basu Dev Pandey, Junko Yasuoka, Keiko Otsuka, Masamine Jimba
Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar
Background: Depression is emerging as a highly prevalent psychiatric condition among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).
Perceived family support (PFS) buffers depression among chronic disease patients. However, a similar relationship among
PLWHA is unexplored. Objective: To examine the relationship between PFS and depression among PLWHA in the
Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, depression was measured by Beck Depression Inventory Ia.
Perceived family support was measured by Nepali Family Support and Difficulties Scale. The status of depression was compared
between 208 PLWHA and 208 HIV-negative participants. The relationship between PFS and depression was examined only among
PLWHA. Results: …
Health-Related Quality Of Life, Depression, And Self-Esteem In Adolescents With Leprosy-Affected Parents: Results Of A Cross-Sectional Study In Nepal, Nobuko Yamaguchi, Krishna C. Poudel, Masamine Jimba
Dec 2012
Health-Related Quality Of Life, Depression, And Self-Esteem In Adolescents With Leprosy-Affected Parents: Results Of A Cross-Sectional Study In Nepal, Nobuko Yamaguchi, Krishna C. Poudel, Masamine Jimba
Krishna C. Poudel
Background: Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease that has an impact on the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) of sufferers as well as their children. To date, no study has investigated the effects of parental leprosy on the well-being of adolescent children.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Lalitpur and Kathmandu districts of Nepal. Adolescents with leprosy-affected parents (n = 102; aged 11–17 years) and those with parents unaffected by leprosy (n = 115; 11–17 years) were investigated. Self-reported data from adolescents were collected using the Kinder Lebensqualität Fragebogen (KINDLR) questionnaire to assess HRQOL, the Center for Epidemiological …
Better Learning In Schools To Improve Attitudes Toward Abstinence And Intentions For Safer Sex Among Adolescents In Urban Nepal, Rachana Manandhar Shrestha, Keiko Ostuka, Krishna C. Poudel, Junko Yasuoka, Medin Lamichhane, Masamine Jimba
Dec 2012
Better Learning In Schools To Improve Attitudes Toward Abstinence And Intentions For Safer Sex Among Adolescents In Urban Nepal, Rachana Manandhar Shrestha, Keiko Ostuka, Krishna C. Poudel, Junko Yasuoka, Medin Lamichhane, Masamine Jimba
Krishna C. Poudel
Background: School-based sex education is an effective medium to convey health information and skills about preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unwanted pregnancies among adolescents. However, research on school-based sex education is limited in many developing countries, including Nepal. This study thus had two main objectives: (1) to assess students’ evaluation of school-based sex education, and (2) to examine the associations between students’ evaluations of school-based sex education and their (a) attitudes toward abstinence and (b) intentions for safer sex. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 634 students from six schools in the Kathmandu Valley during May–June 2010. We …
Knowing The Consequences Of Unprotected Sex With Seroconcordant Partner Is Associated With Increased Safer Sex Intentions Among Hiv-Positive Men In Kathmandu, Nepal, Krishna C. Poudel, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Shinji Nakahara, Junko Yasuoka, Masamine Jimba
May 2011
Knowing The Consequences Of Unprotected Sex With Seroconcordant Partner Is Associated With Increased Safer Sex Intentions Among Hiv-Positive Men In Kathmandu, Nepal, Krishna C. Poudel, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Shinji Nakahara, Junko Yasuoka, Masamine Jimba
Krishna C. Poudel
Unprotected sexual intercourse among HIV-positive people can adversely affect their own health by increasing their exposure to multiple strains of HIV-1 or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The study explored the relationship between knowledge of Nepalese HIV-positive men about the consequences of having unprotected sex with seroconcordant partners and their intention to practise safer sex with such partners. In total, 166 participants recruited conveniently in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, were interviewed. Each participant reported intention to practise safer sex with seroconcordant partners, know-ledge about the consequences of having unprotected sex with seroconcordant partners, perceived partner-related barriers to condom-use, belief that …
Correlates Of Sharing Injection Equipment Among Male Injecting Drug Users In Kathmandu, Nepal (International Journal Of Drug Policy), Krishna C. Poudel, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Junko Yasuoka, Anand B. Joshi, Masamine Jimba
Apr 2010
Correlates Of Sharing Injection Equipment Among Male Injecting Drug Users In Kathmandu, Nepal (International Journal Of Drug Policy), Krishna C. Poudel, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Junko Yasuoka, Anand B. Joshi, Masamine Jimba
Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar
Background: HIV prevalence is high and risky injection practices occur frequently among injecting drug users (IDUs) in Nepal. We explored the correlates of sharing injection equipment (having injected with a needle or syringe previously used by another) among male IDUs in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Methods: From August to September 2007, we anonymously interviewed 296 male IDUs in Kathmandu, Nepal, using a structured questionnaire. We performed bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis and identified variables associated with sharing injection equipment.
Results: Over half (n = 152) of the participants reported injecting drugs with a needle or syringe previously
used by another in …
Unsafe Sexual Behaviors Among Hiv-Positive Men In Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, Krishna Poudel, Shinji Nakahara, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Junko Yasuoka, Masamine Jimba
Sep 2008
Unsafe Sexual Behaviors Among Hiv-Positive Men In Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, Krishna Poudel, Shinji Nakahara, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Junko Yasuoka, Masamine Jimba
Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar
We assessed unsafe sexual behaviors of the Nepalese HIV-positive men and their knowledge about the consequences of unsafe sex. We interviewed 167 participants recruited conveniently in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Of total, 125 participants (75%) had sex in the past
6 months, 47% of whom with multiple partners. Fiftyseven
(46%) of 123 participants who had sex did not always use condoms; unsafe sex was common in seroconcordant or serodiscordant relationships or in serounknown relationships. Only 41% (50/123) participants knew about the possibility of HIV superinfection. Our
results suggest the urgent need of HIV prevention interventions
for the Nepalese HIV-positive men.
Relationship Between Mechanisms And Activities At The Time Of Pedestrian Injury And Activity Limitation Among School Adolescents In Kathmandu, Nepal, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Shinji Nakahara, Masao Ichikawa, Krishna Poudel, Susumu Wakai
May 2006
Relationship Between Mechanisms And Activities At The Time Of Pedestrian Injury And Activity Limitation Among School Adolescents In Kathmandu, Nepal, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Shinji Nakahara, Masao Ichikawa, Krishna Poudel, Susumu Wakai
Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar
This study assessed the relationship between pedestrian activity at the time of injury, the type of vehicle involved and resulting activity limitation among school adolescents in the Kathmandu and Lalitpur districts of Nepal. A cross-sectional study of 1557 students in grades 6–8 across 14 schools was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire from August to September 2003. Twenty-three percent of adolescents reported pedestrian injuries, 38% were from urban and 21% from semi-urban areas. Adolescents were commonly injured by motorcycles and motor vehicles while crossing the road; however, while walking and playing, they were commonly injured by bicycles and motorcycles. Bicycles and …
Reaching Hard-To-Reach Migrants By Letters: An Hiv/Aids Awareness Programme In Nepal, Krishna C. Poudel, Masamine Jimba, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Susume Wakai
Jan 2006
Reaching Hard-To-Reach Migrants By Letters: An Hiv/Aids Awareness Programme In Nepal, Krishna C. Poudel, Masamine Jimba, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Susume Wakai
Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar
We assessed the impact of an HIV/AIDS programme for Nepalese migrants to India that involved writing letters. The programme created opportunities for sending HIV/AIDS-related messages to the migrants in India, and encouraging them practicing safer sex. Initially, they received the messages only from the programme, but later from their colleagues, spouses or other family members. They discussed the messages in groups, disseminated them, and sought more knowledge in their destinations. These findings indicated that using letters could be an effective way to reach inaccessible migrants at their destinations, and help them to improve their HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, and safer sex practices.
Reaching Hard-To-Reach Migrants By Letters: An Hiv/Aids Awareness Programme In Nepal, Krishna C. Poudel, Masamine Jimba, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Susume Wakai
Jan 2006
Reaching Hard-To-Reach Migrants By Letters: An Hiv/Aids Awareness Programme In Nepal, Krishna C. Poudel, Masamine Jimba, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Susume Wakai
Krishna C. Poudel
We assessed the impact of an HIV/AIDS programme for Nepalese migrants to India that involved writing letters. The programme created opportunities for sending HIV/AIDS-related messages to the migrants in India, and encouraging them practicing safer sex. Initially, they received the messages only from the programme, but later from their colleagues, spouses or other family members. They discussed the messages in groups, disseminated them, and sought more knowledge in their destinations. These findings indicated that using letters could be an effective way to reach inaccessible migrants at their destinations, and help them to improve their HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, and safer sex practices.
Factors Influencing Women’S Use Of Health Services For Sexually Transmitted Infections In Eastern Nepal, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Krishna Poudel, Colin Macdougall
Dec 2002
Factors Influencing Women’S Use Of Health Services For Sexually Transmitted Infections In Eastern Nepal, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Krishna Poudel, Colin Macdougall
Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar
This paper explores low levels of women’s health service utilization for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in Nepal.
We interviewed 120 women individually and 53 in focus groups. Predictors of lower utilisation were self-medication, consultation with faith healers, inadequate knowledge of STIs, beliefs about causes, fear, social taboos and stigmatisation, women’s secondary status, and presence of male health professionals. Results indicate the importance of people’s beliefs in their decisions about health care. Strategies to improve access to health services in Nepal should
systematically investigate the role of all these factors to improve access to and utilisation of health services for STIs.
