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: …
Coinfection With Hepatitis C Virus Among Hiv-Positive People In The Kathmandu Valley, Nepal (Journal Of The International Association Of Providers Of Aids Care), Krishna C. Poudel, Paula H. Palmer, Masamine Jimba, Tetsuya Mizoue, Jun Kobayashi, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar
Sep 2013
Coinfection With Hepatitis C Virus Among Hiv-Positive People In The Kathmandu Valley, Nepal (Journal Of The International Association Of Providers Of Aids Care), Krishna C. Poudel, Paula H. Palmer, Masamine Jimba, Tetsuya Mizoue, Jun Kobayashi, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar
Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar
Background: Previous research has studied the rate of hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection among HIV-positive people regardless
of their antiretroviral therapy (ART) status. Our objectives were to measure the seroprevalence of HCV both in HIV-positive
people receiving ART and in those not receiving ART and to describe the characteristics of coinfected people in the Kathmandu
Valley, Nepal. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 319 HIV-positive people residing in the Kathmandu Valley,
Nepal. We screened the participants’ serum samples for HCV antibodies using the Latex Photometric Immunoassay based on
third-generation assay. Results: A total of 138 (43.3%) participants were HCV …
Smoking Cessation Increases Short-Term Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes Irrespective Of Weight Gain: The Japan Public Health Center-Based Prospective Study, Shino Oba, Mitsuhiko Noda, Kayo Waki, Akiko Nanri, Masayuki Kato, Yoshihiko Takahashi, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Yumi Matsushita, Manami Inoue, Tetsuya Mizoue, Shoichiro Tsugane
Feb 2012
Smoking Cessation Increases Short-Term Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes Irrespective Of Weight Gain: The Japan Public Health Center-Based Prospective Study, Shino Oba, Mitsuhiko Noda, Kayo Waki, Akiko Nanri, Masayuki Kato, Yoshihiko Takahashi, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Yumi Matsushita, Manami Inoue, Tetsuya Mizoue, Shoichiro Tsugane
Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar
Objective: The effect of smoking cessation on the risk of diabetes has been reported previously. However, it is unknown
whether the association is influenced by weight gain and other potential risk factors.
Methods: The Japan Public Health Center-Based Prospective Study established in 1990 for Cohort I and in 1993 for Cohort II
provided data, and 25,875 men and 33,959 women were analyzed. The response rate to the baseline questionnaire was
80.9%, and 68.4% of the respondents participated both the 5- and 10-year follow-up surveys. Smoking cessation was noted
during the initial five years and the development of diabetes was reported …
Relationship Of Serum Fatty Acid Composition And Desaturase Activity To C-Reactive Protein In Japanese Men And Women (Atherosclerosis), Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Masao Sato, Yuko Ejima, Akiko Nanri, Yumi Matsushita, Katsumi Imaizumi, Tetsuya Mizoue
Nov 2011
Relationship Of Serum Fatty Acid Composition And Desaturase Activity To C-Reactive Protein In Japanese Men And Women (Atherosclerosis), Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Masao Sato, Yuko Ejima, Akiko Nanri, Yumi Matsushita, Katsumi Imaizumi, Tetsuya Mizoue
Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar
Background: Although fatty acid composition in serum and desaturase activity, which alters serum fatty acid composition, has been associated with C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration in Western populations, no study has been carried out in non-Western populations. We examined the association of serum fatty acids and estimated desaturase activity with CRP concentrations in Japanese men and women.
Methods: Subjects were 489 Japanese municipal employees aged 21–67 yearswhoparticipated in a survey at the time of a periodic health check-up. Serum high-sensitivity CRP concentrations were measured using the latex agglutination nephelometry method. Fatty acid composition was measured in serum cholesteryl esters and desaturase …
Social Support And Suicide In Japanese Men And Women E The Japan Public Health Center (Jphc)-Based Prospective Study (Journal Of Psychiatric Research), Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Akiko Nanri, Tetsuya Mizoue, Yumi Matsushita, Yoshihiko Takahashi, Mitsuhiko Noda, Manami Inoue, Shoichiro Tsugane
Jul 2011
Social Support And Suicide In Japanese Men And Women E The Japan Public Health Center (Jphc)-Based Prospective Study (Journal Of Psychiatric Research), Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Akiko Nanri, Tetsuya Mizoue, Yumi Matsushita, Yoshihiko Takahashi, Mitsuhiko Noda, Manami Inoue, Shoichiro Tsugane
Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar
Although the important role of social support in mental health is acknowledged, no prospective study has yet examined the relation of social support to suicide. Here, we investigated the association
between social support and suicide in a cohort of Japanese men and women. A total of 26,672 men and 29,865 women aged 40e69 years enrolled in the Japan Public Health Center-based prospective study in
1993e1994 completed a self-administered questionnaire which included four items of social support, and were followed for death through December 2005. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of suicidal death by social support index …
Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations And Season-Specific Correlates In Japanese Adults (Journal Of Epidemiology), Akiko Nanri, Leng Huat Foo, Kazutoshi Nakamura, Ai Hori, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Yumi Matsushita, Tetsuya Mizoue
Jul 2011
Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations And Season-Specific Correlates In Japanese Adults (Journal Of Epidemiology), Akiko Nanri, Leng Huat Foo, Kazutoshi Nakamura, Ai Hori, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Yumi Matsushita, Tetsuya Mizoue
Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar
Background: Several lines of evidence indicate an important role for vitamin D in the prevention of a range of diseases. Blood vitamin D levels show clear seasonal variation; however, data on the determinants of vitamin D status for each season are limited. We investigated the association between lifestyle and serum vitamin D concentration by season in Japanese workers.
Methods: Subjects were 312 men and 217 women aged 21 to 67 years who worked in municipal offices in Northern
Kyushu, Japan and participated in a periodic checkup in July or November. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to examine the association …
Differences In Suicide Risk According To Living Arrangements In Japanese Men And Women – The Japan Public Health Center-Based (Jphc) Prospective Study (Journal Of Affective Disorders), Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Akiko Nanri, Tetsyta Mizoue, Yumi Matsushita, Yoshihiko Takahashi, Mitsuhiko Noda, Manami Inoue, Shoichiro Tsugane
May 2011
Differences In Suicide Risk According To Living Arrangements In Japanese Men And Women – The Japan Public Health Center-Based (Jphc) Prospective Study (Journal Of Affective Disorders), Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Akiko Nanri, Tetsyta Mizoue, Yumi Matsushita, Yoshihiko Takahashi, Mitsuhiko Noda, Manami Inoue, Shoichiro Tsugane
Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar
Background: Living alone has been suggested as a risk factor for suicide. However, the effect on suicide risk of living together with spouse, child(ren) and parent(s) is unclear. This study aims to
examine the association between living arrangements with spouse, child(ren), and parent(s) and suicide in a Japanese men and women.
Methods: Altogether 104, 528 participants aged 40–69 years, who completed baseline questionnaire (1990–1994), were followed for death through December 2005. We used Cox proportional hazards regression model to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for suicide according to living arrangements.
Results: During an average …
Association Between Serum Ferritin Concentrations And Depressive Symptoms In Japanese Municipal Employees (Journal Of Psychiatry Research), Siyan Yi, Akiko Nanri, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Daisuke Nonaka, Yumi Matsushita, Ai Hori, Tetsuya Mizoue
Apr 2011
Association Between Serum Ferritin Concentrations And Depressive Symptoms In Japanese Municipal Employees (Journal Of Psychiatry Research), Siyan Yi, Akiko Nanri, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Daisuke Nonaka, Yumi Matsushita, Ai Hori, Tetsuya Mizoue
Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar
It remains unclear whether levels of body iron store are related to milder forms of depression, which are more common among apparently healthy people. We examined the association between serum ferritin concentrations and depressive symptoms among 312 men and 216 women working in two municipal offices
in Japan. Depressive symptoms were assessed by using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CESD) scale. In men, increased prevalence of depressive symptoms (defined by using a cutoff value of ≥19) was significantly associated with decreased levels of serum ferritin. In age- and study-site-adjusted models, ORs
(95% CIs) for depressive symptoms for men in …
Long Chain N-3 Fatty Acids Intake, Fish Consumption And Suicide In A Cohort Of Japanese Men And Women — The Japan Public Health Center-Based (Jphc) Prospective Study (Journal Of Affective Disorders), Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Akiko Nanri, Motoki Iwasaki, Tetsuya Mizoue, Yumi Matsushita, Yoshihiko Takahashi, Mitsuhiko Noda, Manami Inoue, Shoichiro Tsugane
Aug 2010
Long Chain N-3 Fatty Acids Intake, Fish Consumption And Suicide In A Cohort Of Japanese Men And Women — The Japan Public Health Center-Based (Jphc) Prospective Study (Journal Of Affective Disorders), Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Akiko Nanri, Motoki Iwasaki, Tetsuya Mizoue, Yumi Matsushita, Yoshihiko Takahashi, Mitsuhiko Noda, Manami Inoue, Shoichiro Tsugane
Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar
Objective: Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have been implicated as protective against suicide. However, it is uncertain whether a higher intake of EPA and DHA
or of fish, a major source of these nutrients, lowers suicidal risk among Japanese, whose fish consumption and suicide rate are both high. This study prospectively examined the relation between fish, EPA, or DHA intake and suicide among Japanese men and women.
Method: Subjects were 47,351 men and 54,156 women aged 40–69 years who participated in the JPHC Study, completed a food frequency questionnaire in 1995–1999, and were followed
for death through December …
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 …
Differential Effects Of Out-Of-Home Day Care In Improving Child Nutrition And Augmenting Maternal Income Among Those With And Without Childcare Support: A Prospective Before–After Comparison Study In Pokhara, Nepal, Shinji Nakahara, Krishna Poudel, Milan Lopchan, Om Raj Poudel, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Masao Ichikawa
Mar 2010
Differential Effects Of Out-Of-Home Day Care In Improving Child Nutrition And Augmenting Maternal Income Among Those With And Without Childcare Support: A Prospective Before–After Comparison Study In Pokhara, Nepal, Shinji Nakahara, Krishna Poudel, Milan Lopchan, Om Raj Poudel, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Masao Ichikawa
Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar
Objectives: We examined (1) whether attending out-of-home day care centres (DCCs) has differential effects on improvement of child nutrition and facilitation of maternal employment
depending on availability of non-institutionalised childcare support and (2) whether attendance increases infectious diseases.
Methods: In a prospective before–after comparison study at public DCCs in Pokhara, Nepal, we compared weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ) and height-for-age Z-score (HAZ) among children
attending DCCs between at admission, after 6 months, and after 1 year and determined differential changes in these measures between those with and without appropriate childcare support. We used repeated measures analysis of variance with interaction terms between …
Association Between Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D And Depressive Symptoms In Japanese: Analysis By Survey Season, A. Nanri, T. Mizoue, Y. Matsushita, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, M. Sato, M. Ohta, N. Mishima
Aug 2009
Association Between Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D And Depressive Symptoms In Japanese: Analysis By Survey Season, A. Nanri, T. Mizoue, Y. Matsushita, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, M. Sato, M. Ohta, N. Mishima
Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar
Both depressive symptoms and vitamin D insufficiency are common during winter. This study examined the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and depressive symptoms by survey season. Subjects were 527 municipal employees aged 21–67 years of two municipal offices in Japan. Overall, there was no measurable association. However, in the workplace surveyed in November, multivariate-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of having depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression score of X16) for the lowest through highest quartiles of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D were 1.00 (reference), 0.84 (0.45–1.58), 0.83 (0.44–1.58) and 0.59 (0.30–1.15), respectively (trend P ¼ 0.14). The association with the …
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.
Availability Of Childcare Support And Nutritional Status Of Children Of Non-Working And Working Mothers In Urban Nepal, Shinji Nakahara, Krishna C. Poudel, Milan Lopchan, Masao Ichikawa, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Masamine Jimba, Susumu Wakai
Dec 2005
Availability Of Childcare Support And Nutritional Status Of Children Of Non-Working And Working Mothers In Urban Nepal, Shinji Nakahara, Krishna C. Poudel, Milan Lopchan, Masao Ichikawa, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Masamine Jimba, Susumu Wakai
Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar
In many developing countries, poor women have multiple roles, and often their time constraints are so severe that their participation in income-generating activities results in reduced childcare time, which in turn affects child health. Previous studies have tended to
investigate how childcare support influences nutrition of children with working mothers’ based on comparisons with non-working mothers. However, non-working mothers are not a homogeneous group, and we therefore need to distinguish between those who need not work and those who wish to but cannot, for example, due to a lack of substitute caregivers. We examined the association between availability of childcare …
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.
