Kathmandu Medical College And Teaching Hospital (KMCTH) is a medical school located in Kathmandu the capital city of Nepal.Established in 1997, KMC is a private medical college in Nepal. The college is permanently affiliated to Kathmandu University and fully recognised by the Medical Council of Nepal, Sri Lankan Medical Council, General Medical Council (UK) and Medical Council of India. Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital has also been listed in the WHO's World Directory of Medical Schools electronic format as from June 2002. Following full recognition by NMC, KMCTH is also listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools. It was also listed in the now discontinued International Medical Education Directory (IMED). KMC is an Associate Member of the Network Towards Unity for Health (TUFH) that has its headquarters at Glent in Belgium.
OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effectiveness of interventions on physical activity promotion in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). DESIGN:Systematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES:PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL and Cochrane CENTRAL. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:Randomised controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies published between January 2010 and September 2024. Primary outcomes included standardised mean difference (SMD) in physical activity outcomes reported mainly in metabolic equivalent to task (MET) minutes, physical activity minutes and sedentary behaviour. Data were synthesised using random-effects meta-analysis to calculate the SMD reported in a 95% CI, and the risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) and Risk of Bias in Non-Randomised Studies of Interventions tools (ROBINS-I). SMDs of 0.2, 0.5 and 0.8 were interpreted as small, medium and large effects as per Cohen's threshold. RESULTS:23 studies involving 12 689 participants from LMICs were included in the meta-analysis. Results indicated a small but statistically significant overall effect on physical activity (SMD=0.29, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.46, I²=96%). Significant improvements were observed for MET minutes (SMD=0.42, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.64, I2=94%) and physical activity scores (SMD=0.86, 95% CI 0.38 to 1.35, I2=91%), but not in total physical activity minutes, sedentary time or energy expenditure, indicating interventions mainly enhanced activity intensity. Interventions via apps and interactive calls were most effective, though overall evidence certainty was low to very low because of heterogeneity and imprecision. CONCLUSIONS:Interventions, primarily delivered through mobile apps or interactive calls, led to small improvements in physical activity intensity and could have significant public health benefits in LMICs. Future interventions should be context-specific and backed by robust trials to increase their impact and inform sustainable policy. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER:CRD42023412477.
Nepal faces many natural hazards, including floods, landslides, earthquakes, and extreme weather, which severely impact infrastructure, public health, and community resilience. In 2025, we conducted a formative stakeholder and community engagement exercise to inform research on strengthening local preparedness. This included consultative meetings with national agencies, local government, and community members in two hazard-affected municipalities. Field notes from the meetings were thematically analysed to identify priority themes. Findings indicated that national legal and policy frameworks exist, but implementation at municipal and ward levels remains inconsistent and hindered by limited institutional capacity. Local actions were largely focused on relief and reconstruction rather than preparedness and risk reduction. Community members and local officials described limited awareness of preventive strategies but strong willingness to engage in preparedness planning. Stakeholders identified priorities including improved coordination, legal literacy, locally tailored early-warning communication, and better data systems. These findings will inform co-development of a practical preparedness resource.
The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the typical annual pattern of influenza. We aim to assess its impact on influenza outcomes, especially on mortality, cardiovascular, and non-cardiovascular complications. This study utilized discharge records from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) for 2019 and 2022. We analyzed the data of hospitalized influenza patients (20 years and younger) using descriptive statistics and logistic regression models. 29,270 influenza hospitalizations were identified in the pre-pandemic year and 29,860 in the post-mitigation year. The median age was 6 years (IQR: 2–12) in the post-mitigation year vs. 4 years (IQR: 1–9) in the pre-pandemic year, P < 0.001. Mortality and major cardiovascular complications, including myocarditis and tachyarrhythmias, showed no differences. Respiratory failure was more common in post-mitigation (21.4
Impetigo is a common, contagious superficial bacterial skin infection predominantly affecting children aged two to five years. Severe presentations are rare but can be diagnostically and therapeutically challenging, particularly in rural, resource-limited settings. We report a 7-year-old girl from rural Nepal with severe non-bullous impetigo contagiosa unresponsive to initial therapy with topical mupirocin and oral cephalexin. Due to the absence of culture and sensitivity facilities and the high regional prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), empirical oral doxycycline was initiated. Marked improvement occurred within 48 hours, with complete resolution by day 7. This case underscores the importance of flexible, evidence-based empirical therapy for suspected MRSA in pediatric patients when diagnostic resources are unavailable, and highlights the short-term safety and efficacy of doxycycline in children.
Introduction: Gender preference remains a significant social and public health issue in Nepal, influencing reproductive behavior and sex ratio at birth. This study aimed to describe gender preferences among term pregnant women and the reasons underlying these preferences. Methods: This observational, cross-sectional study was conducted at Kathmandu Medical College and Teaching Hospital from August 2025 to December 2025. A total of 380 term pregnant women were enrolled using convenience sampling. Data were collected using a pretested, interviewer-administered questionnaire and analyzed descriptively using PSPP version 2.1.1. Results: Among 380 participants, 155 (40.79%) were aged 26–30 years, and 232 (61.00%) were primigravida. No specific gender preference was reported by 105 (27.60%) women, while 132 (34.70%) preferred a male child and 143 (37.60%) preferred a female child. The primary reason for male preference was social security (49, 37.12%), while the caring nature of daughters (48, 33.57%) was the main reason for female preference. A total of 268 (70.50%) women did not wish to know the fetal sex, although 239 (62.90%) had knowledge of prenatal sex determination. Gender preference was perceived as good by 230 (60.50%) participants. Conclusions: Gender preference remains prevalent among term pregnant women, with female preference marginally higher than male preference. Social security and the caring nature of daughters were the leading reasons for male and female preference, respectively. Continued awareness campaigns promoting gender equality are warranted.
