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This study aimed to comprehensively examine social and clinical factors contributing to postpartum depression among women in Nepal and identify their perspectives/experiences regarding postpartum mental health.
The explanatory sequential mixed-method study was conducted in two phases. In the quantitative phase, data were collected via survey of 200 postpartum women at immunisation clinics of two hospitals in Kathmandu Nepal. Measures included sociodemographic and perinatal factors and the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale. Regression models were conducted to analyse data. In the qualitative phase, in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 participants having depression scores ≥ 10. Data were analysed using the thematic content analysis method. Qualitative and quantitative findings were integrated using the joint display and the narrative weaving approach to generate results.
Findings show that 28% of postpartum women screened positive for depressive symptoms, requiring referral for further evaluation. Integrated findings indicate that prenatal mental health problems, low birth weight or medical conditions among infants, intimate partner violence, partner substance abuse, and a lack of postpartum social support were major contributors to postpartum depression.
Depression is highly prevalent among women 6–12 months postpartum in Nepal and is associated with several clinical and social factors.
These findings have important implications, emphasising the need for routine screening using validated tools for early identification, timely treatment and referral of women at-risk for postpartum depression. Evidence-based clinical and community initiatives are needed to promote positive outcomes for women and their families.
External experts were consulted for survey questions and qualitative interview guide, then refined those instruments based on their feedback to improve construct validity. The immunisation clinic staff provided input during study design, for participant recruitment and data collection. Key findings were presented to stakeholders to validate the interpretation of findings.
Understanding the regional blood group distribution is essential for safe transfusion practice and efficient blood bank inventory management, as local variations in the ABO and Rh blood group systems guide donor recruitment and minimise shortages and transfusion incompatibilities. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and distribution of ABO and Rh blood groups among individuals attending a tertiary care hospital in Lalitpur, Nepal.
Retrospective cross-sectional study.
Department of Transfusion Medicine and Blood Bank of KIST Medical College and Teaching Hospital.
All individuals attending a tertiary care hospital between 17 July 2018 and 31 July 2023 who underwent ABO and Rh blood group testing were included in this study. Individuals younger than 4 months of age and those with discrepant blood group results were excluded.
Frequency and distribution of ABO and Rh blood groups among different categories.
A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among individuals attending a tertiary care hospital after obtaining ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee (reference number: 2080/81/91) of KIST Medical College and Teaching Hospital. The blood grouping and sociodemographic data of individuals were analysed using SPSS V.17.0, and statistical significance was established at p
Out of 20 966 individuals, 12 956 (61.80% (95% CI 61.14% to 62.45%)) were female, and 8010 (38.20% (95% CI 37.55% to 38.86%)) were male. The most common blood group was A+ 6629 (31.62% (95% CI 30.99% to 32.25%)), while AB– was the least common blood group 49 (0.23% (95% CI 0.17% to 0.30%)). The RhD+ cases were 20 432 (97.45% (95% CI 97.24% to 97.67%)) and the RhD– cases were 534 (2.55% (95% CI 2.33% to 2.76%)). O+ blood (OR 1.25 (95% CI 1.18 to 1.32), p
Of the two major blood group systems, the ABO and RhD systems, A+ and RhD+ blood groups were the most prevalent among individuals attending a tertiary care hospital. Understanding the regional distribution of blood groups supports effective blood bank management and transfusion services, ultimately improving patient care.
Saskatchewan is facing a public health crisis driven by high rates of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, particularly among people who use drugs. Injection drug use is a major contributor to these syndemic infections, exacerbated by structural barriers such as stigma, poverty and limited culturally safe healthcare. Innovative, community-informed approaches are urgently needed to improve prevention, testing and linkage to care.
This study will implement a rapid assessment and response system in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, integrating geospatial mapping of community needle prevalence with pop-up interventions. Needle hotspot maps will be used to guide the deployment of community-based pop-up events offering point-of-care testing for HIV, syphilis and HCV, alongside education on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and postexposure prophylaxis (PEP). A convergent participatory mixed-methods design will be used to evaluate feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness, guided by the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance framework. Quantitative data will assess changes in knowledge of PrEP and PEP, satisfaction with the intervention and report new diagnoses and participant demographics descriptively. A qualitative substudy will include 30 participants and will explore experiences with the intervention, barriers to care and perceptions of service delivery.
Ethical approval has been obtained from the research ethics board of the Saskatchewan Health Authority (#24–91). Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and community reporting. This study may provide a model of community-based geospatial testing and education that could be scaled up and adapted elsewhere.
Open Science Framework https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/HVK3B
Stillbirth remains a major global health challenge, with India bearing a substantial share of the burden. Despite the availability of evidence-based interventions, stillbirth rates (SBRs) remain high due to gaps in healthcare access, quality and the effective delivery of maternal and neonatal care. This study aims to develop and implement an optimised, context-specific model to reduce SBRs in Sangrur district, Punjab.
This mixed-methods implementation research will adopt a sequential explanatory design. The study will be conducted over 3 years in four blocks of Sangrur. Data will be collected through baseline and endline surveys, verbal autopsies of stillbirths, direct observations of antenatal and intrapartum care, and qualitative interviews with community members and healthcare providers. The intervention package will focus on preconception and antepartum care, intrapartum care and strengthening health systems. The study will use the plan-do-check-act model for continuous improvement, and real-time data collection through electronic systems will support timely decision-making.
The study expects to achieve a 25% reduction in SBRs through the optimised delivery of high-quality antenatal and intrapartum care services. Additionally, the research will provide critical evidence on the barriers and facilitators to optimise service delivery, as well as insights into the health system and community factors influencing stillbirth outcomes. This study aims to create a scalable and adaptable intervention model to reduce SBRs in low-resource settings like Sangrur and Punjab. The findings will inform future maternal and neonatal health policies and provide a framework for the broader implementation of similar interventions in other regions of India.
The study protocol has been approved by the International Institute of Health Management Research, Delhi (IIHMR) Institutional Ethics Committee (IRB/2024-2025/01). The study is funded through a competitive call for proposals on stillbirths by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) under the National Health Research Priority Projects (5/7BMIPR/2022-RBMCH). The research has been awarded by ICMR (project ID NHRP05586) to IIHMR under grant number 5/7/BMIPR/2022-RCN.
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