Chamnein Choonpradub

Treatment outcome of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Nepal.

The purpose of this study was to examine factors associated with treatment outcome of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) cases in Nepal. A retrospective analysis of MDR-TB cases by demographic determinants and treatment was conducted. A total of 494 MDR-TB cases were registered from 2005 to 2008, with data obtained from the National Tuberculosis Center. Chi-squared tests were used to assess statistically the association between smear and culture conversion and treatment outcome. Determinants were analyzed with the use of Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models to generate estimates of the associations with the time to treatment outcome. Sputum conversion status and culture conversion status were positively associated with treatment outcome for MDR-TB. In a multiple Cox proportional hazards regression model, no determinants were found to be associated with time to cure.

Adolescent Marriage in Nepal: A Subregional Level Analysis

ABSTRACT This study aims to identify the distribution of marriages among adolescents, aged 10 to 19 years, throughout Nepal. Data were obtained from the 2011 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses were used to identify the main determinants of adolescent marriages (AMs). Of a total 11,967 weighted samples, 9.3% of adolescents (95% CI, 8–10%) were found to have been married; a significantly higher percentage of these were female. The variability of AMs varied among the regions of Nepal, with a higher percentage occurring in the Western Mountain, Mid-Western Hill, and Central Terai areas. AMs were also more likely to have occurred among poorer households. The findings show a substantial differences of AMs in different geographic areas and demographic levels in Nepal.

Comparing Methods for Testing Association in Tables with Zero Cell Counts Using Logistic Regression

Logistic regression is one of the most useful methods used to describe the relationship between a binary dependent variable and a set of independent variables. However, when any of the counts are zero, a nonconvergence problem will occur. A procedure for solving such a problem has been proposed by Firth (Biometrika 80:27–38, 1993 [4]), and provides finite parameter estimates based on penalized maximum likelihood. This study suggests a simpler method which involves modifying the data by replacing the zero count by one and doubling the corresponding nonzero count. Results show that this simple data modification method gives similar results to those from the Firth’s procedure.