Cureus · 7 authors, 4 centres
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This narrative review of 35 articles identified diarrheal illness, stunted growth, dental caries, visual impairment, poor mental health, and low health literacy as key health issues among school-aged children in Nepal. The literature supports an association between inadequate resource distribution and poorer health outcomes compared to youth in developed countries.
This narrative literature review searched PubMed and Global Health databases for studies published from 2016 onward, ultimately reviewing 35 full-length articles. The review identified six major health issues among Nepalese school-aged children: diarrheal illness, stunted growth, dental caries, visual impairment, poor mental health, and low health literacy. Stunting declined between 2011 and 2016, yet anemia among adolescent females rose from 38.5% to 43.6% in the same period. A 2019 health survey found more than half of 6,531 students experienced bullying, with 14% reporting suicidal ideation and 11% attempting suicide. Among students evaluated by a pediatric ophthalmologist, 85.9% were classified as blind, with 40.9% of blind students having potentially avoidable causes. Former child soldiers showed PTSD symptoms at 55.3% compared to 20% in non-child soldiers. Findings suggest educational programs, awareness campaigns, early screenings, and multi-sector interventions may improve health outcomes.
