Role of Female Community Health Volunteers for Prevention and Control of COVID-19 in Nepal

Parajuli, Surya Bahadur; Shrestha, Sabin; Sah, Anisha; Kc, Heera; Kapil, Arti; Pyakurel, Prajjwal

doi:10.3126/jkahs.v3i1.28847

Cited by 6 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…To date, most of the councils in the country have formed CICTTs. The main functions of the CICTTs are to ensure trained human resources at all levels, follow standard operating procedure (SOP) for case investigation and contact tracing, mobilize Female community health volunteers (FCHVs) at community levels, perform rapid epidemiological investigations of clusters at risk for COVID-19, and ensure necessary resources and protective measures to all care providers according to the estimated level of risk ( 31 ). These are essential functions for COVID-19 prevention and control and are outlined clearly as core functions of CICTTs.…”

Section: The Government Of Nepal's Response To the Covid-19 Pandemicmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Well the Government of Nepal Is Responding to COVID-19? An Experience From a Resource-Limited Country to Confront Unprecedented Pandemic

Rayamajhee

Pokhrel

Syangtan

et al. 2021

Front. Public Health

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COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, was first reported in Wuhan, China and is now a pandemic affecting over 218 countries and territories around the world. Nepal has been severely affected by it, with an increasing number of confirmed cases and casualties in recent days, even after 8 months of the first case detected in China. As of 26 November 2020, there were over 227,600 confirmed cases of COVID in Nepal with 209,435 recovered cases and 1,412 deaths. This study aimed to compile public data available from the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), Government of Nepal (GoN) and analyse the data of 104 deceased COVID-19 patients using IBM SPSS (Version 25.0). Additionally, this study also aimed to provide critical insights on response of the GoN to COVID-19 and way forward to confront unprecedented pandemic. Figures and maps were created using the Origin Lab (Version 2018) and QGIS (Version 3.10.8). Most of the reported cases were from Bagmati Province, the location of Nepal's capital city, Kathmandu. Among deceased cases, >69% of the patients were male and patients ≥54 years accounted for 67.9% (n = 923). Preliminary findings showed respiratory illness, diabetes, and chronic kidney diseases were the most common comorbid conditions associated with COVID-19 deaths in Nepal. Despite some efforts in the 8 months since the first case was detected, the government's response so far has been insufficient. Since the government eased the lockdown in July 2020, Nepal is facing a flood of COVID-19 cases. If no aggressive actions are taken, the epidemic is likely to result in significant morbidity and mortality in Nepal. The best way to curb the effect of the ongoing pandemic in a resource-limited country like Nepal is to increase testing, tracing, and isolation capacity, and to set up quality quarantine centers throughout the nation. A comprehensive health literacy campaign, quality care of older adults and those with comorbidity will also result in the effective management of the ongoing pandemic.

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Section: The Government Of Nepal's Response To the Covid-19 Pandemicmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Well the Government of Nepal Is Responding to COVID-19? An Experience From a Resource-Limited Country to Confront Unprecedented Pandemic

Rayamajhee

Pokhrel

Syangtan

et al. 2021

Front. Public Health

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“…34 The perceived "good quality" ANC was highly significantly associated with ANC visits and is supported by studies of Nepal and Northern Ethiopia. 13,35,36 Different factors like educational status of mothers, age at marriage, decision-making role in the family for seeking health services, exposure to FCHVs, know about safe delivery incentive program and perceived "good quality" ANC had played significant role in the utilization of ANC among the women of marginalized community.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of Antenatal Care Practice among Marginalized Community of Nepal

Sangroula

Khatiwada²,

Dahal³

et al. 2020

Europasian J Med Sci.

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Background: The government of Nepal aims to improve the health of mothers and newborns by providing quality safe motherhood services. Increasing access and utilization of antenatal care (ANC) services are the first steps towards improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes, particularly those of the marginalized communities.Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence and factors associated with the antenatal care visits among the marginalized community of Nepal.Methods: A mixed-method study was conducted among 202 reproductive aged females of marginalized community in Nepal having childbirth during the last 2 years. Pre-tested semi-structured questionnaires and key informant interview guidelines were used for the collection of data. Bivariate and multiple regression analysis were carried out to find out the factors associated with the antenatal care visits. For qualitative data, thematic analysis was done. Results: More than half (56.9%) of the participants had completed four or more antenatal care visits. Mothers with primary level of education were 2.7 times more likely to complete four or more ANC visits (AOR: 2.7, CI: 1.09-7.07). Age at marriage (AOR: 2.3, CI: 1.08-5.22), women who took decisions alone for their health (AOR: 2.9, CI: 1.22-6.96),exposure to FCHV (AOR:2.5, CI: 1.1-5.9), knowledge about safe delivery incentive program (AOR: 3.6, CI: 1.46-9.0) and perception of “good quality” ANC service(AOR:7.5, CI: 3.3-17.1)were significantly associated with the number of ANC visits. Conclusion: The overall utilization of antenatal health services was low. So, there is a need of different community based maternal health programs especially targeting the marginalized females.

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“…3,15,18 Safeguarding of all frontline professionals and availability of adequate resources at the national and local level are essential in such crises. Healthcare workers including physicians, pharmacists, nurses, laboratory technologists; every responsible citizens including different influencers, and female community health volunteers 19 along with the government should work on raising awareness about COVID-19 and help reduce the stigmatization and mental stress reaped from the terror of this disease, and help to manage people under poverty with consideration of social, economic and mental level as well.…”

Section: Way Forwardmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 Status in Nepal and the Way Forward

Budhathoki¹,

Shrestha²,

Khadka

et al. 2020

Europasian J Med Sci.

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Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is declared a pandemic on 11 March 2020 due to its global spread. The progression of disease is still at the same speed and the low and middle income countries (LMICs) like Nepal are in a vulnerable state. Starting from the first reported case in January, there have been a total 99 cases as of 7 May 2020 with the chance of further increment in number, but there is no death due to COVID-19 at all in Nepal. The expansion and decentralization of healthcare facilities along with lockdown approach are praiseworthy to contain and treat the disease, however there is still a lack of adequate resources for effective enrichment of healthcare facilities. Poor border security, lack of sufficient health resources, proper health waste management, and social stigmatization remain a major problem for the country. There is not any approved therapy for the treatment of COVID-19, therefore prevention is the best way of effective management in Nepal. The most valid strategy is the application of preventive measures through hand-washing, social distancing, and increasing mass awareness through audio-visual aids about the disease. Simultaneously, the preparedness for effective treatment strategies and application to every healthcare institution handling COVID-19 cases is mandatory.

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Role of Female Community Health Volunteers for Prevention and Control of COVID-19 in Nepal

Cited by 6 publications

References 0 publications

How Well the Government of Nepal Is Responding to COVID-19? An Experience From a Resource-Limited Country to Confront Unprecedented Pandemic

How Well the Government of Nepal Is Responding to COVID-19? An Experience From a Resource-Limited Country to Confront Unprecedented Pandemic

Prevalence of Antenatal Care Practice among Marginalized Community of Nepal

COVID-19 Status in Nepal and the Way Forward

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