Role of female community health volunteers in ischemic stroke prevention, identification, referral and rehabilitation in Nepal

Background: As visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has recently expanded in previously non-endemic areas of Nepal, the health system is facing new challenges. Female community health volunteers(FCHVs) are playing an important role for VL elimination in Nepal. This study aimed to analyze the actual and potential role of FCHVs for VL elimination program as well as community awareness of the disease (VL) and protective measures. Methods: We used a concurrent embedded mixed methods design. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with FCHVs of 22 VLendemic villages of 3 districts. Concurrently quantitative data were collected through formal interviews of 203 household heads of the same villages. Results: FCHVs are able to perform their duties in an efficient way with the support of their families and specific incentives. FCHVs in the VL-endemic region have a good ability to recognize the VL suspects and refer to health facilities. The feedback by the district health office on referred patients was weak thus missing the opportunity of involving FCHVs in the 6-months follow up. In houses with a previous VL case knowledge levels of prevention and treatment ofVL were significantly better than in houses without a previous VL case. More people in houses with a former VL patient were aware on VL transmission. Conclusion: FCHVs are playing an important role for VL elimination in Nepal through detection of suspected cases and referral and may play a role in vector surveillance.

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

Journal of Karnali Academy of Health Sciences ◽

10.3126/jkahs.v3i1.28847 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Surya B. Parajuli ◽

Sabin Shrestha ◽

Anisha Sah ◽

Heera KC ◽

Kapil Amgain ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Community Health ◽

Prevention And Control ◽

Health Programs ◽

Community Health Volunteers ◽

Female Community ◽

Female Community Health Volunteers ◽

Community Health Programs ◽

The Moment ◽

And Control

Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) are the pillars of community health programs in Nepal who play a pivotal role in implementing various community based preventive, promotive, and curative health programs. In the context of COVID 19 pandemic and possible outbreak in Nepal, the only way by which it can be stopped at the moment is by prevention. This paper presents the role of FCHVs for the prevention and control of COVID 19 in Nepal.

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A survey study on the role of Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) in Nepal, during and following the 2015 earthquakes

International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction ◽

10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101583 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 48 ◽

pp. 101583 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

A. Horton ◽

R.C. Silwal ◽

P. Simkhada

Keyword(s):

Community Health ◽

Survey Study ◽

Community Health Volunteers ◽

Female Community ◽

Female Community Health Volunteers

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Effect of an Educational Intervention on Knowledge and Perception Regarding Rational Medicine Use and Self-medication

Journal of Nepal Health Research Council ◽

10.33314/jnhrc.v16i3.1495 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 313-320

Author(s):

Nisha Jha ◽

Pathiyil Ravi Shankar ◽

Anurag Marasini

Keyword(s):

Drug Use ◽

Community Health ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Medicine Use ◽

Self Medication ◽

Community Health Volunteers ◽

Female Community ◽

Pharmaceutical Promotion ◽

Female Community Health Volunteers ◽

The Mean

Background: Rational use of medicines is important for safe and cost-effective pharmacotherapy. However, nearly half of the medicines available in the market may be used irrationally. The present study assessed the perceptions and knowledge about rational medicine use and responsible self-medication among participants before and after an educational intervention at KIST Medical College, Lalitpur. Methods: An educational module was conducted among healthcare professionals, media personnel and female community health volunteers. The questionnaire was administered before and immediately after the module. The areas addressed were rational medicine use, ethical prescribing, rational drug use situation in Nepal, pharmaceutical promotion, rational self-medication, safe use of antibiotics, and drug use problems in Nepal. Results: Among healthcare professionals, the rational drug use situation in Nepal and the total score significantly increased post-intervention (p<0.05). Among media personnel the mean scores increased significantly in pharmaceutical promotion and drug use problems in Nepal areas but there was a significant decrease in safe use of antibiotics. The pre-intervention pharmaceutical promotion score was significantly higher among healthcare professionals compared to media personnel while the rational self-medication scores were highest among female community health volunteers, safe use of antibiotics scores were highest among the media personnel. Post-intervention the mean pharmaceutical promotion scores was highest among healthcare professionals, rational self-medication scores among female community health volunteers, safe use of antibiotics, drug use problems in Nepal and total scores were highest among the media personnel. Conclusions: There were differences in the mean pre-intervention scores among different subgroups. A single session may not be enough to bring about significant changes in knowledge and perception. The retention of knowledge could be measured in future studies. Keywords: Female community health volunteers; health care professionals; media; rational medicine use; self medication.

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Effect of an Educational Intervention on Knowledge and Perception Regarding Rational Medicine Use and Self-medication

Journal of Nepal Health Research Council ◽

10.3126/jnhrc.v16i3.21430 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 313-320

Author(s):

Nisha Jha ◽

Shankar Pathiyil Ravi ◽

Marasini Anurag

Keyword(s):

Drug Use ◽

Community Health ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Medicine Use ◽

Self Medication ◽

Community Health Volunteers ◽

Female Community ◽

Pharmaceutical Promotion ◽

Female Community Health Volunteers ◽

The Mean

Background: Rational use of medicines is important for safe and cost-effective pharmacotherapy. However, nearly half of the medicines available in the market may be used irrationally. The present study assessed the perceptions and knowledge about rational medicine use and responsible self -medication among participants before and after an educational intervention at KIST Medical College, Lalitpur.Methods: An educational module was conducted among healthcare professionals, media personnel and female community health volunteers. The questionnaire was administered before and immediately after the module. The areas addressed were rational medicine use, ethical prescribing, rational drug use situation in Nepal, pharmaceutical promotion, rational self-medication, safe use of antibiotics, and drug use problems in Nepal.Results: Among healthcare professionals, the rational drug use situation in Nepal and the total score significantly increased post-intervention (p<0.05). Among media personnel the mean scores increased significantly in pharmaceutical promotion and drug use problems in Nepal areas but there was a significant decrease in safe use of antibiotics. The pre-intervention pharmaceutical promotion score was significantly higher among healthcare professionals compared to media personnel while the rational self-medication scores were highest among female community health volunteers, safe use of antibiotics scores were highest among the media personnel. Post-intervention the mean pharmaceutical promotion scores was highest among healthcare professionals, rational self-medication scores among female community health volunteers, safe use of antibiotics, drug use problems in Nepal and total scores were highest among the media personnel. Conclusions: There were differences in the mean pre-intervention scores among different subgroups. A single session may not be enough to bring about significant changes in knowledge and perception. The retention of knowledge could be measured in future studies.

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