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

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.

Community Health Workers (CHWs) to Improve Primary Health Care Services Delivery: A Case of Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHV) Program in Nepal (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prakash Shahi ◽  
Pasang Devi Tamang ◽  
Surya Bhatta ◽  
Lal Rawal
Keyword(s):  
Community Health ◽  
Community Health Workers ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
Community Health Volunteers ◽  
Female Community ◽  
Female Community Health Volunteers ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
And Control

UNSTRUCTURED Community health workers (CHWs) have played a vital role in improving primary healthcare services in different parts of the world, in particular, for those services related to the prevention and control of communicable diseases, immunization services, reproductive health, maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS prevention and care and nutrition promotion. The Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) program, which was introduced in 1988 in Nepal has now reached over 51,000 FCHVs. They are key community level CHWs in Nepal and have contributed significantly in achieving several health and related outcomes and meeting several Millennium Development Goals. In such, there is also a potential and needs for engaging them to prevent and control emerging health challenges such as non-communicable diseases prevention and control and re-emerging health issues. Their effective involvement to ongoing health programs would be critical to achieving Sustainable Development Goals, agenda in particular “SDG 3 – Health and Wellbeing” by 2030.

scholarly journals Community Health Workers (CHWs) to Improve Primary Health Care Services Delivery: A Case of Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHV) Program in Nepal

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Prakash Shahi ◽  
Pasang Tamang ◽  
Surya Bhatta ◽  
Lal Rawal
Keyword(s):  
Community Health ◽  
Community Health Workers ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
Community Health Volunteers ◽  
Female Community ◽  
Female Community Health Volunteers ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
And Control

Community health workers (CHWs) have played a vital role in improving primary healthcare services in different parts of the world, in particular, for those services related to the prevention and control of communicable diseases, immunization services, reproductive health, maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS prevention and care and nutrition promotion. The Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) program, which was introduced in 1988 in Nepal, has now reached over 51,000 FCHVs. They are key community level CHWs in Nepal and have contributed significantly in achieving several health and related outcomes and meeting several Millennium Development Goals. In such, there is also a potential and needs for engaging them to prevent and control emerging health challenges such as non-communicable diseases prevention and control and re-emerging health issues. Their effective involvement to ongoing health programs would be critical to achieving Sustainable Development Goals, agenda in particular “SDG 3 – Health and Wellbeing” by 2030.

scholarly journals Role of female community health volunteers for visceral leishmaniasisdetection and vector surveillance in Nepal

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-58
Author(s):  
Mazin Omer ◽  
Axel Kroeger ◽  
Anand Ballabh Joshi ◽  
Murari Lal Das ◽  
Lina Ghassan Younis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Health ◽  
Vector Surveillance ◽  
Endemic Region ◽  
District Health ◽  
Community Health Volunteers ◽  
Female Community ◽  
Good Ability ◽  
Female Community Health Volunteers ◽  
Household Heads

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.

scholarly journals Engaging Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) for cardiovascular diseases risk screening in Nepal

PLoS ONE ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. e0261518
Author(s):  
Lal B. Rawal ◽  
Yuewen Sun ◽  
Padam K. Dahal ◽  
Sushil C. Baral ◽  
Sudeepa Khanal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Diseases ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Risk Scores ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Risk Screening ◽  
Community Health Volunteers ◽  
Female Community ◽  
Female Community Health Volunteers ◽  
And Control

Introduction Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) have become the leading public health problems worldwide and the cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is one of the major NCDs. Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) in Nepal are the key drivers to implementing frontline health services. We explored the potential for engaging FCHVs for CVD risk screening at the community level in Nepal. Methods We used multiple approaches (quantitative and qualitative) for data collection. The trained FCHVs administered CVD risk screening questionnaire among 491 adults in rural and urban areas and calculated the CVD risk scores. To maintain consistency and quality, a registered medical doctor also, using the same risk scoring chart, independently calculated the CVD risk scores. Kappa statistics and concordance coefficient were used to compare these two sets of risk screening results. Sensitivity and specificity analyses were conducted. Two focus group discussions among the FCHVs were conducted to determine their experiences with CVD risk screening and willingness to engage with CVD prevention and control efforts. Results The mean level of agreement between two sets of risk screening results was 94.5% (Kappa = 0.77, P<0.05). Sensitivity of FCHV screening was 90.3% (95% CI: 0.801–0.964); and the specificity was 97% (95% CI: 0.948, 0.984). FCHVs who participated in the FGDs expressed a strong enthusiasm and readiness to using the CVD risk screening tools. Despite their busy workload, all FCHVs showed high level of motivation and willingness in using CVD risk screening tools and contribute to the prevention and control efforts of NCDs. The FCHVs recommended needs for providing additional training and capacity building opportunities. Conclusion We conclude that there is a potential for engaging FCHVs to use simple CVD risk screening tools at the community level. The findings are promising, however, further studies engaging larger number of FCHVs and larger population would warrant feasibility of such tools within the existing healthcare systems in Nepal.

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

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.

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

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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