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

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.

Reinforcement of Peer-Coaching and Clinical Audit to improve Implementation of the Package of Essential Non-Communicable Diseases (PEN) in Nepal: A Pilot Implementation Study Method

Introduction: Nepal endorsed and implemented the WHO Package of Essential Non-communicable Disease Intervention. However, its implementation is far from satisfactory. We designed and implemented an intervention to reinforce peer coaching and clinical audit mechanisms in primary- level health facilities, and tested its feasibility and preliminary effectiveness. This paper details the methodology used in designing, implementing and assessing the intervention. Methods: The study adoptes a hybrid type II implementation trial design. The intervention assignment followed a non-blinded, two-arm, parallel randomized controlled trial design with a 1:1 allocation ratio. Seventeen primary-level public health facilities with at least one trained staff were randomized. The clinical staff at the intervention health facilities received peer-coaching and clinical audit reinforcement, while the control group followed their usual practice. The study was conducted over a 12-month duration. A mixed-method approach, applying pre-post assessment and thematic analysis, to inform the intervention development and assess implementation outcomes and its effectiveness was. The study was guided by the Proctor framework. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Nepal Health Research Council (Registraion number: 30212021). Discussion: The tools and methods that guide intervention implementation and assessment have the potential to be replicated in various settings to design strategies to improve Package of Essential Non-communicable Disease Intervention adoption and sustainment. Trial Registration: This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (www.clinicaltrials.gov) on 30 May 2025, Identifier: NCT05794399

Knowledge and attitude regarding the COVID-19 pandemic among undergraduate health science students of Nepal: An online survey

Objectives: This study aims to assess health science students’ knowledge and attitude about COVID-19 epidemiology, management, and prevention; and the association of knowledge and attitude with various sociodemographic characteristics. Methods: An online survey was done among 524 undergraduate health science students using a pre-tested questionnaire across 19 health science institutions in Nepal from 30 June to 11 August 2021. All subjects were enrolled in the study after informed consent. Outcomes were Knowledge level, attitude level, and predictors of knowledge level and attitude level. Bivariate analysis was done to determine the association between variables. Results: Of 524 students, 42.9% were male, and 57.1% were female. More than half (54.6%) and the majority (85.1%) participants had good knowledge and attitude, respectively. Approximately three-fifths (59.4%) of the participants were from the B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS). Students in BPKIHS (odds ratio = 1.774; 95% confidence interval = 1.243–2.533), junior years (odds ratio = 8.892; 95% confidence interval = 5.814–13.599), age less than 23 years (odds ratio = 2.985; 95% confidence interval = 2.089–4.266) were more likely to have good knowledge. Students under 23 years (odds ratio = 24.160; 95% confidence interval: 9.570–60.992) and those in junior years (odds ratio = 4.460; 95% confidence interval = 3.753–5.300) were likely to have a good attitude level. Students in BPKIHS (odds ratio = 0.443; 95% confidence interval = 0.272–0.722) were less likely to have a good attitude. Conclusions: Overall, health science students had adequate knowledge and a good attitude regarding COVID-19. However, students lacked knowledge regarding infectiousness, transmission, post-vaccination observation period, remdesivir use, convalescent plasma therapy, and awake-prone positioning. Knowledge and attitude scores were associated with age, stream, and study institution

Incidence of Injuries in Bhagawanpur, Siraha District, Nepal: a Door-to-Door Survey

Background: Rapid industrialization, increasing traffic hazards, and the hectic pace of modern life have exposed people to a greater risk of accidental injuries. We aimed to document the incidence of injuries in the Bhagawanpur Rural Municipality of Siraha District of Nepal and their pattern and cost of treatment. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 12,935 participants in Bhagawanpur Rural Municipality. A door-to-door survey was conducted from June to August 2018 by face-to-face interview using a preformed semi-structured questionnaire designed for this study. The households were selected by probability proportion to size method from each ward. The variables included the number of injuries, patterns, and costs of treatment. Results: The incidence of injury was 5.3%. The majority (36.2%) belonged to the age group of 16-30 years. The fall injury occurred in 54.2% and superficial bruises affected 70% of injury. Minor injury contributed to about 89.8% and major injury was seen among 10.2% of the study participants. More than half (56%) of the individuals spent less than NPR 1500.00 for the treatment. Conclusion: The incidence of injury was 5.3% among people living in Bhagawanpur Rural Municipality of Siraha District. Most of them were young, and had minor injuries. Treatment costs for most of the injuries were less than NPR 1500.00. </jats:p

Adverse events following the first dose of Covishield (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19) vaccination among health workers in selected districts of central and western Nepal: A cross-sectional study

Introduction The study aimed at exploring the adverse events following immunization (AEFI) and their incidences among health workers in three different districts of central and western Nepal following the first dose of Covishield vaccine,. It also aimed at studying the association of AEFI with demographic and clinical characteristics of vaccinees, pre-vaccination anxiety level and prior history of COVID-19 infection (RT- PCR confirmed) status. Materials and methods This was a cross-sectional study carried out via face-to-face or telephonic interview among 1006 health workers one week after receiving their first dose of the Covishield vaccine. Incidence of adverse events was calculated in percentage while Chi-square Test was used to check the association of AEFI with independent variables. Logistic regression was used to find out the adjusted odd’s ratio at 95% CI. Results Incidence of AEFI was 79.8% with local and systemic AEFI being 68.0% and 59.7% respectively. Injection site tenderness was the commonest manifestation. Local and systemic symptoms resolved in less than one week among 96.8% and 98.7% vaccinees respectively. Females were more likely to develop AEFI than males (AOR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.2–2.4). Vaccinees aged 45–59 years were 50% less likely to develop AEFI as compared to those aged less than 30 years (AOR 0.5, 95% CI = 0.3–0.8). Most of the vaccinees had not undergone RT-PCR testing for COVID-19 (59.8%). Those who were not tested for COVID-19 prior were 1.5 odds more likely to develop AEFI compared to those who were negative (AOR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.1–2.1). Conclusion More than two-third of the vaccinees developed one or more forms of adverse events, but most events were self-limiting. Females and young adults were more prone to develop AEFI. </jats:sec

sj-pdf-1-smo-10.1177_20503121231196703 – Supplemental material for Knowledge and attitude regarding the COVID-19 pandemic among undergraduate health science students of Nepal: An online survey

Supplemental material, sj-pdf-1-smo-10.1177_20503121231196703 for Knowledge and attitude regarding the COVID-19 pandemic among undergraduate health science students of Nepal: An online survey by Ayush Anand, Ashwini Gupta, Sweta Singh, Sulav Pyakurel, Rajendra Karkee and Prajjwal Pyakurel in SAGE Open Medicine</p

Health information system as an integral component of cardiovascular surveillance system in Nepal

Introduction: Nepal lacks a comprehensive, integrated health information system (HIS) to address the growing burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). &#x0D; Method: We performed a literature search and reviewed papers, government reports, and websites related to HIS. We included existing situations of HIS, major gaps, strength weakness opportunity threat (SWOT) analysis and role of different stakeholders to address CVD burden in Nepal.&#x0D; Results: Health data from different health facility level are filled in district health information software (DHIS-2). DHIS-2 has been implemented in 10 districts in full-fledged manner and partial phase in 22 districts. Data are collected by means of paper-based registers, tally sheets, and monthly data collation forms. The collated data are sent monthly to the district level and entered into the computer using DHIS-2 software and submitted to the national health departments.&#x0D; Major gaps in health management information system (HMIS) are lack of separate heading of CVDs and lack of implementation of the existing data collection system. The strengths of the HIS are robust and decentralized health care delivery system in a good number of medical institutions. Weakness is lack of public and private partnership, concrete policy on health information and dissemination. Opportunities are the existence of policies and regulations mandating health facilities to report indicators, the involvement of private institutions and the expansion of existing DHIS-2 system. &#x0D; Conclusion: Nepal currently lacks reliable and accurate data on timely manner to address the growing burden of CVDs. There is a need to strengthen the existing DHIS with a commitment from expertise and leadership.</jats:p