Abstract
BackgroundNepal has made a significant improvement in child survival in the last few decades and the involvement of female community health volunteers (FCHVs) has been crucial in such achievement. While there have been many studies on child health in Nepal however, rarely explored the status and factors associated with the child health service provided by these volunteers. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with the child health service delivery by FCHVs.MethodsA national survey was conducted in 2014 in Nepal that included 4302 FCHVs using the structured questionnaire across the 13 geopolitical domains of the country. Factors associated with the use of child health services was examined using Chi-square test (χ2) followed by logistic regression.ResultsOverall, 62.6% of FCHVs provided at least one child health service. Those FCHVs who utilized money from the FCHV fund, conducted health mothers’ group meeting, involved in local committees and those who supported antenatal care and outreach clinics related activities had higher odds of providing child health services. Similarly, FCHVs equipped with the stock of Cotrimoxazole tablet, Zinc tablet, Oral Rehydration Salt packets were more likely to provide child health services. The province-wise analysis showed that FCHVs from Province 5 and Sudur Paschim Province were more likely to provide child health services compared to their counterparts from province 1. Technology-wise, FCHVs who were using mobile were more likely to provide child health services.ConclusionsFCHVs are important human resource in providing child health services in Nepal. To improve child health service delivery by FCHVs; availability of key commodities, involvement of FCHVs in regular health mothers’ group meeting, use of mobile phone, involvement in other public health programs and social networks, and utilization of the FCHV fund need to be taken into consideration.
Highlights
Nepal has made a significant improvement in child survival in the last few decades and the involvement of female community health volunteers (FCHVs) has been crucial in such achievement
To improve child health service delivery by FCHVs; availability of key commodities, involvement of FCHVs in regular health mothers’ group meeting, use of mobile phone, involvement in other public health programs and social networks, and utilization of the FCHV fund need to be taken into consideration
This study aimed to identify child health services provided by FCHVs and determine the factors associated with it using the data from the national survey
Summary
Nepal has made a significant improvement in child survival in the last few decades and the involvement of female community health volunteers (FCHVs) has been crucial in such achievement. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with the child health service delivery by FCHVs. Global under-five deaths have decreased from 12.6 million in 1990 to 5.4 million in 2017 [1]. Health system suffers from a chronic shortage of human resources. In this context, the mobilization of community health workers or volunteers has been seen as a cost-effective and promising health system intervention [4]. Nepal started the Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) program in 1988. Provided child health services % (95% CI) p value Age < 25 yr 204 (4.38)
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