Needs assessment of mental health training for Auxiliary Nurse Midwives: a cross-sectional survey

Bhimsen Devkota,Bibha Simkhada,Edwin Van Teijlingen,Geeta Sharma,Jillian Ireland,Padham Simkhada,Samridhi Pradhan

doi:10.3126/jmmihs.v2i0.15793

Abstract

Mental health in pregnant women and new mothers is increasing recognised on the global health agenda. In Nepal mental health is generally a difficult to topic to discuss. THET, a London-based organisation, funded Bournemouth University, and Liverpool John Moores University in the UK and Tribhuvan University in Nepal to train community-based maternity workers on issues around mental health.This paper reports on a quantitative survey with nearly all Auxiliary Nurse Midwives in Nawalparasi (southern part of Nepal). The findings illustrate the lack of training on mental health issues related to pregnancy and childbirth in this group of health workers. Thus the paper’s conclusions stress the need for dedicated training in this field.Journal of Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences Vol. 2 2016 p.20-26

Highlights

Research AssociateCentre for Public Health, Liverpool John Moores UniversityMental health is in many ways a difficult Henry Cotton Building, topic to discuss in Nepali society. [1] 15-21 Webster Street, This makes it hard for health workers, Liverpool, L3 2ET same time too many people have little or no antenatal care, i.e. the opportunity to consult with maternity care providers.Women are often still considered second-class citizens in Nepali society, especially in the more rural areas
Same time too many people have little or no antenatal care, i.e. the opportunity to consult with maternity care providers
Auxiliary nurse midwives are first point of contact in the local community during pregnancy and childbirth.[6]This mental health training covers everything the Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) need to know about mental health basics

Summary

Introduction

Research AssociateMental health is in many ways a difficult Henry Cotton Building, topic to discuss in Nepali society. [1] 15-21 Webster Street, This makes it hard for health workers, Liverpool, L3 2ET same time too many people have little or no antenatal care, i.e. the opportunity to consult with maternity care providers.Women are often still considered second-class citizens in Nepali society, especially in the more rural areas. Auxiliary nurse midwives are first point of contact in the local community during pregnancy and childbirth.[6]This mental health training covers everything the ANMs need to know about mental health basics. [7]As part of this THET-funded programme to ANMs on Methods mental health issues related to pregnancy, we conducted a needs assessment with ANMs (and a few staff nurses) working in public birthing centres of Nawalparasi district, Nepal.

Results

Conclusion