Prehospital Emergency Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: An under-developed and fragmented prehospital Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system is a major obstacle to the timely care of emergency patients. Insufficient emphasis on prehospital emergency systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) currently causes a substantial number of avoidable deaths from time-sensitive illnesses, highlighting a critical need for improved prehospital emergency care systems. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to assess the prehospital emergency care services across LMICs. METHODS: This systematic review used four electronic databases, namely: PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, and SCOPUS, to search for published reports on prehospital emergency medical care in LMICs. Only peer-reviewed studies published in English language from January 1, 2010 through November 1, 2022 were included in the review. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) and Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist were used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. Further, the protocol of this systematic review has been registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) database (Ref: CRD42022371936) and has been conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. RESULTS: Of the 4,909 identified studies, a total of 87 studies met the inclusion criteria and were therefore included in the review. Prehospital emergency care structure, transport care, prehospital times, health outcomes, quality of information exchange, and patient satisfaction were the most reported outcomes in the considered studies. CONCLUSIONS: The prehospital care system in LMICs is fragmented and uncoordinated, lacking trained medical personnel and first responders, inadequate basic materials, and substandard infrastructure.

Role of Community Health Volunteers Since the 2015 Nepal Earthquakes: A Qualitative Study.

OBJECTIVE: Nepal female community health volunteers (FCHVs) were the first available health personnel in communities during the 2015 Nepal earthquakes. This study explored the facilitating factors and barriers of the FCHVs during health emergencies. METHODS: In-depth interviews with 24 FCHVs and 4 health managers from 2 districts in Nepal (Gorkha and Sindhupalchowk) were conducted using semi-structured interview guides. The qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis methods. RESULTS: FCHVs were the first responders to provide services after the earthquakes and were well accepted by the local communities. Different models of supervision existed, and differences in the workload and remuneration offered to FCHVs were described. A wide range of disaster-related knowledge and skills were required by FCHVs, and lack of prior training was an issue for some respondents. Furthermore, lack of access to adequate medical supplies was a major barrier for FCHVs in the 2015 earthquakes. The 5 identified themes were discussed. CONCLUSION: Providing regular disaster response training for FCHVs and strong leadership from the public sector with sustained investments will be essential for increasing the capacities of community health workforces to prepare for and reduce the impacts of future health emergencies in resource-poor settings.

Anxiety and depressive symptoms among home isolated patients with COVID-19: A cross-sectional study from Province One, Nepal.

Home isolated patients infected with COVID-19 might be at increased risk of developing mental health problems. The study aimed to identify the prevalence and factors associated with anxiety and depression among COVID-19 home isolated patients in Province One, Nepal. This was a cross-sectional study conducted between February 17, 2021, to April 9, 2021. A total of 372 home isolated patients from Province One were phone interviewed in the study. Anxiety and depression were measured using a 14-items Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was done to determine the risk factors of anxiety and depression. Among home isolated COVID-19 infected participants, 74.2% and 79% had symptoms of anxiety (borderline: 48.7% and abnormal: 25.5%) and depression (borderline: 52.7% and abnormal: 26.3%), respectively. Watching television was significantly associated with lower odds of experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Females had significantly higher odds of having depression symptoms compared to males while ever married, those with COVID-19 related complications, and those taking medicine for the treatment of COVID-19 symptoms had a higher likelihood of exhibiting symptoms of anxiety. A focus on improving the mental health well-being of COVID-19 infected patients in home settings with connection to the health services is warranted with timely psychological interventions.

Risk Factors of Preterm Birth in Nepal: A Hospital-Based Matched Case-Control Study.

Background: Preterm birth is a significant cause of neonatal death globally. Nepal is in the 20th position in the world, with the highest rate of preterm deliveries. The risk factors of preterm birth have not been fully identified and established in Nepal. The study aims to identify risk factors of preterm birth among women who underwent delivery in a tertiary maternal hospital in Nepal. Methods: This study employed a hospital-based matched case-control study design. The case included women who delivered before 37 weeks of gestation, and women who delivered between 37 and 42 weeks of gestation served as controls. The ratio of the case to control was 1:2, and matching was done for the type of delivery. The first author collected the data in the Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital between December 2015 and January 2016. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a structured questionnaire. Backward conditional logistic regression was performed to identify the independent risk factors of preterm birth. Results: Antihelminthic treatment during pregnancy was found to be protective for preterm birth. Women performing intensive physical work during their pregnancy and women exposed to indoor air pollution were more likely to have a preterm birth than women not performing intensive physical work and women not exposed to indoor pollution, respectively. Conclusions: Women who had not consumed antihelminthic drugs per protocol, those exposed to indoor air pollution, and those who performed intensive work during pregnancy were at higher risk for preterm birth. Maternal health programs can encourage women to consume antihelminthic drugs, take proper rest during pregnancy, and prevent indoor pollution exposure.

Factors associated with child health service delivery by female community health volunteers in Nepal: findings from a national survey.

BACKGROUND: 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. 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. METHODS: A 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. RESULTS: Overall, 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. CONCLUSIONS: FCHVs 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.