Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32066440›Full record

ArticleBMC health services research2020

Improving post-partum family planning services provided by female community health volunteers in Nepal: a mixed methods study.

Kusum Thapa, Rolina Dhital, Sameena Rajbhandari, Sangeeta Mishra, Shanti Subedi, Bhogendra Raj Dotel, Sapana Vaidya, Saroja Pande, Emily-Anne Tunnacliffe, Anita Makins and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC health services research, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. FIGO position statement on postpartum intrauterine devices (PPIUD).International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Kusum ThapaNepal Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital, Thapathali, Kathmandu, GPO: 23700, Nepal. kusumthapa2006@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3051-0426
Rolina DhitalNepal Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital, Thapathali, Kathmandu, GPO: 23700, Nepal.
Sameena RajbhandariNepal Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital, Thapathali, Kathmandu, GPO: 23700, Nepal.
Sangeeta MishraKoshi Zonal Hospital, Biratnagar, Morang District, Province One, Nepal.
Shanti SubediNobel Medical College Teaching Hospital, Biratnagar, Morang District, Province One, Nepal.
Bhogendra Raj DotelHealth Directorate-Province One, Dhankuta, Nepal.
Sapana VaidyaNepal Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital, Thapathali, Kathmandu, GPO: 23700, Nepal.
Saroja PandeNepal Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital, Thapathali, Kathmandu, GPO: 23700, Nepal.
Emily-Anne TunnacliffeInternational Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology, London, UK.
Anita MakinsInternational Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology, London, UK.
Sabaratnam ArulkumaranInternational Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology, London, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFamily planning services in the post-partum period, termed post-partum family planning (PPFP) is critical to cover the unmet need for contraception, especially when institutional delivery rates have increased. However, the intention to choose PPFP methods such as post-partum intrauterine devices (PPIUD) remains low in countries such as Nepal. Community health workers such as Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) could play an important role in improving the service coverage of PPFP in Nepal. However, their knowledge of PPFP and community-based services related to PPFP remain unclear. This study aims to assess the effect on community-based PPFP services by improving FCHV's knowledge through orientation on PPFP.

methodsWe conducted this mixed-methods study in Morang District in Nepal. The intervention involved orientation of FCHVs on PPFP methods. We collected quantitative data from three sources; via a survey of FCHVs that assessed their knowledge before and after the intervention, from their monthly reporting forms on counseling coverage of women at different stages of pregnancy from the communities, and by interviewing mothers in their immediate post-partum period in two selected hospitals. We also conducted six focus group discussions with the FCHVs to understand their perception of PPFP and the intervention. We performed descriptive and multivariable analyses for quantitative results and thematic analysis for qualitative data.

resultsIn total, 230 FCHVs participated in the intervention and their knowledge of PPFP improved significantly after it. The intervention was the only factor significantly associated with their improved knowledge (adjusted odds ratio = 24, P < 0.001) in the multivariable analysis. FCHVs were able to counsel 83.3% of 1872 mothers at different stages of pregnancy in the communities. In the two hospitals, the proportion of mothers in their immediate post-partum period whom reported they were counseled by FCHVs during their pregnancy increased. It improved from 7% before the intervention to 18.1% (P < 0.001) after the intervention. The qualitative findings suggested that the intervention improved their knowledge in providing PPFP counseling.

conclusionThe orientation improved the FCHV's knowledge of PPFP and their community-based counseling. Follow-up studies are needed to assess the longer term effect of the FCHV's role in improving community-based PPFP services.

Indexed as

Inservice TrainingPostpartum PeriodCommunity Health WorkersContraceptionCounselingFamily Planning ServicesFemaleFocus GroupsHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHealth Services ResearchHumansIntrauterine DevicesNepalQualitative ResearchQuality ImprovementSurveys and QuestionnairesCommunity health workersContraceptionFamily planning servicesIntrauterine devicesPost-partum period

Identifiers

PMID32066440
PMCPMC7027278

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.