ArticleBMC health services research2025
Implementation status of the free newborn care program in Gandaki Province, Nepal.
Article in BMC health services research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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.
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.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIn line with the Nepal Every Newborn Action Plan, the Government of Nepal has implemented the Free Newborn Care Program (FNCP) since 2016. As per the program guidelines, Specialized Newborn Care Units (SNCU) are established in hospitals to care for sick newborns. This study aims to explore the implementation status of free newborn healthcare services in Gandaki Province. METHODOLOGY: An exploratory descriptive qualitative design was adopted for the study, which was conducted from August to October 2022. The study involved 114 exit client interviews and 12 key informant interviews, 6 focused group discussions, and onsite observations of 12 health institutions in the 11 districts of Gandaki Province. The researchers used thematic analysis techniques to analyze and report the findings.
resultsAll institutions with SNCUs have achieved the level of infrastructure outlined by the FNCP guidelines. A shortage of doctors and nurses, and high staff turnover were prevalent. Insufficient training for nurses and short retention of trained personnel have been identified as major challenges. Commitment to following care standards can strengthen existing quality assurance efforts. There are perceived inadequacies in packages regarding medicines, supplies, and incentives. Even though the out-of-pocket expense was Nepalese Rupees 3000 (Inter Quartile Range (IQR) 1975-6125), comprising 60% (IQR 50-75) of total newborn care, 93% of the clients were satisfied.
conclusionDespite noticeable areas for improvement, the Free Newborn Care Program has successfully provided health services to families requiring critical newborn care. Key recommendations to improve its implementation include establishing sustainable onsite mentoring programs, policy measures for linking free newborn care with health insurance schemes, and monitoring mechanisms to ensure protocol adherence and quality assurance.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
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.