Alternative healthcare delivery arrangements in Nepal: a systematic review of comparative effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness studies.

Background: The way that healthcare services are organised and delivered (termed 'healthcare delivery arrangements') is a key aspect of a health system. Changing the way health care is delivered, for example, task shifting that delivers the same care at lower cost, may be one way of improving healthcare system sustainability. We synthesised the existing randomised trial evidence to compare the effects of alternative healthcare delivery arrangements versus usual care in Nepal.

Healthcare System Sustainability Challenges in Nepal and Opportunities Offered by Alternative Healthcare Delivery Arrangements.

The burden of chronic diseases in Nepal is increasing due to demographic and epidemiological transitions; alongside the persistent impact of communicable, maternal, newborn, and child health diseases, this critical situation acts as the precursor to rising healthcare costs. Nepal struggles to sustain its healthcare system amidst political instability, pandemics, natural disasters, and slow economic growth, particularly when healthcare funding is mainly dependent on out-of-pocket payments. Nepal requires lower-cost alternative healthcare delivery arrangements to provide high-value care while relieving economic sustainability pressures.

Health facility availability and readiness for family planning and maternity and neonatal care services in Nepal: Analysis of cross-sectional survey data.

Objectives: To determine the availability and readiness of health facilities to provide family planning, antenatal care and basic emergency obstetric and newborn care in Nepal in 2021. Secondary objectives were to identify progress since 2015 and factors associated with readiness.

Method: This is a secondary analysis of cross-sectional Nepal Health Facility Survey (NHFS) data collected in 2015 and 2021.

Routine blood parameters of dengue infected children and adults. A meta-analysis.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has revised dengue case classification in 2009 to better reflect the severity of the disease. However, there was no comprehensive meta-analysis of pooled routine blood parameters according to the age or the categories of the 2009 WHO classification. This study aimed to meta-analyze the routine blood parameters of dengue infected children and adults.

Menstrual hygiene management among women and adolescent girls in the aftermath of the earthquake in Nepal.

Background: Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is an essential aspect of hygiene for women and adolescent girls between menarche and menopause. Despite being an important issue concerning women and girls in the menstruating age group MHM is often overlooked in post-disaster responses. Further, there is limited evidence of menstrual hygiene management in humanitarian settings.

Effect of gender preference on fertility: cross-sectional study among women of Tharu community from rural area of eastern region of Nepal.

Background: Son preference is predominant in developing countries especially South Asian countries and its effect is most visible when the fertility is on transition. Nepal is a country in South Asia where the fertility has declined and son is valued highly. This study examines the parent's gender preference for children and its effect on fertility and reproductive behaviors.

Comparison of Ponseti and Kite's method of treatment for idiopathic clubfoot.

Background: The manipulation and corrective cast application for club foot was known to be done by Kite's method. The Kite's method of manipulation (center of rotation of malaligned foot and fulcrum on cuboid) was modified by Ponseti (fulcrum on head of talus). Recently, Ponseti's method has gained popularity and vastly improved results are reported.