Report on Status of Skilled Birth Attendants (SBAs) in Nepal

Abstract

Background: Increasing skilled birth attendants at childbirth is a major component of the drive towards reducing maternal (MMR) and neonatal mortality rate (NMR) in Nepal. For the MDG 4 &5 Nepal is a signatory country of reducing maternal mortality by three quarters between 1990 and 2015, and under 5 mortality by two thirds during the same period. About 60 % of all births should be assisted by SBA to achieve the set target of the year 2015. So the country has an enormous challenge to reach the set target. Currently only 23% of births are attended by health workers, and apart from that not all health workers are qualified as SBAs. Methods: The study was conducted through primary and secondary data but it was mainly based on secondary data. Literatures were reviewed from documents, journals and internet sources. The investigator had visited focal persons in due course of collecting quantitative data. Structured questionnaire was used as a tool. During the course of primary and secondary data collection, the investigator had visited Family Health Division (FHD), DoHS, Teku and National Health Training Center (NHTC), Teku, which were the Government apex body for in-service trainings. Results: Currently there are 862 SBAs in Nepal. Out of which 454 ANMs, 298 Staff Nurses, 84 Doctors, and 26 Pre-Service. And, almost all of them are working in the government health facilities. According to the sources, further 800 persons will be trained by the end of Asadh 2067. There is a provision of charging fees for the training. The training is free of cost for government participants whereas other participants have to pay 20-30 thousand for 60 days training. Currently, the total training sites are 15 and the total participants are approximately 900. The ultimate objective of the training is to train all ANM, Staff Nurse and Doctors from all health institutions and it also provides training as per requirement. There are only twelve zones, out of fourteen, which have training sites.

Conclusions: The training sites should be established as soon as possible in the remaining zones. The number of training sites should be strengthened in every zone so that more people can be trained at a time which will help in production of SBAs. Keywords: health workers; skilled birth attendant; status; training.