Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide and in Nepal. The presence of risk factors like indoor and outdoor air pollution, the high prevalence of smoking, and the lack of general awareness of COPD makes it a serious public health concern. However, no attempt has been made in Nepal to estimate its burden and address the disease at the community level. A community-based cluster randomized controlled study was designed and implemented from 2018 August. This project aims to fulfill that gap by mobilizing Female Community Health Workers (FCHVs) trained to perform a certain set of health promotion activities to prevent the disease and its progression.
To determine the effect of mobilizing Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) for prevention and management of COPD at community level.
Semiurban area of Pokhara Municipality (Former Lekhanath Municipality).
Household survey was conducted in the study area among 1459 adults ≥ 40 years measuring lung function with portable spirometer and collecting information with structured questionnaire. The baseline survey was followed by one yearlong FCHVs led health education intervention and a follow-up survey. The baseline survey found that the prevalence of COPD was 8.5% and 12% prevalence of chronic airflow obstruction.
Follow-up survey ongoing.
Aarhus University, Nepal Development Society, Nepalmed.
Tara Ballav Adhikari is a Ph.D. fellow at the Center for Global Health, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University. Mr. Adhikari is a Public Health professional with a decade long experience in various field of public health and social development, passionate about evidence-informed public health practice and policymaking, having research interest on the non-communicable disease, community health and application of new media and technology in public health, advocating health for all and good global health governance at the national and international platforms.
