A National Survey on Care of Possible Serious Bacterial Infection among Sick Young Infants 0-2 months in Private Sector Medical Shops and Clinics in Nepal

2019, SCF

The Government of Nepal (GoN) has initiated various newborn policies and strategies and implemented many programs to improve access of services for possible serious bacterial infection (PSBI) in the public sector. Private sector health care providers such as medicine shops and private clinics are preferred over public health facilities as sources of treatment for sick children in Nepal. This study was to examine the appropriateness of care provided by private health care providers for sick young infants 0-2 months, particularly in the context of an unimpressive improvement in the neonatal mortality rate. The study assesses the current practices of service providers in private medicine shops and clinics; treatment, referral and follow-up of sick young infants. The study also assesses their practices, compare with national and global recommended practices for management of sick young infants.