Nepal

Physical Examinations and Preventive Interventions
Tables 6.8.1 and 6.8.2 present details on physical examinations and preventive interventions
undertaken during both the first and follow-up ANC consultations observed in the NHFS. Blood pressure
was measured, the client’s weight was taken, and the fetal position and heartbeat were checked in more than
80 percent of all observed ANC consultations. Fundal/uterine height was checked in slightly less than half
of consultations.
As for preventive interventions, providers gave or prescribed iron or folic acid tablets to 63 percent
of all ANC clients. In contrast, a tetanus toxoid injection and albendazole tablets were given to only around
one-fifth of all clients. First-visit clients were somewhat more likely to receive the various preventative
measures than follow-up clients.
In general, providers explained the purpose of each of the three preventative interventions to onehalf
or less of clients who were given or prescribed an injection or tablets. Less than one-third of first-visit
clients clients receiving iron or folic acid were instructed about how to take the tablets.
Table 6.8.1 Basic physical examinations and preventive interventions for antenatal care clients
Among antenatal care (ANC) clients whose consultations were observed, the percentages for whom the consultation included the indicated physical
examinations and the indicated preventive interventions, according to ANC visit status, by type of facility, Nepal Health Facility Survey 2015
Facility type
Components of consultation
Zonal and above
hospitals
District-level
hospitals Private hospitals PHCCs HPs UHCs
National
average
FIRST-VISIT ANC CLIENTS
Basic physical examination
Measured blood pressure 95.2 83.0 72.9 94.8 95.0 100.0 89.8
Weighed client 88.8 75.8 69.8 93.0 81.9 100.0 81.7
Checked fetal position (at least 8 m
pregnant) 70.3 88.4 73.0 92.0 81.9 - 80.2
Checked uterine/fundal height 1 63.5 49.1 78.9 33.5 17.2 64.7 39.0
Listened to fetal heart (at least 5 m
pregnant) 2 81.2 89.7 97.6 81.4 84.3 0.0 85.7
Preventive interventions
Provider gave or prescribed iron or
folic acid tablets 74.7 70.4 47.9 82.5 73.7 100.0 71.1
Provider explained purpose of iron or
folic acid tablets 8.6 20.3 18.3 18.2 38.0 82.4 26.1
Provider explained how to take tablets 8.8 32.4 7.4 33.6 41.1 61.8 30.5
Provider gave or prescribed tetanus
toxoid vaccine 34.9 38.1 14.0 38.6 30.0 61.8 31.2
Provider explained purpose of tetanus
toxoid vaccine 8.2 8.7 6.8 15.0 23.3 35.3 15.6
Provider gave or prescribed
albendazole 37.8 38.5 5.2 62.9 59.7 70.6 46.6
Provider explained purpose of
albendazole 2.7 7.6 0.9 6.8 15.6 26.5 9.4
Number of ANC clients 53 93 73 83 218 2 523
(Continued…)
Antenatal Care • 127