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Hindi Research Article
High and Equitable Coverage of Vitamin A Supplementation Program in Nepal
Shyam Thapa*
Nepal Public Health Foundation, Nepal
- *Corresponding Author:
- Shyam Thapa, PhD
Nepal Public Health Foundation
PO Box 11218, Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel: +977-985-113-7203
E-mail: sthapa22181@gmail.com
Received date: November 09, 2013; Accepted date: February 14, 2014; Published date: February 17, 2014
Citation: Thapa S (2014) High and Equitable Coverage of Vitamin A Supplementation Program in Nepal. J Community Med Health Educ 4:272. doi:10.4172/2161-0711.1000272
Copyright: © 2014 Thapa S. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abstract
Background: This paper examines the coverage and equity aspects of the vitamin A supplementation program in Nepal program followed by a review of factors that led to the gains over time. Data and methods: Data from the 1996 and 2001 Nepal Demographic and Health Surveys are used. Variations in coverage by child’s age, sex, mother’s education, residence, and ecological-development sub-regions are analyzed by using descriptive and multivariate logistic regression techniques. Findings: The percentage of children ages 6-35 months dosed with the supplementation was 32% in 1996; that increased to 78% by 2001. The differences in coverage rates for various subgroups were relatively small by 2001. The most important factors contributing to the achievement were a systematic and incremental approach to scale-up, the role played by Female Community Health Volunteers, an effective public-private partnership, and sustained donor support. Conclusion: The vitamin A program’s success offer valuable lessons for Nepal and elsewhere.
