Table 2.
Description of health providers, by type of provider, training and type of care provided, and location of care; Sarlahi District, Nepal
| Provider | Training and type of care provided | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional/informal provider | ||
| Traditional birth attendant | May have some training in clean delivery and newborn health Attends home-based births |
Patient’s home |
| Traditional healer | Shamans referred to as “dhami/jhakri” Provides healing through spiritual cleansing for illnesses believed to be caused by spirit possession |
Patient’s home Healer’s home |
| Village doctors | Village doctors or pharmacy doctors who reside nearby May have some training (e.g., health assistant—3 academic years or community medical auxiliary—2 academic years) but often informal and based on experience Some have their own pharmacy shop Provides allopathic medicines, injections (including uterotonics), and IV solutions |
Patient’s home Doctor’s home/pharmacy shop |
| Skilled/formal provider | ||
| Doctor | Certified as Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) doctor1 | Clinic/hospital |
| Nurse | Certified as nurse | Clinic/hospital/birthing centers |
| Auxiliary nurse midwife | Certified as auxiliary nurse/midwife2 | Clinic/hospital/birthing centers |
1Six years of Bachelor’s degree level training
2Eighteen months training after high school