Self Applied Technique for Quality Health (SATH): an advocacy tool developed by CARE Nepal for improved maternal health services in Nepal

Abstract

Poor and marginalized women often face barriers to access health information and services in Nepal. To address this equity gap in health, CARE Nepal introduced a social mapping tool called “Self-Applied Technique for Quality Health” (SATH) to apply in health mothers’ groups. The approach aims to increase women’s access to and utilization of health services and information by making health mothers’ groups the primary generators of information and encouraging them to take action based on their learnings. The tool has been used in more than 3100 health mothers’ groups across 42 districts out of 77 through different projects of CARE Nepal. To explore efficacy of the tool, evaluation report of projects, case stories, relevant articles and policy documents were reviewed and presented in the paper. It is identified that the tool contributes significantly to strengthening community health system through mobilization and functionalization of health mothers’ groups. Similarly, it supports in demand generation and utilization of health services by empowering women and facilitating advocacy. With these outcomes, the Government of Nepal adopted the tool in the “Equity, Access and Utilization Program” in 2021 for improving maternal and child health services among marginalized communities and has now expanded it across the country.