Archana Shrestha, PhD

Community Health Worker–Led Hypertension Prevention and Control in Nepal (NIH-funded) This implementation trial evaluates a task-shared model in which community health workers deliver hypertension screening, treatment support, and behavior change counseling. The study applies implementation science frameworks to assess effectiveness, fidelity, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability while strengthening primary healthcare systems for chronic disease management.

Mobile-based Obstetric Monitoring for Pregnancies Complicated by Hypertension and/or Diabetes (NIH-funded) This Type II hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial evaluates a mobile health–enabled monitoring system designed to improve detection, follow-up, and management of hypertension and diabetes during pregnancy. The study simultaneously examines clinical outcomes and implementation outcomes, including adoption, fidelity, reach, and sustainability within routine maternal health services.

Innovations for Peer-delivered and Family-engaged Brief Interventions for Youth Suicide in Nepal (NIH-funded) This pilot hybrid implementation study develops and tests peer-delivered and family-engaged interventions to reduce suicide risk among youth in Nepal. The project integrates community-based behavioral approaches into decentralized primary healthcare systems and evaluates feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness to inform scalable suicide prevention strategies.

AMPATH–Nepal Cervical and Breast Cancer Program (Lily Foundation-funded) This program strengthens cervical and breast cancer screening, early detection, referral systems, and community engagement in Nepal. The initiative integrates provider training, system-level improvements, and community mobilization to improve uptake and continuity of care across the cancer prevention and treatment cascade.

AMPATH–Nepal Group Care Model Development and Testing (Lily Foundation-funded) This project develops and evaluates a structured group-based care delivery model to improve maternal and chronic disease outcomes. Using participatory design and implementation research methods, the study assesses patient engagement, peer support mechanisms, and health system integration to enhance service delivery efficiency and quality.

Develop, Implement, and Evaluate Healthy Food Procurement Policy in Nepal (Resolve to Save Lives-funded) This policy implementation study designs and evaluates institutional healthy food procurement standards to improve dietary environments and reduce cardiometabolic risk at the population level. The project generates policy-relevant evidence on feasibility, adoption, and sustainability of structural nutrition interventions within public sector institutions.

Better Nutrition for Adolescents (Norwegian Research Grant–funded) The Better Nutrition Project is a school-based intervention and implementation research initiative designed to promote healthy weight among adolescent school-going children in Nepal. The project develops contextually adapted nutrition and physical activity interventions alongside theory-informed implementation strategies to improve adoption and sustainability within school systems. The intervention engages students, parents, teachers, and municipal stakeholders to co-design multicomponent strategies targeting dietary behaviors, physical activity, and the school food environment. The study evaluates effectiveness outcomes such as BMI, diet quality, and physical activity levels, and assesses implementation outcomes using the RE-AIM framework, including Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation fidelity, and Maintenance. The project aims to generate scalable, policy-relevant evidence to prevent early cardiometabolic risk and strengthen school-based health promotion in low-resource settings.

Primary Health Care–Based Integrated Management of Diabetes and Hypertension (WHO Health Alliance–Funded) This project aims to develop and test implementation strategies for the integrated management of diabetes and hypertension within primary health care systems in Nepal. Funded by the WHO Health Alliance, the study strengthens coordination between primary health care facilities and community health workers to improve screening, early diagnosis, treatment initiation, follow-up, and long-term adherence. The project evaluates strategies that enhance service integration, continuity of care, and bidirectional referral mechanisms between communities and facilities. Using an implementation research approach, the study assesses clinical outcomes alongside implementation outcomes to determine feasibility, adoption, fidelity, and sustainability of integrated chronic disease care within decentralized health systems.

Leveraging Game-Based Mobile App to Limit Excessive Weight Gain and Retention Among Pregnant Women with Overweight and Obesity (NIH-funded) This study develops and evaluates a culturally adapted, game-based mobile health intervention to prevent excessive gestational weight gain and postpartum weight retention among pregnant women with overweight and obesity in Nepal. The project integrates behavioral science, digital engagement strategies, and implementation research to assess feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness, while identifying contextual factors necessary for future scale-up within primary healthcare systems.