The COVID-19 pandemic has threatened the health and wellbeing of the global citizens which has led to a significant change in attitude, lifestyle, and behavior of people from diverse professions, including academics and researchers. Doctoral students and funded researchers with the time limit to their research project have experienced stress and anxiety due to the struggle of negotiating and managing the timeline to complete the fieldwork for their research. In the current circumstances, an increasing number of researchers are looking for alternative methods to conduct the fieldwork and complete the data collection. In this context, the aim of this viewpoint is to provide reflections on the challenges and opportunities experienced by the authors while conducting qualitative research fieldwork during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: Women during pregnancy are at a greater risk of experiencing poor mental health, which is one of the major global public health issues, and more so in many developing countries like Nepal, but limited evidence of research on this topic is evident. In this paper, we are focused on exploring the social determinants of the mental health of pregnant women in Nepal from the stakeholder perspectives. Methods: This paper utilises eight stakeholder perspectives collected through open-ended in-depth interviews. All the interviews were analysed thematically using an inductive approach. Results: This paper presents three major findings: Inadequate social support, Limited availability and accessibility of maternal health services, and Restricted socioeconomic and cultural context. The inadequate social support from family/relatives, neighbours, community and national policies such as maternity leave, alongside the absence of NGOs/INGOs support, put women at risk of poor mental health. In addition to the inadequate support, limited availability and accessibility of maternal health services potentially cause immense distress among pregnant women. Furthermore, in the context of a patriarchal society, the impact of socioeconomic and cultural context on pregnant women’s mental health is also presented as a major determinant of poor mental health among pregnant women. Conclusion: Based on the findings, we conclude that pregnant women are at risk of poor mental health experiences in Nepal and recommend that promoting mental health among pregnant women needs a multifaceted approach that should be considered in all the policies and practices involved in promoting the mental health of pregnant women.

Introduction: Mental health and wellbeing is a global public health concern. However, there is limited evidence on managing the mental health needs of the Nepalese migrant population in the UK. This paper is focused on exploring coping strategies employed by older Nepalese migrant women in managing their mental distress. Methods: A qualitative study informed by a narrative approach was conducted among twenty Nepalese older women living in London. Interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Findings identified three major coping strategies used by Nepalese older women: i) Engaging others to access human, social and economic resources in problem focussed strategies; ii) Using emotion-focussed strategies through drawing on human and social resources; and iii) Employing emotion-focussed strategies through prayer and acceptance. Each strategy reflected the strategic use of existing resources, highlighting a strong sense of ownership over their mental wellbeing. Conclusion: Nepalese women used both problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies to manage their mental distress while living in the UK. However, they had poor awareness of the availability or potential benefits of mental health services in managing their distress and were not able to identify their everyday survival as strengths. We assert social interventions that build on women’s abilities are essential to promote mental health and wellbeing.

This research study examines the experience and understanding of available social support in Nepal and its importance during pregnancy. The interviews, utilising twenty in-depth interviews with pregnant women in Nepal, were analysed inductively using a thematic analysis approach. The findings suggested that women consider their husband’s support the most important and desired support during pregnancy, while women also acknowledged support from relatives and neighbours. None of the women experienced any organised community support or NGO/INGO support, and the support from healthcare providers was limited. At the policy level, the maternity leave policy by the government of Nepal is seen as inadequate support in promoting working women in Nepal, and it lacks implementation in informal work sectors. The study concludes that appropriate social support can significantly enhance the well-being of pregnant women. Given the limited availability of formal support systems and the central role of spousal and informal community support, these findings highlight the need for context-specific interventions. Therefore, we recommend conducting interventional studies to design and evaluate targeted support mechanisms that address the diverse needs of pregnant women in Nepal, shaped by their socioeconomic and cultural contexts.

This study explores the lived experiences of pregnant women in rural Nepal navigating maternal healthcare amidst intersecting structural barriers. Using the Social Determinants of Health framework and intersectionality, we examine how geographic isolation, inadequate infrastructure, and economic hardship compound risks to timely and safe maternal care. Twenty in-depth interviews were conducted at a district hospital in the eastern region of Koshi Province, Nepal. Four major themes were identified through inductive thematic analysis. These are: geographic vulnerability and transport challenges; gaps in rural maternal health provision; accommodation and institutional support deficits; and economic vulnerability and hidden costs of care. Findings reveal that poor road conditions, unreliable transport, and limited diagnostic services force women to undertake long, costly journeys, often requiring temporary relocation without institutional accommodation support. Despite policies such as the Safe Motherhood Programme, implementation gaps persist, leaving women to bear significant financial and emotional burdens. These experiences underscore systemic inequities in resource distribution and highlight the compounded disadvantage faced by women from rural and marginalised communities. To ensure equitable maternal healthcare, this study advocates for the decentralisation of health services and the implementation of inclusive financial protection policies tailored to the needs of women from rural and marginalised communities. To promote equitable maternal healthcare, we recommend strengthening rural health infrastructure, implementing maternity waiting homes, and expanding financial protection schemes tailored to vulnerable populations. This research offers critical insights for policymakers to address maternal health inequalities and advance Nepal’s progress toward Universal Health Coverage and Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages).