Publication:

Effectiveness of nurse-led women wellness hubs in mitigating risk factors of noncommunicable diseases among adult women of South Asia

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, hypertension, and obesity are rapidly escalating among women in South Asia, driven by sociocultural disparities, limited access to preventive services, and gender-specific barriers in healthcare. Nurse-led women wellness hubs (WWHs) offer gender-responsive, community-based model for early screening, lifestyle modification, and risk reduction. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of nurse-led wellness hubs and analogous interventions in mitigating NCD risk factors among adult women in South Asia. Searches were conducted across PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, and WHO global index medicus using standardized MeSH terms. Selection process adhered to PRISMA 2020 guidelines, and 22 studies met the eligibility criteria, including randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies, mixed-methods evaluations, and systematic reviews. Evidence demonstrated significant improvements in behavioral and clinical markers, including reductions in blood pressure, improved dietary practices, increased physical activity, enhanced health literacy and higher screening uptake. Nurse-coordinated multidisciplinary strategies, culturally adapted interventions, and community peer-support models yielded the strongest outcomes. Although heterogeneity in study design and follow-up duration limits generalizability, findings support nurse-led hubs as feasible, scalable, and cost-effective platforms for NCD prevention in low-resource settings. Strengthening training, digital health integration, long-term evaluation, and policy-level investment is essential for sustainability. Overall, nurse-led WWHs represent a transformative pathway toward equitable, preventive, and gender-centered healthcare in South Asia.