Child marriage, superstition drive stillbirth crisis in Achham

In Achham district, Nepal, a 14-year-old girl's pregnancy ended in tragedy, highlighting the severe consequences of child marriage and deeply ingrained superstitions. Married at a young age and still physically and mentally underdeveloped, she faced domestic chores and agricultural labor during her pregnancy, exacerbating her malnutrition and lack of basic care.

When her pregnancy extended beyond the due date, she was referred to the District Hospital for an immediate Caesarean section. However, her in-laws vehemently opposed the surgery, fearing it would permanently damage her body and ability to work. This intense domestic pressure led the young couple to flee the hospital. Instead of seeking medical help, they turned to traditional faith healers and made offerings to local deities, believing the prolonged labor was a divine issue.

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My in-laws began shouting, saying surgery would ruin a woman's body permanently and make her unfit for physical work. They insisted on a natural delivery. We could not withstand that intense domestic pressure and ran away from the hospital.

Hospital staff eventually located the couple, but it was too late. The delay resulted in the death of the fetus, and the teenager was forced to deliver a stillborn baby. This case underscores a persistent crisis in Achham, where child marriages, chronic maternal malnutrition, and superstitious practices contribute to a high rate of stillbirths.

While stillbirth numbers have shown a marginal decrease, health authorities deem the progress unsatisfactory. Data from the District Health Office reveals 362 stillbirths between fiscal years 2020-21 and 2025-26. Public health workers attribute this stagnation to the continued prevalence of early marriages and a lack of adequate maternal healthcare, compounded by deep-seated beliefs that hinder timely medical intervention.

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Once we reached home, my family took me to dhami-jhankri (faith healers) to find out why labour had not started. We even made ritual offerings to local deities, believing it was caused by divine anger.