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🇳🇵 Nepal /Health & Science

Three in four maternal deaths in Nepal occur in health facilities or in transit

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A study found that nearly three-quarters of maternal deaths in Nepal occur in health facilities or during transport to them.
  • Weak referral systems, underperforming facilities, and delayed care contribute to these deaths, particularly in remote provinces.
  • Experts highlight the critical need for functional emergency obstetric and newborn care facilities to prevent maternal and infant mortality.

Maternal and newborn deaths remain a critical concern in Nepal, with a recent study revealing that almost three out of four such fatalities occur within health facilities or while patients are en route to care. This stark reality underscores deep-seated issues within the country's healthcare system, particularly concerning referral mechanisms and the operational capacity of medical centers.

The Ministry of Health and Food Safety's study across seven provinces identified weak referral pathways, limited facility functionality, and delays in receiving adequate care as primary drivers of these preventable deaths. Provinces like Karnali and Sudurpaschim face significant challenges, with over 70% and 50% of referrals, respectively, requiring more than two hours of travel. Even provinces with better comparative performance struggle, as most basic facilities fail to meet essential criteria for comprehensive obstetric and newborn care.

We immediately performed a C-section, but couldn’t save the second baby. It was a 34-week pregnancy. If we were only 10 minutes late, the outcome could have been very different. The bleeding was so severe. We were able to save the mother only because we acted immediately.

— Dr Amit SinghHead of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Karnali Provincial Hospital, describing a critical delivery.

Experts emphasize that the absence of even a single critical component for emergency obstetric and newborn care, such as trained staff, essential medicines, or necessary equipment, can jeopardize the lives of mothers and newborns. The case of a 34-week pregnant woman experiencing severe complications after delivering twins at Karnali Provincial Hospital, where immediate intervention saved her life but not the second baby, illustrates the razor's edge on which many patients exist. Doctors noted that delays could have been fatal, highlighting the constant battle against time and resource limitations.

In one case, doctors at a district hospital attempted a C-section but after they failed to control the bleeding, they temporarily closed the surgical incision and referred the woman to us. We manag

— Dr Amit SinghDescribing the challenges and complexities of emergency obstetric care in Nepal.
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Originally published by Kathmandu Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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