KATHMANDU, Oct 7: A study on maternal mortality rate has been started for the first time in Nepal. The Ministry of Health and Population has started studying the maternal mortality rate along with the National Census 2021 with the objective of determining the maternal mortality rate and strengthening the safe maternity service by identifying the causes of death.
According to joint secretary at the health ministry, Indra Mani Pokhrel, the study aims to find out the maternal mortality rate of women of reproductive age group and to make safe maternity service quality, accessible and easy. He said that the training of health workers has been started to study the maternal mortality rate.
Vision for 2020 and beyond
The study, which is being conducted for the first time in Nepal, will find out the number of maternal mortality in the first phase of the census while the second phase will focus on the causes of maternal mortality.
As many as 847 surveyors will be mobilized for the study. Four health workers will be deployed in each of the metropolises, three in the sub-metropolises and one each in the municipalities and rural municipalities.
The main aim of Nepal is to reduce the maternal mortality rate from 239 (2016) to 70 by 2030 in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. Among the deaths of women in the reproductive age group, maternal mortality is found to be 12 percent in Nepal.
