ROLPA, March 19: Over 50 per cent births in Rolpa still take place at home, though the government has implemented various health programmes to ensure safe maternity care so as to reduce child and maternal mortality rates.
Over 50 per cent expectant mothers in this district in the mid-western hills deliver at home rather than health posts or birthing centres as they feel shy to visit the healthcare facilities and are unaware of benefits of child bearing under the surveillance of trained health workers.
Rising cases of C-section mar women's reproductive health
A pregnant woman needs to visit a healthcare facility at least four times for check-up, but in the case of Rolpa women, 90 per cent travelled to such facility for the first checkup while 44 per cent are seen there in the eleventh hour, according to the District Health Office, Rolpa. Those women quitting regular health checkups during pregnancy face various health problems even after delivery. Their children are also more likely to suffer post-natal health complications.
The last year's records show that 35 children were born dead while the post-natal death was 28 and all the mothers missed the regular health checkup during pregnancy, as stated by District Public Health Office Ropla's officer Dr Tejendra Saud. Early marriage among girls is prevalent in the district and those girls married at early age seem reluctant to visit medical facilities in case of conceiving right after marriage.
Likewise, geographical remoteness, poverty, lack of awareness and burden of family work are others factors that discourage women here to travel to hospital during pregnancy and for 'safe' delivery, thus putting their lives and babies at risk.
All government health facilities in the district including those at local level avail maternity services. RSS
