A Comparison of Maternal and Reproductive Health in Nepal between 1996-2011

Abstract

Background: Nepal is a South-Asian country facing many difficulties in health care. A particularly vulnerable group is pregnant women. Due to lack of education and accessibility to health care such as antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, and adequate family planning, Nepal has had a high maternal mortality rate. Most mothers die from preventable causes such as haemorrhage, infections, and complications from abortion. Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) have been conducted in various countries worldwide, as well as in Nepal. This is to elucidate demographic characteristics, with a focus on maternal and child health, often used to measure achievements made towards global goals, such as the Millennium Development Goals. Aim: The aim of this study was to elucidate the development with regards to maternal and reproductive health among women in Nepal; has there been any advancement concerning the Millennium Development Goal no 5 “To improve maternal health”, by comparing Demographic and Health Surveys of Nepal conducted in the years 1996 and 2011. Methods: This was a retrospective study of women’s maternal and reproductive health in Nepal by comparing aggregated datasets from the DHSs of 1996 and 2011. The 1996 DHS served as a foundation of the study, and comparable data was analysed mainly using “individual confidence interval for the difference between proportions”. Results were presented in tables. Results: The maternal and reproductive health in Nepal has remarkably improved between 1996 and 2011 in nearly all variables over all regions. Contraceptive prevalence rate has increased. Less adolescents give birth. More women attend antenatal care and give birth with skilled birth attendance. Conclusions: The maternal and reproductive health appears to have improved in all studied regions; however remote areas tend to lag urban areas and the Millennium Development Goals are rather far from being fulfilled. A comparison of aggregated datasets implies statistical limitations, whereas the statistics should be approached with caution.