Only two women died during childbirth at the Thapathali-based Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital in the last fiscal year, which is a 50 percent decline compared to the fiscal year 2023-24, when four maternal deaths were recorded.

“The number of maternal deaths in our hospital has declined by 50 percent in the last fiscal year,” said Dr Shree Prasad Adhikari, the hospital's director. “But maternity was not the direct cause of death in these cases. Cardiac problems and other issues were responsible.”

In the fiscal year 2023-24, the hospital had reported four maternal deaths. Doctors attributed the decline to a decrease in severe referral cases from remote districts, which they said was likely due to improved healthcare facilities in provinces.

“There are very good hospitals in every province which provide specialised care,” said Adhikari. “Referral of serious cases has declined significantly from remote places due to the availability of services in provincial hospitals. Women no longer die from excessive bleeding and high blood pressure like in the past at our hospital.”

The Ministry of Health and Population said 118 women from 51 districts have died during childbirth since the start of the ongoing fiscal year (July 16, 2024). Officials say that the actual number of maternal deaths due to birth-related complications could be much higher, as maternal and perinatal death surveillance is conducted in 51 districts only, officials say.

Data provided by the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services show that at least 190 women from 51 districts died of complications during childbirth in the fiscal year 2023-024.

Nepal reduced the maternal mortality rate from 239 per 100,000 births in 2016 to 151 per 100,000 in 2021, according to the national census carried out by the National Statistics Office.

Earlier, the country had reduced the maternal mortality rate from 539 per 100,000 births in 1996 to 239 per 100,000 births in 2016—for which the country even received a Millennium Development Goals award.

The health target under the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals is to reduce the maternal mortality rate to 75 per 100,000 births by 2030.

Compared to maternal deaths, neonatal deaths at Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital have not declined significantly. According to the hospital data, 13 neonates died in the last fiscal year. In 2023-24, 16 neonates died at the hospital.

“We have not been able to reduce neonatal deaths in our hospital,” said Adhikari.

Neonates mean newborns within the first 28 days of life. It is estimated that over 2,000 neonates die every year throughout the country. According to data provided by the Health Information Management System under the Department of Health Services, 1,377 neonates died in the last fiscal year. Officials acknowledge that the actual number of deaths could be far higher than reported, as the data only covers district hospitals and some private hospitals.

Child health experts say infection, birth asphyxia, premature birth, hypothermia, low birth weight, poor pregnancy health, and poor postpartum care, among others, are the leading causes of neonatal deaths in Nepal.

The Nepal Demographic and Health Survey-2022 shows that 21 neonates die in every 1,000 live births. The progress has been stagnant since 2016. The government’s target for Sustainable Development Goals is to reduce neonatal mortality to 12 deaths per every 1,000 live births by 2030.

The SDGs, a follow-up on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), aim to end poverty, hunger, and all forms of inequality in the world by 2030. Nepal has committed to meeting the goals.

Experts blamed a lack of neonatal units, trained human resources, and quality services for the stagnant progress in neonatal health. Along with trained human resources, infrastructures and quality services, deaths of neonates are also linked to the antenatal care visit of pregnant women, access to health facilities, timely referral system and others, experts say.