Maternal deaths at Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital in Thapathali have dropped by 50% in the last fiscal year, reflecting improvements in maternal healthcare. However, neonatal mortality rates remain a pressing concern, with little progress seen in reducing infant deaths.
According to hospital data, only two maternal deaths were recorded in the fiscal year 2024-25, compared to four deaths in the previous year. “The decline in maternal deaths at our hospital is significant,” said Dr. Shree Prasad Adhikari, director of the hospital. “However, these deaths were not directly caused by childbirth but rather by underlying conditions like cardiac complications.”
Declining Maternal Deaths: A Positive Shift
The reduction in maternal deaths has been attributed to fewer severe referrals from remote districts, which experts believe is due to improved healthcare services in provincial hospitals. “Every province now has well-equipped hospitals providing specialized maternity care,” Dr. Adhikari explained. “Fewer critical cases are being transferred to us from remote areas, leading to a decline in maternal deaths.”
Despite these improvements at the hospital level, the national maternal mortality figures remain concerning. The Ministry of Health and Population reported that 118 maternal deaths occurred across 51 districts since the start of the ongoing fiscal year in mid-July 2024. Officials warn that the actual number may be higher due to limited surveillance coverage.
Data from the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services indicates that in the previous fiscal year (2023-24), 190 maternal deaths were recorded across the same districts. Nepal has made significant progress in reducing its maternal mortality rate, from 239 deaths per 100,000 births in 2016 to 151 per 100,000 in 2021, as per the National Statistics Office census. However, the country still faces challenges in reaching the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of reducing maternal mortality to 75 per 100,000 births by 2030.
Neonatal Mortality: A Stagnant Crisis
While maternal deaths have declined, neonatal mortality remains high. Hospital records show that 13 neonates died at Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital in the last fiscal year, compared to 16 deaths in 2023-24. Nationwide, over 2,000 neonatal deaths occur annually, according to estimates.
The Health Information Management System under the Department of Health Services reported 1,377 neonatal deaths in the last fiscal year, though officials acknowledge that the actual figure may be much higher due to underreporting, particularly from private and rural health facilities.
Child health experts highlight multiple factors contributing to high neonatal mortality, including infections, birth asphyxia, premature birth, hypothermia, low birth weight, inadequate prenatal care, and poor postpartum monitoring. The Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2022 revealed that 21 neonates die per 1,000 live births, a figure unchanged since 2016. Nepal’s SDG target is to reduce neonatal mortality to 12 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2030.
Challenges and the Way Forward
Experts cite a shortage of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), insufficient trained personnel, and gaps in healthcare infrastructure as major barriers to progress. “We need more neonatal care units, skilled healthcare workers, and improved medical facilities to address the issue,” said Dr. Adhikari. He also emphasized the importance of antenatal care visits, proper referrals, and postnatal follow-ups in reducing neonatal deaths.
Nepal has made remarkable strides in maternal health, earning global recognition for reducing maternal mortality from 539 deaths per 100,000 births in 1996 to 239 per 100,000 in 2016—a feat that earned the country a Millennium Development Goals award. However, continued efforts are needed to sustain progress and tackle neonatal mortality effectively.
Addressing these challenges will require sustained government intervention, increased investment in maternal and neonatal healthcare, and community-based initiatives to ensure that no mother or newborn dies from preventable causes.
For more updates on Nepal’s healthcare progress, visit Nepal Monitor.
