Maternal & neonatal mortality rates reduces in Nepal

KATHMANDU: A recent United Nations report highlights the success of the Nepalese government in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality rates.

In Nepal, 142 mothers die per 100,000 live births, a 71% decrease compared to the year 2000.

According to the 2021 National Census, the maternal mortality rate stood at 151 per 100,000 live births.

The report also notes that the neonatal mortality rate has dropped to 16.6 per 1,000 live births, down from 21 per 1,000 in the 2022/2023 Economic Survey.

The government aims to reduce neonatal mortality by 12% per 1,000 live births by 2030.

While significant progress has been made in reducing both maternal and neonatal mortality rates, the report also points out the ongoing health disparities across different provinces and districts, which hinder many women from accessing quality maternity care services.

Globally, maternal mortality has decreased by 40% from 2000 to 2023.

However, the pace of improvement has slowed since 2016.

In 2023, approximately 260,000 women worldwide lost their lives due to complications during pregnancy or childbirth.

The report emphasizes that to achieve the global goal of reducing maternal mortality by 15% annually, the current annual reduction rate of around 1.5% needs to be accelerated.