Open AccessMaternal Mortality in Nepal: Unraveling the Complexity
Author(s) -
Juhee V. Suwal
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
canadian studies in population
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.157
H-Index - 8
eISSN - 1927-629X
pISSN - 0380-1489
DOI - 10.25336/p6ww4j
Subject(s) - ethnic group , residence , logistic regression , parity (physics) , demography , developing country , public health , maternal death , maternal health , medicine , population , environmental health , economic growth , political science , health services , sociology , law , economics , physics , nursing , particle physics
Maternal mortality has been recognised as a public health problem in the developing countries. The situation concerning maternal mortality in Nepal remained unexplored and vague until the early 1990s. By using 1996 Nepal Family Health Survey, this study discusses the maternal mortality situation in Nepal and analyses the differentials in maternal mortality by place of residence, region, ethnic and religious groups, age at death, and parity. Almost 28 percent of deaths of women in reproductive age was accountable to maternal causes. Logistic regression analysis shows ‘ethnicity,’ ‘age of women,’ and ‘number of births’ as strong predictors of maternal mortality. A number of policy recommendations are suggested to help lower maternal mortality.