Motherhood in Nepal during COVID-19 Pandemic: Are We Heading from Safe to Unsafe?

DOI: https://doi.org/10.22502/jlmc.v8i1.351
Keywords: COVID-19, Motherhood, Nepal, Safe

Abstract

Safe Motherhood Program (SMP) has been one of the successful ongoing maternal health programs in Nepal. It is the major reason for Nepal being able to reduce its Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) significantly falling from 539 to 281 deaths per 100000 live births over the decades. SMP has nine components out of which three components mainly deal with pregnancy and puerperium; birth preparedness plan, rural ultrasound program and the “Aama and New born Programâ€. The latter one is one of the key components of SMP which includes incentives, free delivery services and free sick newborn care. Financial incentives are provided for transport and completion of four antenatal visits, and for health care workers attending deliveries. However, with the corona virus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, this program might not be enough to ascertain a safe motherhood for Nepalese women. This program aims to reduce the three delays leading to maternal morbidity and mortality namely, delay in reaching care, seeking care and receiving care. But with a nationwide lockdown, the chances of these delays have increased even more.

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Author Biographies

Shreyashi Aryal, Lumbini Medical College and Teaching Hospital

Assistant Professor,

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Deepak Shrestha, Lumbini Medical College and Teaching Hospital

Assistant Professor,

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

References

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Safe motherhood program. Government of Nepal. Ministry of Health and Population. Available from: https://www.mohp.gov.np/eng/program/reproductive-maternal-health/safemotherhood-programme

Ministry of Health - MOH/Nepal, New ERA/Nepal, and ICF. 2017. Nepal Demographic andHealth Survey 2016. Kathmandu, Nepal: MOH/Nepal, New ERA, and ICF. Available from: http://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR336/FR336.pdf

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Published
2020-05-28
How to Cite
1.
Aryal S, Shrestha D. Motherhood in Nepal during COVID-19 Pandemic: Are We Heading from Safe to Unsafe?. J Lumbini Med Coll [Internet]. 28May2020 [cited 5Oct.2024];8(1):128-9. Available from: https://jlmc.edu.np/index.php/JLMC/article/view/351
Issue
Vol 8 No 1 (2020): vol:8, No:1
Section
Perspective

Copyright (c) 2020 Shreyashi Aryal, Deepak Shrestha

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