Nepal Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Study 2008/09 - Summary of Preliminary Findings

Abstract

This Maternal Mortality and Morbidity (MMM) study was carried out over the one-year period, 13 April 2008 to 13 April 2009, during which all deaths of women of reproductive age who were usual residents of eight districts of Nepal were identified and verbal autopsies carried out to determine the cause of death and contributory factors. All live births in these districts during the same period were also identified, enabling the calculation of a Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR). In this summary report we share the main findingsof the study from the data collected. Further details of methodologies, analysis and results can be found in the full report. The authors would like to wholeheartedly acknowledge the contribution of all verbal autopsy respondents who, despite their profound grief after a death in the family, gave generously of their time. We would also like to thank all the district based staff, health workers and female community health volunteers who assisted so ably with the field work. The names that appear in the case studies are pseudonyms to protect their privacy.