Home deliveries persist in Doti despite access to health facilities
Summary
Home deliveries remain common in Doti despite the presence of hospitals and birthing centres, with 43 women giving birth at home in the first 11 months of the last fiscal year. Officials say the figures reveal gaps in antenatal and postnatal care and persistent reluctance to use health facilities for childbirth.
Key Points
- Doti recorded 43 home deliveries in 11 months of the last fiscal year despite government efforts to promote facility-based births.
- Purbi Chowki Rural Municipality reported the highest number of home deliveries, followed by Adarsha and Badikedar rural municipalities.
- Only 42 percent of pregnant women completed the recommended eight antenatal check-ups, while 44 percent received all four postnatal check-ups.
- Health officials say home births remain risky for mothers and newborns even in areas with hospitals and birthing centres.
