Gandaki Province Shows Lower Child Mortality Rate Compared to Other Provinces, Survey Reveals

Gandaki. Compared to other provinces, Gandaki Province has shown a lower child mortality rate. According to the report of the Nepal Multiple Indicator Survey 2081/82, made public today by the National Statistics Office, the under-five child mortality rate in Gandaki stands at 20 per thousand live births.

According to the results of the said survey, the highest rate is in Sudurpashchim, where 48 under-five children die per thousand live births. The neonatal mortality rate is also highest in Sudurpashchim. In Sudurpashchim, 26 neonatal deaths occur before one month of age per thousand live births.

The survey report indicates that the lowest rate is in Bagmati Province, with ten neonatal deaths per thousand live births. The infant mortality rate (under one year) in Sudurpashchim is 38 per thousand live births, which is the highest compared to other provinces. The lowest infant mortality rate was found in Bagmati Province at 17 per thousand live births.

Nationally, the report mentions that the infant mortality rate is 27 per thousand live births, the neonatal mortality rate is 17, and the child mortality rate is 31. The Nepal Demographic and Health Survey–2022 report had shown the child mortality rate in Gandaki Province to be 23 per thousand live births. This has now decreased to 20.

Dr. Ramesh Kumar KC, Chief of the Medical Services Division at the Provincial Ministry of Health, stated that there has been an improvement in maternal and child health recently. According to him, the institutional delivery rate in Gandaki Province is also higher than the national average. The institutional delivery rate in this province is 89 percent, while the national average is 79 percent.

While the government has set a target of reaching an institutional delivery rate of 90 percent by 2030, Gandaki Province is already close to that target. The rate of births attended by skilled birth attendants in Gandaki Province is 89 percent, whereas the national average for births attended by skilled birth attendants is only 80 percent. The government also aims to increase the rate of births attended by skilled birth attendants to 90 percent by 2030.

Similarly, the percentage of pregnant women in Gandaki Province who receive four antenatal check-ups at health facilities is 85 percent, which is higher than the national average of 81 percent. The government has set a target to increase this to 90 percent by 2030.

Division Chief Dr. KC stated that the recent decrease in maternal deaths is due to factors such as expanded access to health services, an increase in institutional delivery rates, air rescue for high-risk pregnant and postpartum women, and increased awareness.

The report from the Population Census of B.S. 2078 showed the maternal mortality rate in Gandaki Province to be 162 per lakh live births. He mentioned that while 46 pregnant and new mothers died in the year of the census, that number was limited to 13 in the last fiscal year. Chief Dr. KC emphasized that political commitment, increased investment, public awareness, and coordination and collaboration among all three tiers of government are necessary for further improvement and sustainability in the field of maternal and child health.

Currently, Gandaki Province has 364 maternity centers, 18 hospitals providing delivery services via surgery within the province, and 52 health facilities handling complicated deliveries. Surgical delivery services are available in all districts except Manang. The provincial government also provides free air rescue for high-risk pregnant and postpartum women.