ROLPA: Over 50 per cent births in Rolpa still take place at home despite various health programmes implemented by government to ensure safe maternity care and to reduce the mortality rates of both mother and child.

Expectant mothers in the district deliver at home rather than health posts or birthing centres as they feel shy to visit the healthcare facilities and are unaware of benefits of child bearing under the surveillance of trained health workers, informed Dr Tejendra Saud at District Public Health Office, Ropla.

A pregnant woman needs to visit a healthcare facility at least four times for check-up during the course of her pregnancy. In case of Rolpa, 90 per cent of pregnant women visit health facilities for the first checkup, however, only 44 per cent complete all four checkups, according to the District Health Office, Rolpa.

The women who quit regular health checkups during pregnancy face various health problems, with their children also exposed to post-natal complications.

According to Dr Saud, 35 babies were still-born while 28 died within one month of their birth in the absence of regular health checkup during pregnancy.

Early marriage among girls is prevalent in the district and those married at an early age seem reluctant to visit medical facilities in case of conceiving right after getting married.

Likewise, geographical remoteness, poverty, lack of awareness, and burden of family work are others factors that discourage women from travelling to hospital or other health facilities during pregnancy and delivery, thereby putting their and their babies lives at risk.

Maternity services — for normal as well as complex cases — are available in the district, with 25 women benefitting from the services last year. All government health facilities in Rolpa including those at local level are providing maternity services.