Kathmandu, November 29:

One in every 10 Nepali women suffer from uterine prolapse, also known as ‘fallen womb’, states a study conducted by the Institute of Medicine under the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital.

“One-third of those suffering from uterine prolapse need to undergo surgery. Women as young as 20 years old suffer from this condition; nearly 14 per cent are aged between 20 and 29 years. On an average, women suffer from uterine prolapse for eight years,” the study report said.

The study — Reproductive Health Morbidity Needs Assessment in Nepal — was conducted with the objective of determining the magnitude of the reproductive health morbidity in Nepal. It was funded by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Health Organisation.

The study was conducted among 2,849 married women of reproductive age (15 to 49 years) from eight districts of five different regions. Of the 2,849 women, 2,070 were clinically examined in district hospitals.

“The reproductive health needs of Nepali women have been ignored for too long,” said Junko Sazaki, the UNFPA Representative in Nepal. “We all need to work together to improve Nepali women’s sexual and reproductive health, and rights,” Sazaki said at a function organised to publish the findings of the report.

The study has come up with key reproductive health indicators. According to the study, the mean age at marriage is 15.36 years, nearly three-fourth of married women had their first pregnancy before they were 19 and a majority (91 per cent) of these women have given birth at home.