Bajura, February 7

Most of the women in Bajura have been suffering from uterine prolapse. The chances of a prolapse occurring are accentuated by the fact that many rural women return to heavy manual work immediately after giving birth without adequate rest.

Namakala Budha of Swamikartik Rural Municipality has 13 children, none of whom were born in a health facility. She said she first encountered the problem after she gave birth to her fifth child. She said she could not afford treatment due to her poor economic condition.

Similarly, Nankala Kathayat of the same rural municipality has also given birth to 14 children and she too  is suffering from the condition for the past nine years.

Likewise, Laxmi Pandit 73 of Badimalika Municipality has been suffering from uterine prolapse for the last 10 years after she gave birth to her third child. She said “I hid the problem due to social stigma,” and added that she went to the District Health Office of Bajura for check-up after she couldn’t take it anymore.

According to Tek Bahadur Khadka, senior assistant health worker at District Public Health Office, Bajura, the main reasons for the problem are due to child marriage and lack of rest after delivery. He also added that lack of proper care during pregnancy and lifting heavy weights are the main factors contributing to uterine prolapse.

Sharmila Shahi, a senior auxiliary mid-wife,  said uterine prolapse among women was increasing in the rural areas due to lack of awareness. She said  the appropriate age for women to give birth is between 20 and 35 years.

But most women in the far western villages of the country start giving birth to children at the age of 20 years. It is said to be risky for both the mother and the baby if women gave birth after 35 years.

Dr Rup Chandra Bishwokarma, chief at District Health Office, Bajura,  said early marriage was the main cause of uterine prolapse among women.