An appraisal of the maternal mortality decline in Nepal.

Background: A decline in the national maternal mortality ratio in Nepal has been observed from surveys conducted between 1996 and 2008. This paper aims to assess the plausibility of the decline and to identify drivers of change.

Methods: National and sub-national trends in mortality data were investigated using existing demographic and health surveys and maternal mortality and morbidity surveys.

Women's health groups to improve perinatal care in rural Nepal.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal mortality rates are high in rural Nepal where more than 90% of deliveries are in the home. Evidence suggests that death rates can be reduced by interventions at community level. We describe an intervention which aimed to harness the power of community planning and decision making to improve maternal and newborn care in rural Nepal.

Effect of a participatory intervention with women's groups on birth outcomes in Nepal: cluster-randomised controlled trial.

Background: Neonatal deaths in developing countries make the largest contribution to global mortality in children younger than 5 years. 90% of deliveries in the poorest quintile of households happen at home. We postulated that a community-based participatory intervention could significantly reduce neonatal mortality rates.

Care for perinatal illness in rural Nepal: a descriptive study with cross-sectional and qualitative components.

BACKGROUND: Maternal, perinatal and neonatal mortality rates remain high in rural areas of developing countries. Most deliveries take place at home and care-seeking behaviour is often delayed. We report on a combined quantitative and qualitative study of care seeking obstacles and practices relating to perinatal illness in rural Makwanpur district, Nepal, with particular emphasis on consultation strategies.

Implementing a community-based participatory intervention to improve essential newborn care in rural Nepal.

The persistence of high perinatal and neonatal mortality rates in many developing countries make efforts to improve perinatal care in the home and at local health facilities important public health concerns. We describe a study which aims to evaluate a community-level participatory intervention in rural Nepal. The effectiveness of community-based action research interventions with mothers and other key members of the community in improving perinatal health outcomes is being examined using a cluster randomized, controlled trial covering a population of 28,000 married women of reproductive age.

Cross sectional, community based study of care of newborn infants in Nepal.

Objective: To determine home based newborn care practices in rural Nepal in order to inform strategies to improve neonatal outcome.

Design: Cross sectional, retrospective study using structured interviews.

Setting: Makwanpur district, Nepal.