Operation Capacity ad Readiness for Peripartum Care in Rural Nepal: A Cross-Sectional Study of Birth Centers in the Nuwakot District: An Abstract from Akron Children’s Hospital Resident and Fellow Academic Day

Background

Intrapartum hypoxic events and postpartum hemorrhage remain leading causes of neonatal and maternal mortality worldwide and are largely preventable with timely recognition and management.1 Nepal has achieved major reductions in maternal and under-five mortality over the past two decades, largely through targeted interventions in urban health centers.2 However, improvements in neonatal outcomes have been more modest, particularly in rural regions where most deliveries occur.3 The Nuwakot District, a rural mountainous region in north-central Nepal, faces geographic, infrastructural, and socioeconomic barriers that complicate healthcare delivery. These challenges were further intensified by the 2015 earthquake, which damaged or destroyed many healthcare facilities.4 Understanding the operational capacity of rural birth centers is essential to informing targeted improvement strategies.