Birth Preparedness and Its Effect on Place of Delivery and Post-natal Check-ups in Nepal

Considerable number of demographically laggard countries will forego MDGs 4 and 5, and Nepal is not an exception to it. International reports reveal that, lack of adequate birth preparedness is one of greatest encumbrance in failure to reach MDGs 4 and 5. In this context, this study estimated birth preparedness among Nepali women and its association with institutional delivery and postnatal care by using latest demographic health survey data for Nepal. The study used latest round of Nepal Demographic and Health Survey Data. Bivariate and multivariate models are applied as the methods of data analyses. Results reveal that the overall level of birth preparedness is greater among women with pregnancy complications, lower age group, higher education and economic status and with greater women autonomy. Findings reveal that birth preparedness is one of the critical factors in determining the likelihood of having institutional delivery and checkups after delivery. At policy perspective, this study reinstates that laggard countries like Nepal have to ensure adequate and universal birth preparedness in order to achieve not only goal 4 and 5 of MDGs, but have to catch the standards set by developed countries in terms of maternal and child health outcome.