Does Antenatal Care Matter Reducing Maternal Mortality in Nepal?

Abstract

There has been a debate on the contribution of antenatal care for the
reduction of maternal mortality. However it is believed that if the adequate antenatal care is done during the pregnancy period it could help to reduce maternal mortality in a great extent. In order to justify this view, different literatures related to the maternal mortality and antenatal cares were reviewed. The literatures were basically classified in two views, the views in the favor of antenatal care and the views not in favor of antenatal care to reduce maternal mortality. However some neutral views were also found. After the discussion it is concluded that emergency obstetric care services, the most effective intervention to reduce maternal mortality is not possible to make available all over the country in short period of time in the context of Nepal. Until sufficient emergency obstetric services are available to all women, advocacy of institutional and skilled delivery, screening and referral of high risk case, supplementation of vitamin A can be the important means to reduce maternal mortality, which can be done through antenatal care service. Thus antenatal care is still relevant and appropriate to reduce maternal mortality in Nepal.