Decadal Effort of Maternal Mortality Reduction in Nepal (2014-2024): A Scoping Review of Barriers and Achievements

Abstract

Maternal health has been a global priority for decades. Despite the progress under the Millennium and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), most women still die in Nepal from preventable causes. Thus, this review looks at Nepal’s journey (2014-2024), highlighting the achievements, challenges, and future interventions on maternal health. The scoping review identified and mapped the quantitative, qualitative, and mixed studies on maternal mortality published between 2014 and 2024. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Google Scholar, and key institutional websites. Eligible articles and reports were screened, extracted, and organized under themes of achievements, barriers, and global contextualization. The review’s findings revealed that Nepal has significantly reduced maternal mortality between 2014 and 2024; however, persistent barriers remain, including inequities, weak infrastructure, staff shortages, cultural practices, and gaps in policy and practice. Thus, to reduce maternal mortality, Nepal should strengthen emergency obstetric care, improve referral systems, and ensure consistent supplies of medicines and equipment. Greater investment in trained staff, community engagement, financial protection schemes, and digital health tools can be essential to achieve global targets by 2030.