Educated, Urban Women More Likely to Experience Maternity Violence in Nepal

More than one in three women in Nepal experience violence during pregnancy, childbirth or the postpartum period, with women from educated and urban households reporting higher levels of abuse than their rural counterparts, according to a new nationwide study released by the Forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLD).

The study, which examined the experiences of 1,680 women across 28 local governments in 14 districts, found that emotional abuse was the most common form of violence, while family members, relatives and husbands were identified as the primary perpetrators. A significant proportion of women also reported mistreatment by healthcare providers despite Nepal’s Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Rights Act, which guarantees respectful maternity care.

FWLD unveiled the findings through an audio-visual presentation, documenting abuse, violence and violations of women’s rights during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. The research found that 38.4% of pregnant women, 37.9% of women during childbirth and 35.9% of postpartum women had experienced violence.

Emotional violence affected 30.7% of pregnant women, 32.7% of women during childbirth and 30% of postpartum women, making it the most prevalent form of abuse. Physical violence was reported by 4.5% of pregnant women, 3.2% of women during childbirth and 4.5% of postpartum women, while 16.1% of pregnant women, 9.5% of women during childbirth and 16.4% of postpartum women experienced sexual violence.

The study found that women living in urban areas experienced higher levels of violence than those in rural communities. Pregnant women in Madhesh Province and women during childbirth and the postpartum period in Sudurpashchim Province reported particularly high levels of emotional abuse.

According to FWLD advocate Binod Chandra Devkota, the survey covered pregnant women, mothers within 42 days of childbirth and mothers within three months postpartum from metropolitan cities, sub-metropolitan cities, municipalities and rural municipalities across all seven provinces.

Family members and relatives were identified as the leading perpetrators, responsible for violence against 60% of pregnant women, 64.4% of women during childbirth and 71% of postpartum women. Husbands were implicated in 52.1% of cases involving pregnant women, 44.9% during childbirth and 47.8% during the postpartum period. Healthcare providers were also identified as perpetrators by 26% of pregnant women, 22.7% of women during childbirth and 13.4% of postpartum women.

The research was conducted in selected municipalities of Sankhuwasabha and Morang (Koshi Province); Siraha and Dhanusha (Madhesh Province); Kathmandu and Makwanpur (Bagmati Province); Lamjung and Kaski (Gandaki Province); Kapilvastu and Dang (Lumbini Province); Mugu and Surkhet (Karnali Province); and Kailali and Dadeldhura (Sudurpashchim Province). The study received ethical approval from the Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC).

FWLD Executive Director Sabin Shrestha said the study aimed to comprehensively document abuse, violence and rights violations experienced by women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period to inform improvements in laws, policies and programmes that ensure women receive respectful and dignified maternity care.

The report was launched during a programme chaired by FWLD President Gita Aryal, where data collectors shared field experiences and representatives from various organisations discussed the findings and raised questions on the issue.