Health Care Infrastructure
Health care facilities, hygiene, nutrition and sanitation in Nepal are of poor quality, particularly in the rural areas. Despite that, it is still beyond the means of most Nepalese. Provision of health care services are constrained by inadequate government funding. The poor and excluded have limited access to basic health care due to its high costs and low availability. The demand for health services is further lowered by the lack of health education. Reproductive health care is neglected, putting women at a disadvantage. In its 2009 human development report, UN highlighted a growing social problem in Nepal. Individuals who lack a citizenship are marginalized and are denied access to government welfare benefits. Traditional beliefs have also been shown to play a significant role in the spread of disease in Nepal.
These problems have led many governmental and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to implement communication programs encouraging people to engage in healthy behavior such as family planning, contraceptive use, and spousal communication, safe motherhood practices, and use of skilled birth attendants during delivery and practice of immediate breastfeeding.
Nutritional status of Nepalese
| Parameters | Overall | Urban areas | Rural areas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Children under 5 years: | |||
| Stunned | 51% | 37% | 52% |
| Wasted | 10% | 8% | 10% |
| Underweight | 48% | 33% | 49% |
Read more about this topic: Healthcare In Nepal
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