Details

Supriya1 is a young pregnant woman living with her husband and extended family in Banke District, Nepal. With the support of her mother-in-law and the International Nepal Fellowship (INF), Arogya is overcoming barriers to health services and is setting the stage for a healthy pregnancy and newborn.
In Supriya's community, family members, especially mothers-in-law, are in charge of making health care decisions for pregnant women, mothers and their children. They rely on traditional birthing practices because of their lack of knowledge with and limited access to modern healthcare services. Lack of awareness of women’s health issues and danger signs during pregnancy also impact the wellbeing of women in Banke District.
These factors increased Supriya's risk during pregnancy. When Supriya was 18 years old, she almost died while giving birth. She was in labour for two days and then transferred to a hospital where she recovered. Sadly, her baby was stillborn.
Soon after, Supriya was pregnant again.
INF heard about Supriya and sent a Female Community Health Volunteer, named Dhriti2, to visit her family. Upon meeting Supriya, Dhriti noticed that she appeared tired and underweight. Dhriti was concerned for Supriya and knew Supriya's family made decisions about her health. She requested a family meeting shortly after meeting Arogya.
Dhriti talked with the family about the importance of Supriya eating healthy foods, receiving ante-natal care and delivering her baby in a health facility. She also suggested that Supriya attend monthly Mothers Group meetings. The monthly meetings provide the community and Supriya with a chance to learn about maternal and child health with other pregnant women and new mothers.
At first, Supriya's family had little trust in Dhriti. Supriya's mother-in-law, the decision maker, first opposed the idea of Supriya attending Mothers Group meetings but after many supportive conversations with Dhriti, Supriya's mother-in-law agreed to go with Supriya to a meeting.
Monthly Mothers Group meetings are a key tool for overcoming cultural barriers related to maternal health in rural Nepal. During the meetings, pregnant women and new mothers learn essential information about child nutrition, safe birthing practices, and pre- and post-natal care. The groups are led by a supportive network of experienced and knowledgeable Female Community Health Volunteers who explain the warning signs of poor health and malnutrition. Participants bring this information home and share it with their families. This knowledge can positively influence health-care decisions made within the family.
As a result of the meetings, Supriya and her mother-in-law learned how to keep Supriya safe and healthy during her pregnancy and labour. The family understands the dangers facing Argoya and are taking steps to ensure a healthy delivery. They have begun to save money to transport Supriya to a health facility when she goes into labour, so she can deliver her second child with a trained birth attendant.
Supriya continues to attend monthly Mothers Group meetings, with her mother-in-law by her side. Supriya's mother-in-law has become a strong advocate for proper care during pregnancy within the community. She encourages Supriya and other members of the community to attend the Mothers Group meetings. Mothers Groups help to ensure that women in the community are well equipped for healthy and safe pregnancies.
This project is undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada provided through Global Affairs Canada.
1Supriya and 2 Dhriti’s real names have been changed to protect their privacy.