The statistics of the District Health Office, Palpa has shown that the infant mortality rate has been increasing every year.
In the fiscal year 075/076, 5,637 babies were born among which nine infants died within 28 days of birth. Chief of the District Health Office, Palpa, Narayan Prasad Chaudhary said that the infant mortality rate was 1.60 percent in the year 075/076.
In the fiscal year 076/077, 5,322 babies were born among which 2.07 percent died within 28 days of birth. He further added that 11 infants died in 076/077. Similarly, in the fiscal year 077/78, 4,601 babies were born among which 4.78 percent have died. The number of death of newborns in 077/78 is 22 which show that the number has doubled this year.
Although various health awareness programs are being conducted in Palpa for the safety of pregnant women and newborns, the infant mortality rate is ascending.
Chaudhary added that the infant mortality rate has increased due to the lack of visits to the hospital for childbirth and opting for traditional treatments when the baby is unwell.