Nepal survey shows that "family planning saves lives"

Publication Date: January 1999

Publisher: East-West Center

Author(s): Norman Y. Luther; Shyam Thapa; Sidney B. Westley

Research Area: Health; Population and demographics

Type: Brief

Abstract:

Results from the 1996 Nepal Family Health Survey show that delaying, spacing, and limiting births can substantially reduce infant and child mortality. Children born to very young mothers, children born after four or more previous births, and children born less than 24 months after a previous birth all suffer particularly high mortality rates. These results suggest that efforts to reduce under-five mortality in Nepal should focus on family planning programs that target young mothers and mothers with large families. Another priority should be programs that promote temporary contraceptive methods for child spacing.