KATHMANDU

Suicide has emerged as the single leading cause of death among women in Nepal aged 15-49, outranking other causes such as accidents and disease, according to a government study.







The Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Study 2008/2009 undertaken by the Family Health Division (FHD) of the Department of Health Services looked at changes in maternal mortality in Nepal since 1998, when the last survey was done.







The year-long study from April 2008 of women of reproductive age (15-49 years) was carried out in eight districts chosen to represent different ethnicities and levels of development in Nepal.







The total population of women of this age group in these districts was over 86,000.



But in preliminary findings that the study described as shocking, of the 1,496 deaths recorded, suicide - rather than maternal-related issues - was the single leading cause of death, accounting for 16 percent of deaths.







In the 1998 study, suicide ranked as the third single cause of death.







The finding "highlights the urgent need to address this issue, which has received little attention since its significance was first noted in 1998," the study said.







The second single leading cause was accidents, accounting for 9 percent of deaths; no details were specified about the nature of these.















2005121512.jpg Time to put down the gun Sagar Shrestha/IRIN [Nepal] A young female Maoist rebel. Since the start of the conflict between Maoist rebels and Nepali security forces in February 1996, an estimated 12,000 people have been killed. [Date picture taken: 10/26/2005] Human Rights Conflict Final agreement on management of combatants and weapons [Nepal] A young female Maoist rebel. Since the start of the conflict between Maoist rebels and Nepali security forces in February 1996, an estimated 12,000 people have been killed. [Date picture taken: 10/26/2005]



Photo: Sagar Shrestha/IRIN





For female Maoist former combatants, returning to their homes and villages has been difficult





