Child marriage, superstition drive stillbirth crisis in Achham

Health workers say teenage pregnancy, poor nutrition, and reliance on faith healers keep stillbirth figures stubbornly high.

A 14-year-old girl from ward 4 of the remote Turmakhand Rural Municipality in Achham district, then a grade 6 student, married a 16-year-old boy studying in grade 7. Two years later, she became pregnant. Having dropped out of school due to early marriage, the young couple lacked physical, mental, and social maturity required for parenthood. As her pregnancy progressed, she was further burdened with domestic chores and agricultural labour, despite her fragile health.