A Voice For the Voiceless
The Advocacy Project helps marginalized communities to tell their story, claim their rights and produce social change. We recruit graduate students to volunteer as Peace Fellows with partners.
The Impact of Service
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Prevention
Prevention of uterine prolapse in Nepal requires a concerted effort to strengthen the health infrastructure, empower women during and after pregnancy, and create an environment in which uterine prolapse can be identified, discussed, prevented, and treated. This calls for a major political and financial commitment, and the engagement of civil society.
Health Infrastructure: UP fits neatly into pre-existing models for the promotion of safe motherhood, reproductive health, maternal and child health, etc. With proper training, village and district level health workers in Nepal (already engaged in related campaigns) could diagnose and treat uterine prolapse. They could also incorporate UP into pre-existing safe motherhood programs and use pre-existing outreach services to address the problem of UP.
Assisted Birth: In a country where approximately 90% of women give birth without the assistance of a trained health worker (UNICEF), increasing the presence of skilled birth attendants (SBAs) at deliveries could have a significant effect on preventing poor birth procedures and reducing the chances of experiencing prolapse.
Rest for Women During and After Pregnancy: Many of the factors that lead to prolapse in Nepal are linked to gender equality and division of household labor. Counseling and outreach programs could be organized to communicate the importance of sharing household responsibilities during pregnancy and the postpartum period, and allowing women to rest and recover from their weakened state.
Exercise: Kegel exercises can help strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor, which will prevent the uterus from falling. These exercises are regularly included in maternal health programs in developed countries, and could be incorporated into safe motherhood outreach priorities in Nepal to prevent the conditions that lead to prolapse.
Nutrition: Proper nutrition could also help prevent UP in Nepal, and nutritional programs (whether simply through education or through the provision of nutritional foods for pregnant women) could help women maintain sufficient levels of health during and after pregnancy. With properly nourished and rested bodies, women have higher chances of preventing prolapse.
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