Kathmandu, March 19 -- Hypertension is the leading cause of maternal deaths in Nepal, according to a study on maternal and perinatal deaths carried out by the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services.

According to the study, which analysed 204 maternal deaths out of 240 reported in the fiscal year 2024-25, hypertensive disorder was responsible for around 18 percent of deaths.

Thirteen percent of maternal deaths were due to postpartum hemorrhage, followed by pregnancy related infections at 11 percent, unknown causes at 11 percent, amniotic fluid embolism- a rare, unpredictable obstructive emergency-at 8 percent, and abortive complication and underlying cardiac conditions at 7 percent each.

The study showed that 63...