Birma Lohar of Brahmadev, who has seven children, also had the same problem. Lohar worked on daily wage in Khalanga to save money for the surgery, but was never able to save enough. [break]
Parki and Lohar, along with many women, were lucky in that they eventually got rid of the condition at a health camp that was recently run here. But thousands of women in the district are still living with the condition.
One-third of women who visited the health camp set up at Brahmadev village were found to have prolapsed uterus. Of 709 women who visited the camp, 205 women had the condition, according to doctors who provided services at the camp.
The doctors added that over 60 percent women in the district are estimated to be living with the condition. They further said that the Chaupadi custom which isolates menstruating women and girls is the chief reason behind this ailment.
“We found that such women are only allowed to eat flatbread with salt,” said Dr Khagras Sapkota. “Half-empty stomach leads to weakness and disease,” he added.
The custom is widespread in the far-western districts. In some districts, menstruating and pregnant women are isolated and are required to live in sheds or separate rooms. Villagers believe that women should not be given milk or ghee when they are menstruating or are pregnant, thus depriving them of nutrition.
Doctors also said that unsafe abortions also lead to uterine prolapse. According to District Hospital, Darchula, four to five women with the condition visit the hospital every day.
“Nursing mothers are not allowed to get sufficient rest. This also contributes to uterine prolapse,” said Senior Assistant Health Worker Bir Hari Rai. “Women aged between 30 and 48 are the most affected,” he added. But women as young as 20 have also been found to have the condition.
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