Publication Date
Fall 2025
Abstract
Maternal nutrition is recognized as one of the most significant and modifiable determinants of persistent inequities in maternal and neonatal health. In Nepal, what women are able to eat and how they experience pregnancy are all shaped by a complex interplay of cultural beliefs, gendered expectations, household dynamics, structural barriers, and nutrition intervention efforts. This study examines these intersecting factors through ethnographic accounts, peer-reviewed scientific literature, expert interviews, and an analysis of current interventions operating across different levels. Specifically, to understand the social environments shaping maternal nutrition, the paper explores cultural beliefs and misconceptions surrounding food, women’s limited control over household and dietary decisions, and long-standing gendered inequities. These dynamics intersect with geographic isolation, shortages in health services, and inconsistent access to supplements, further limiting women’s nutritional intake during pregnancy. Findings suggest that tackling challenges in maternal nutrition cannot rely solely on providing information or resources, but instead requires directly engaging with the deeply embedded social issues that shape women’s daily realities and constraints. Thus, in parallel, Nepal’s evolving intervention efforts and their consideration of cultural and gendered contexts that shape women’s lives are evaluated. The study concludes that sustainable progress will depend on integrating social norms change with interventions that strengthen health systems, collaboration between multiple sectors, and embedding interventions within government structures.
Disciplines
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Recommended Citation
Fan, Rebecca, "Nutrition in Context: How Cultural Beliefs, Gender Norms, Social Environments, and Interventions Shape Maternal Nutrition in Nepal" (2025). Switzerland: Global Health and Development Policy. 15.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/szh2/15