Infant, maternal health are intimately related
Oct 21, 2009
AS we commemorate the Safe Motherhood Day this week, we should be reminded of the need for combined effort in preventing maternal/infant morbidity and mortality. It is impossible to separate the health of mothers and that of their babies.
By Liz Kobusinge
AS we commemorate the Safe Motherhood Day this week, we should be reminded of the need for combined effort in preventing maternal/infant morbidity and mortality. It is impossible to separate the health of mothers and that of their babies. Constraints to improving maternal mortality rates are similar to those for infant mortality rate and under- five mortality.
In Uganda, most women have many children at short birth intervals, and tend to be young at their first birth; health facilities are often too far away or too costly and antenatal care visits are low. The quality of maternal healthcare is also poor.
High maternal and child mortality rates are some of the indicators of underdevelopment. Most of these deaths occur in resource-poor settings where basic health services are lacking.
Uganda cannot score highly in economic development as long as we still have many deaths of mothers, newborns and children. Death of children commonly leads to a vicious cycle of frequent pregnancies, ill-health and deaths that lead to poor and lost productivity of the mother.
The future mental capacity and economic output of her children is also compromised. The 2008 National Millennium Development Goals (MDG) progress report shows that the maternal health indicators for Uganda have generally remained poor in the last two decades.
To meet the MDG target, Uganda will need to reduce its maternal mortality from 435 to 131 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2015. Uganda’s MDG target for infant mortality rate is 31 per 1,000 live births by 2015.
The targets are potentially achievable but unfortunately they are out of reach. Malawi is almost at the same level of development as Uganda but has scored more success in reducing maternal, new-born and infant mortality rates.
Family Planning is one of the pillars of safe motherhood but the unmet need for contraceptives has risen from 35% in 2001 to 41% today. This contributes to maternal mortality through births that are too early, too frequent or too many.
If the current unmet need is addressed, maternal mortality could be reduced significantly. Most women in Uganda give birth to almost seven children on average—two more children than they would prefer. Unsafe abortions which arise from unintended pregnancies also contribute to maternal deaths.
In Uganda abortion is illegal and can only be carried out to save the life of a woman after two doctors have consented. Therefore most women do it in secret, using rudimentary methods and often under dangerous conditions.
Most of the abortions are by adolescents of 15 to 19 years. Quality Antenatal Care (ANC) and child health services are another pillar of safe motherhood which can address most maternal, new-born and child deaths.
Bleeding during and after birth accounts for 25% of all deaths yet it is preventable starting with addressing anaemia in pregnancy. Public sites should be equipped with basics to ensure timely detection of risks, early diagnosis and treatment of diseases and referral of women who need it.
Service providers should make early and regular ANC attractive to pregnant women. Clean safe delivery and essential obstetric care are the other pillars.
The major causes of maternal mortality should be tackled because they are preventable. Midwives need update knowledge on maternal and Infant/child health issues. Midwives should build stronger partnership with the traditional birth attendants to encourage referral of women for professional care. Health units need equipment, knowledge and application of life-saving skills to reduce maternal and new- born deaths.
Achieving safe motherhood in Uganda requires the intervention of all actors; women’s spouses, communities, medical workers, nutritionists and different government ministries.
The writer is a Program Officer Health and Nutrition Support An Orphan Uganda
AS we commemorate the Safe Motherhood Day this week, we should be reminded of the need for combined effort in preventing maternal/infant morbidity and mortality. It is impossible to separate the health of mothers and that of their babies. Constraints to improving maternal mortality rates are similar to those for infant mortality rate and under- five mortality.
In Uganda, most women have many children at short birth intervals, and tend to be young at their first birth; health facilities are often too far away or too costly and antenatal care visits are low. The quality of maternal healthcare is also poor.
High maternal and child mortality rates are some of the indicators of underdevelopment. Most of these deaths occur in resource-poor settings where basic health services are lacking.
Uganda cannot score highly in economic development as long as we still have many deaths of mothers, newborns and children. Death of children commonly leads to a vicious cycle of frequent pregnancies, ill-health and deaths that lead to poor and lost productivity of the mother.
The future mental capacity and economic output of her children is also compromised. The 2008 National Millennium Development Goals (MDG) progress report shows that the maternal health indicators for Uganda have generally remained poor in the last two decades.
To meet the MDG target, Uganda will need to reduce its maternal mortality from 435 to 131 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2015. Uganda’s MDG target for infant mortality rate is 31 per 1,000 live births by 2015.
The targets are potentially achievable but unfortunately they are out of reach. Malawi is almost at the same level of development as Uganda but has scored more success in reducing maternal, new-born and infant mortality rates.
Family Planning is one of the pillars of safe motherhood but the unmet need for contraceptives has risen from 35% in 2001 to 41% today. This contributes to maternal mortality through births that are too early, too frequent or too many.
If the current unmet need is addressed, maternal mortality could be reduced significantly. Most women in Uganda give birth to almost seven children on average—two more children than they would prefer. Unsafe abortions which arise from unintended pregnancies also contribute to maternal deaths.
In Uganda abortion is illegal and can only be carried out to save the life of a woman after two doctors have consented. Therefore most women do it in secret, using rudimentary methods and often under dangerous conditions.
Most of the abortions are by adolescents of 15 to 19 years. Quality Antenatal Care (ANC) and child health services are another pillar of safe motherhood which can address most maternal, new-born and child deaths.
Bleeding during and after birth accounts for 25% of all deaths yet it is preventable starting with addressing anaemia in pregnancy. Public sites should be equipped with basics to ensure timely detection of risks, early diagnosis and treatment of diseases and referral of women who need it.
Service providers should make early and regular ANC attractive to pregnant women. Clean safe delivery and essential obstetric care are the other pillars.
The major causes of maternal mortality should be tackled because they are preventable. Midwives need update knowledge on maternal and Infant/child health issues. Midwives should build stronger partnership with the traditional birth attendants to encourage referral of women for professional care. Health units need equipment, knowledge and application of life-saving skills to reduce maternal and new- born deaths.
Achieving safe motherhood in Uganda requires the intervention of all actors; women’s spouses, communities, medical workers, nutritionists and different government ministries.
The writer is a Program Officer Health and Nutrition Support An Orphan Uganda