Pakistan: Safe motherhood

Abstract

Although only a quarter of the worlds births occur in Pakistan India Bangladesh and Nepal this area accounts for almost half of all maternal deaths worldwide. In an effort to highlight this appalling statistic the International Planned Parenthood Federation sponsored a Safe Motherhood South Asia Conference in Lahore. Maternal mortality is concentrated among the poorest women in the most Western levels if women enjoy more education better nutrition and improved social status. In short term much could be achieved by simple measures. Anovulation associated with long intervals breast feeding remains the single most important factor in spacing pregnancies in rural areas of South Asia. Contraceptive practice saves maternal lives because it reduces the number of unintended pregnancies and of dangerous abortions. For instance in Bangladesh access to pills IUDS sterilization and condoms could halve maternal mortality currently at 560/100000 live births. One participant has reduced maternal mortality from 10/1000 to .9/1000 in the course of 14 years by careful observance of all factors. The conference underscored the need for more investment in family planning. Traditional midwives can be trained to refer high-risk pregnancies but such a strategy only works when the formal health system provides a place where women with complications can be referred.