By Carol Natukunda
UGANDA’S maternal deaths have been reducing at an annual rate of 3.2 % in the last two decades, a newly released global report reveals.
It notes that by 2013, the country’s maternal death ratio was at 360 deaths per 100,000 live births down from 600 per 100, 000 live births in 1990.
Titled; “A Decade of Tracking Progress for Maternal, Newborn and Child Survival,” the report is based on scrutiny of national surveys such as household surveys, Demographic and Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys among others
It also reviews databases provided by stakeholder organizations, including the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organisation, the United Nations Population Division and Save the Children.
The Countdown report shows that with 5,900 Ugandan women dying every year, the country ranks third among the East African countries that are making progress in maternal deaths.
In Rwanda, 1,300 women succumb to childbirth related complications compared to 3,400 in Burundi. In Kenya, 6,300 women die in the labour ward every year while in Tanzania a whopping 7,900 women annually do not live to enjoy the fruits of motherhood.
Hemorrhage or excessive bleeding accounts for 25% of maternal deaths in Uganda. Other causes include complicated labour, abortion, hypertension, sepsis and indirect causes.
At 360 deaths per 100,000 live births, Uganda is still lagging behind the 150 deaths per 100,000 targets which were set by the United Nations.
In a phone interview with New Vision, the health ministry permanent secretary Dr. Asuman Lukwago stressed that government was committed to addressing the challenges.
“We are getting there. It is not good enough, but it is coming down and our aim is to reduce it further,” Lukwago stated.
“In 2011, we were at 480 deaths per 100,000 live births. And if you look at the causes, they remain the same,” he added.
Dr. Peter Ibembe, the national programme manager at Reproductive health Uganda called for political will to address the preventable deaths. He observes that the sector receives only 6 % of the national budget, way below the 15% target pledged at the 2005 Maputo Plan of Action to curb maternal deaths in Africa.
“Much as we need the roads and other issues, we also need to save our mothers,” he said.
“Family planning services are limited yet more young women continue to die trying to abort. Health centers are poorly equipped. The doctors are not well motivated, so they keep leaving the country,” he added.
Ibembe urged men to be involved in reproductive health efforts, saying it would make a difference.
“The midwives who are the frontline also have to be well trained and equipped with the equipment they need to do a good job,” said Ibembe.
Heph Kwesiga Muteisa, a senior midwife in Kanungu Health Center IV advised mothers to embrace antenatal care services. “Some mothers come to the hospital as the last option; after they have tried to deliver at home and failed. And by that time, they are already in a critical condition and have lost a lot of blood,” said Muteisa
The report, however, notes that Uganda as one of the countries that has made strides in ensuring that woman access antenatal care. The World Health Organization recommends that pregnant women complete at least four antenatal care visits.
Although women generally reported at least one antenatal care visit to a skilled provider, an average of between three and four visits was visible in Senegal and Uganda.
Uganda was also credited for having an inclusive antenatal programme.
“Analyses of country-specific inequalities indicated large disparities in antenatal care use by household wealth, women’s education and residence, except in Peru and Uganda,” says the report.
On infant mortality, the Countdown 2015 reveals that Uganda’s under-five mortality rate is now at 54.6 per 1,000 live births from 90 deaths per 1, 000 live births in 2011. It has been reducing at an annual rate of 4.9%.
The success has been attributed to interventions such as exclusive breastfeeding, immunisation and prevention of mother to child HIV transmission programmes among others.
Countdown to 2015 for Maternal, Newborn and Child Survival is a global movement to track, stimulate and support country progress towards achieving the health-related Millennium Development Goals, particularly goals 4 (reduce child mortality) and 5 (improve maternal health).
Established in 2003, it includes over 70 countries.
