The New Nation - Internet Edition

Maternal mortality rate in Bangladesh is still high compared to the projected target set for achieving the millennium development goal by 2015. Maternal mortality has declined from about 550 in 1976 to the present rate of 322 per one lakh live births. The targeted rate of 143 must be achieved by 2015.

According to the national mortality survey, approximately 85 percent of maternal deaths in Bangladesh result from direct obstetric causes. These are primarily haemorrhage among women aged over 25 years and eclampsia among younger women in the 15-24 years age group. Eclampsia is responsible for 23 percent of the maternal deaths. Deaths due to pregnancy-induced hypertension are more prevalent among younger women. Abortion, sepsis, obstructed labour and violence are some other causes of maternal deaths.

Inadequate access to health services, lack of trained birth attendants, and medical-aids are the major causes of deaths among the poor mothers. Delivery by the caesarean section among the rich mothers more than doubled by 2004 from eight percent in 1995 while it all along remained absent among poor women. While delivery by skilled attendants among the rich mothers remained static (40 percent over the period 1991-2004), the service of skilled attendants for poor mothers fell from five percent in 1991 to almost zero in 2004.

To achieve the MDGs by bringing down maternal mortality to the projected target, maternal health services must be affordable and easily available to the poor. Services of sufficient number of professional birth attendants should be available. The use of trained attendants has reportedly increased. This trend should be maintained. Awareness about the importance of health care of would be mothers and lactating mothers should also be increased among the people.