Department of Making Pregnancy Safer

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Maternal mortality in Afghanistan
Dr. Maurice Bucagu Sachiyo Yoshida
Department of Making Pregnancy
Safer
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Preventable maternal mortality and morbidity and
human rights

• the unacceptably high global rate of preventable
  maternal mortality and morbidity is a health,
  development and human rights challenge
• Resolution 11/8. UN Human Rights Council, 2009

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Fight for Life

• http//www.who.int/making_pregnancy_safer/videos/a
  fghanistan.html

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Statistics from the ground reality

• Maternal mortality ratio 1800 per 100000 live
  birth
• (Source Estimate developed by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA
  and the World Bank)
• Life time risk of maternal deaths is 1 in 8.
• (Source Estimate developed by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA
  and the World Bank)
• Infant mortality 129 per 1000 live births.
• (Source Afghanistan Health Survey 2006)

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Antenatal care coverage at least once by skilled
providerSource Afghanistan Health Survey 2006
NRVA National Risk and Vulnerability
Assessment AHS Afghanistan Health Survey
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of births assisted by skilled birth attendants
Source Afghanistan Health Survey 2006
NRVA National Risk and Vulnerability
Assessment AHS Afghanistan Health Survey MICS
Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey
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of births assisted by skilled birth
attendantsby wealth status Source Afghanistan
Health Survey 2006
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Place of delivery Source Afghanistan Health
Survey 2006
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Place of delivery by travel time to health
facility using routine mode of transportation
Source Afghanistan Health Survey 2006
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Family planning Source Afghanistan Health
Survey 2006
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Conclusion (1)

• Like in all conflict situations, women and
  children bear the brunt of crisis (e.g. access to
  basic health services maternity services).
• Women, particularly pregnant women, and their
  newborns are often overlooked or hard to reach.
• Pregnancy childbirth do not wait for the
  stabilization period in case of crisis.
• Afghanistan WHO priority country

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Conclusion (2)

• Key interventions for maternal and newborn
  survival
• Identify pregnant women and newborns,
• Identify skilled personnel and available
  materials
• Supply kits to pregnant women (delivery kits)
  skilled staff (midwifery kits) health facilities
  with appropriate kits.
• Establish a referral system for obstetric
  emergencies
• Ensure safe-blood transfusion
• From crisis to developmental vision (MDGs 45)
  To reduce maternal mortality
• Skilled care at birth Emergency Obstetric care
  Newborn care Family planning.
• Adequate funding for maternal and child health
  programme

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Thank you