Kenya remains among ten most
dangerous countries for pregnant
women even as the world becomes
safer than it was two decades ago,
according to the United Nations
report.
A new UN report on trends in
maternal deaths from 1990 to date
shows that last year, 6,300 women in
Kenya died from pregnancy related
complications.
The report, released early this week,
shows the number of women dying
due to pregnancy complications
today has declined by almost a half
globally, but remains worrying in
sub-Saharan Africa.
Globally, the report estimates some
289,000 maternal deaths last year, a
decline of 45 per cent from two
decades ago. The sub-Saharan Africa
region alone accounted for 62 per
cent of global deaths followed by
Southern Asia at 24 per cent. Some
good news from the continent
indicate that Cape Verde and
Mauritius, have managed to achieve
extremely low rates of maternal
deaths.
A high-level UN Commission on
Information and Accountability for
Women’s and Children’s Health
requires that by 2015, all countries
establish an effective system for
registration of births, deaths and
their causes.
The 2014 Economic Survey released a
fortnight ago shows less than half of
deaths in the country are being
registered, which means nobody
really knows what is actually killing
majority of Kenyans. The ‘Trends in
Maternal Mortality’ significantly
deviates from most previous reports.
Normally, severe bleeding, heart
failure, complications of anaesthesia
or caesarean section are classified as
direct maternal deaths. However,
WHO classifies indirect maternal
deaths as those resulting from
previously existing diseases.
Unsafe conditions
HIV, which killed more than 49,000
people last year majority of them
women, is also cited as one of the
biggest problem complicating child
bearing. On a positive note, Kenya is
cited as one of the best performing
countries in Africa in supplying
antiretrovirals to people infected
with HIV.
“The report highlights the need to
invest in proven solutions such as
quality care for all women during
pregnancy and childbirth, and
particular care for pregnant women
with existing medical conditions,”
says Dr Flavia Bustreo of the WHO.
Within the last 20 years, the UN says
not much progress has been made
in preventing adolescent
pregnancies and abortions.
“More than 15 million girls aged 15
to 19 years give birth every year –
one in five girls before they turn 18,”
says Kate Gilmore, Deputy Executive
Director, United Nations Population
Fund.
Last year, the Ministry of Health in a
comprehensive report said 465,000
women had abortions in the
previous year, the vast majority in
unsafe conditions.
dangerous countries for pregnant
women even as the world becomes
safer than it was two decades ago,
according to the United Nations
report.
A new UN report on trends in
maternal deaths from 1990 to date
shows that last year, 6,300 women in
Kenya died from pregnancy related
complications.
The report, released early this week,
shows the number of women dying
due to pregnancy complications
today has declined by almost a half
globally, but remains worrying in
sub-Saharan Africa.
Globally, the report estimates some
289,000 maternal deaths last year, a
decline of 45 per cent from two
decades ago. The sub-Saharan Africa
region alone accounted for 62 per
cent of global deaths followed by
Southern Asia at 24 per cent. Some
good news from the continent
indicate that Cape Verde and
Mauritius, have managed to achieve
extremely low rates of maternal
deaths.
A high-level UN Commission on
Information and Accountability for
Women’s and Children’s Health
requires that by 2015, all countries
establish an effective system for
registration of births, deaths and
their causes.
The 2014 Economic Survey released a
fortnight ago shows less than half of
deaths in the country are being
registered, which means nobody
really knows what is actually killing
majority of Kenyans. The ‘Trends in
Maternal Mortality’ significantly
deviates from most previous reports.
Normally, severe bleeding, heart
failure, complications of anaesthesia
or caesarean section are classified as
direct maternal deaths. However,
WHO classifies indirect maternal
deaths as those resulting from
previously existing diseases.
Unsafe conditions
HIV, which killed more than 49,000
people last year majority of them
women, is also cited as one of the
biggest problem complicating child
bearing. On a positive note, Kenya is
cited as one of the best performing
countries in Africa in supplying
antiretrovirals to people infected
with HIV.
“The report highlights the need to
invest in proven solutions such as
quality care for all women during
pregnancy and childbirth, and
particular care for pregnant women
with existing medical conditions,”
says Dr Flavia Bustreo of the WHO.
Within the last 20 years, the UN says
not much progress has been made
in preventing adolescent
pregnancies and abortions.
“More than 15 million girls aged 15
to 19 years give birth every year –
one in five girls before they turn 18,”
says Kate Gilmore, Deputy Executive
Director, United Nations Population
Fund.
Last year, the Ministry of Health in a
comprehensive report said 465,000
women had abortions in the
previous year, the vast majority in
unsafe conditions.
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