KUMASI METROPOLIS RECORDS 133 MATERNAL DEATHS (PAGE 11)

health institutions in the Kumasi metropolis recorded a total of 133 maternal deaths last year as against 108 in 2007.
Out of the number, 121 maternal deaths occurred at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), with the rest occurring at the other health institutions in the metropolis.
Fifty-nine expectant mothers who died at KATH were residents of the metropolis, while the others were cases referred from the various districts and neighbouring regions to the hospital.
A Metro Heath Directorate annual report made available to the Daily Graphic indicated that apart from Kumasi, the other deceased persons were referred from some districts in the catchment area of the KATH, such as Bosomtwe, Ejisu, Amansie East, Sekyere East, Yeti, and Atwima Nwabiagya, as well as Asankragua and its surrounding communities.
According to the report, 109 maternal deaths were recorded in 2006 with 119 in 2005.
The report gave the direct causes of maternal deaths as severe anaemia, uterine rapture, septic abortion, ectopic pregnancy and shock. Other causes were severe anaemia and excessive bleeding.
The report indicated that renal failure, severe malaria, heart failure, chronic renal failure and HIV hepatic failure, as well as sickle cell crises, meningitis and pulmonary oedema, were some indirect causes of maternal death in the metropolis.
The report also indicated that 616 stillbirths were recorded in the various health institutions in the metropolis last year, and revealed that the figure was slightly lower than what was recorded in 2007, although the actual figure recorded in 2007 was not given.
On babies with low birth weight, the report indicated that a total of 2,651 fell in that category, stressing that it was 25 per cent higher than what was recorded in 2007.
The report said the increase in babies born with low births “ was not encouraging and more efforts should be put in place to educate mothers on maintaining good diet for their children and also to take the doses of intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) during antenatal visits to prevent them from getting malaria which might result in anaemia”.
The causes of maternal mortality, which is a major health problem in the developing world are numerous. They include lack of health facilities, particularly in rural communities, inadequate medical personnel, lack of education for expectant mothers, non-attendance of antenatal services by expectant mothers, unprofessional conduct of some medical personnel, traditional practices and many more.
In Ghana, the incidence of maternal mortality has warranted deep concern by the government, non-governmental organisations and the general public.
The 2007 Ghana Maternal Health Survey estimates that for every 100,000 live births, 451 women die of pregnancy-related complications. This means about 5,000 women die annually during pregnancy or around the time of childbirth.
In order to check the factors that contribute to the problem, to ensure the attainment of Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 5 of reducing maternal mortality by 75 per cent by 2015, the government has introduced free maternal care for expectant mothers, in addition to improved access to health care.
Pregnant women need to take advantage of this policy and innovative measures to reduce maternal mortality.