Immediate action has been called for by doctors in Kabarole, Uganda after it emerged that the district has a significantly higher maternal death rate than the national average.
According to the 2011 Health Management Information System (HMIS) report, only 62% of 19,856 births were successful. The report also found that 68 women from the district died while giving birth.
Maternal death is calculated per 100,000 live births. Kabarole’s rate translates to 551 women dying out of 100,000 births, significantly higher than the national average of 435/100,000.
Dr Richard Mugahi,the district health officer, said: “Uganda is a signatory to a number of protocols that are targeting reduced maternal mortality rates so as a district we should do something more serious to save our mothers.”
Dr Mugahi attributes the cause of this high number to inadequate and poor infrastructure, inadequate human resource, poor referral systems, inadequate knowledge on reproductive health and family planning, inadequate supplies and equipment and poorly motivated staff with poor attitudes.
Rose Monday Byabasaija, Kisomoro sub county’s district councillor, notes that poor handling of expectant mothers in health centers, travelling long distances and a lack of basic equipment such as gloves, coupled with men’s failure to be involved in maternal care, has forced mothers to deliver in using traditional birth attendants (TBAs) who are often unskilled and thus unable to deal with labour complication, thus contributing to high numbers of maternal mortality rate in Kabarole.
However, Byabasaija emphasised the need for the district to bring TBAs on board, adding: “We need to bring on board TBAs; sensitize them on the importance of delivering mothers in health facilities, so they can refer pregnant mothers this will help us on reducing the problem.”
Kato Pascal Byoma, the district councilor in Bukuku, notes that midwives can be very harsh on pregnant mothers especially at night when they will often leave woman in labor alone. Byoma said tha, in case of complications, this means there is no-one to provide help, which adds to the high death rate.
Byoma added: “The midwives sometimes are harsh on the mothers and this discourages them from going to health centers. They opt to go to TBAs who show them care and love but unfortunately [they] end up dying there.”
Victoria Businge Rusoke, the Woman MP in Kabarole, said if the district is to fight maternal mortality, the public must not blame medical workers because everyone is responsible for maternal health. She observed the need for leaders’ commitment in mobilizing mothers to attend antenatal care.
“The public should stop pin pointing at health workers because they can also do something to reduce mortality death. Husbands should be engaged and community leaders should mobilize mothers and teach them the importance of delivering in health facilities,” Rusoke said.
The comments were made during the district leaders’ first meeting on the Saving mothers, giving life project. The meeting was held last week (20 February 2012) at Kalya courts Maguru south division, Fort Portal municipality.
The project is run in partnership with Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation, supported by United States ,to implement a program aimed at reducing maternal deaths in Kabarole district.
According to Dr. Patricia Mwebaze the Baylor Coordinator, the project will provide an ambulance, improve on referral systems, put fixed telephones and toll free lines in the health facilities, and mobilize the public on maternal deaths.
Kabarole has an estimated population of 409,400. The estimated number of pregnant women annually is 19,856, roughly 5% of the general population.
