Maternal mortality ratio decreases
By Amina Nazarli
Azerbaijan continues to record a fall in the maternal mortality rate, as the State Statistics Committee reported some 24 cases of maternal mortality in the country in 2015.
In 2014, the number of cases was 25, while the greatest rate of maternal mortality in recent years was recorded in 2011 (27).
Maternal death is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as "the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes.
Every day, approximately 830 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.
The cause of maternal mortality was predominantly severe preeclampsia, according to the Azerbaijani Health Ministry.
Preeclampsia is a potentially life-threatening condition that
affects about five percent of pregnant women. Unfortunately,
preeclampsia may have no noticeable symptoms and can still be very
dangerous both to mother and baby.
Experts say that timely detection and treatment of preeclampsia can
help reduce maternal mortality. But unfortunately, women are often
too late for registration or just do not visit the doctor unless a
[health] problem arises.
Starting this year, reasons for critical situations during pregnancy and childbirth deaths will be investigated by a special commission established by the Health Ministry, Leila Rzaguliyeva, Chairman of the obstetrics earlier told Trend.
The main task of the commission is investigation of causes and reduction of maternal mortality in childbirth.
In 2014, the government of Azerbaijan had adopted a state program for the 2014-2020 period to protect maternal and child health.
Over the past 25 years, the maternal mortality rate decreased by roughly 60 percent in Azerbaijan, according to the report for 2015 based on estimates by the WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank Group, and the United Nations (UN) Population Division.
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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on
Twitter: @amina_nazarli
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