620 women die through childbirth in Ashanti

Bekwai (Ash), Nov. 21, GNA - At least 620 women in Ashanti died from complications of pregnancy and childbirth between January 2000 and June 2003, officials said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the launch of the Ashanti Regional campaign for Safe Motherhood at Bekwai in the Amansie East District, Dr Kofi Asare, Regional Director of Health Services, said there were 197 deaths in 2000, 184 in 2001, 172 in 2002 and 84 deaths from January to June 2003.

He said the statistics show that one woman dies daily from childbirth in the region.

Dr Asare said although pregnancy and childbirth were natural processes, every pregnancy carried a lot of risks that was why antenatal clinic attendance is very necessary.

He said though it was common knowledge that most women in Ghana received maternal health care during pregnancy, less than half of such women deliver in health facilities and even fewer receive post-natal care.

Dr Asare said the major causes of maternal death in Ashanti and Ghana were complications of pregnancy, childbirth and unsafe abortions.

The Regional Director of Health Services said in order to reduce the unnecessarily large number of women dying from maternal cases, all women should report to the nearest clinic, hospital or midwife as soon as they suspect they are pregnant.

All pregnant women, he said, should ensure that they attend antenatal clinics at least four times before delivery and that every woman should ensure that their babies were delivered in a hospital.

He advised that traditional birth attendants and midwives should not unnecessarily delay a woman in labour.

Dr Osei Owusu Agyemang, Medical Superintendent at the Bekwai Government Hospital, said the highest number of maternal mortality in the district was 12 in 2002 and the lowest was six in 2001.

He said the period when women in the fertile age group were most at risk of death, was during pregnancy, delivery and the 42-day period following childbirth.