E/R: Pregnant women carrying dead foetus indentified

Pregnant women carrying dead foetus have been identified in the Eastern region.

The medical condition known as intrauterine fetal deaths, was recorded during a free mobile ultrasound scan project organized by Divine Mother and Child Foundation (DMAC -Foundation ), a Maternal and Child health NGO, at four communities in Ayensuano District.

The communities were Dokrochiwa, Coaltar Amanase and Asuboi. Out of the total 184 pregnant women provided free ultrasound scan services, 3 women including a woman pregnant with twins, were detected to be carrying dead foetus and developing maceration which the pregnant women were unaware.

They were immediately referred to Suhum Government Hospital for medical attention.

According to medical experts, foetus death can happen during the last half of pregnancy or more rarely, during labour and birth. Abnormality of the baby, infection, problem with the placenta-Praevia or bleeding from the placenta or poor growth are underlining causes of inter-unterine fetal deaths .

Health experts say, if the dead foetus is not removed timely in such conditions, the mother can develop disseminated vascular coagulation which may lead to blood clotting and subsequently bleeding which can cause rapture in the internal organs which put the lives of pregnant women who suffer from such conditions in danger.

The President of DMAC Foundation, Edmund Atweri -Duodu who led the team of medical officers to the communities tells Kasapa News Eastern regional Correspondent, Kojo Ansah that, “during the screening, three pregnant women were detected to be carrying a dead foetus in their uterus with some been macerated.

Upon interrogation, we found out that most of these pregnant women in these communities prefer drinking herbal concoctions during pregnancy, we referred those with complications to Suhum government hospital. We also educate the Pregnant women to obey what they are told by their midwives instead of depending on herbal concoction with no evidence of efficacy ”



He said the absent of Ultrasound Scan equipment in CHPS compounds and Health centers in rural areas make it difficult for such conditions to be easily detected among pregnant women.



Mr. Duodu stated that it is in this backdrop that the NGO in partnership with its sponsors, Vodafone -Ghana and Joy Industries have decided to annually offer free ultrasound scan services to pregnant women in rural areas in the Eastern region.

He said the project which started last year saw over 10,000 pregnant women benefiting.