Government rejects survey that claims higher maternal mortality rate

The health ministry has rejected data by Bangladesh Maternal Mortality and Health Care Survey that claims more women are dying from childbirths now than before.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 5 April 2018, 09:19 AM
Updated : 5 April 2018, 09:19 AM

“We did not accept this finding,” Faiz Ahmed, secretary at the Health Education and Family Welfare Division, said at a press briefing on Thursday, ahead of the World Health Day due to be observed Apr 7.

State Minister for Heath Zahid Maleque briefed the media about the day to be observed with the theme: “Universal Health Coverage: Everyone, Everywhere”.

The quality of care is one of the key components of the universal health coverage which means people will get health services without financial hardships, he said

The preliminary results of the survey released in November, however, shows “low quality of care” as a reason for the soaring mortality rate.

The graph is upwards although more women are now availing medical help during pregnancy than before, the survey suggests.

The data reports 196 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2016, the year the survey was carried out. It was 194 in 2010 when Bangladesh witnessed a steady decline in maternal deaths from 322 in 2001.

Half of the childbirths were attended by trained professionals in 2016 whereas in 2010, only 27 percent women received the facilities during delivery.

Director General for Health Services Prof Abul Kalam Azad said the report did not reflect the government’s findings.

“We have our own observations. It should be between 168 and 170 deaths per 100,000,” he said adding that the Directorate General of Health Services is working with relevant authorities to recast the data.

The National Institute of Population Research and Training conducted the survey in association with MEASURE Evaluation, USA, the International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh and USAID.

The Bangladesh government, USAID and DFID funded the survey.

Sirajul Haque Khan, secretary of the Health Services Division, said their findings show there have been marked improvements.