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Sudan mothers have worst odds
07/06/2007 11:12 - (SA)
Juba - Rates of pregnancy-related
deaths in south Sudan are the highest in the world, a United
Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) official said.
"Rates are actually at 2 030 per 100 000 births, the worst
in the world," UNFPA's South Sudan head Dragudi Buwa said.
A 2005 peace deal ended more than two decades of civil war
between the north and the south, and created a semi-autonomous
southern government. But the south has few medical facilities
for its population, estimated at about 10 million.
In north Sudan, rates of maternal mortality are 509 deaths
per 100 000 births, according to the United Nations.
"Skilled care attendance at birth is under five percent," Buwa added.
A lack of trained midwives, coupled with high rates of early
marriage and pregnancy and a lack of health facilities and
medical advice was responsible for the large number of
pregnancy-related deaths, Buwa said.
Young mothers dying
UNFPA, which is about to release a report on the findings,
estimates the teen birth rate to be at 200 per 1 000 births.
Buwa said researchers found many mothers as young as 13 and
many 19-year-olds who had already had up to four children.
According to information gleaned from south Sudanese health
facilities, haemorrhaging accounted for 25% of all
maternal deaths.
"A normal blood banking system would mean at any time blood
of different types would be available. What happens here is that
there's nothing in the stores," said Buwa.
Buwa said between seven and nine percent of blood donations
screened at facilities was found to be HIV positive.
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