By A Correspondent- A total of 378 women died while giving birth in Zimbabwe since January this year which translates to a maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of about 127 per 100 000 births.
Of these women, 66 died at home while 312 lost their lives at health institutions.
In the Trends in Maternal Mortality Study, the United Nations considers a MMR of less than 100 as low, between 100 and 299 as moderately low, and high when it is 300 to 499.
Experts say the country’s MMR shows great strides in combating death of pregnant women but point out that lack of ante natal care in most rural areas is driving the figure up.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care says 302 802 births have been recorded countrywide since January this year and 32 293 of those were conducted at home.
Zimbabwe’s MMR has been one of the highest in the world compared to the globally acceptable figure of 100.
MMR is the number of women who die during pregnancy and childbirth, per 100 000 live births.
The World Health Organisation defines maternal mortality as the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration, site and form of ending, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes.
MMR is also used to measure a country’s developmental status and is affected by economics.
Zimbabwe like every SADC state made regional and national commitments to at least halve maternal deaths or ensure the rate is 70 per 100 000 births by 2030 as spelt by the Sustainable Development Goal number three.
Statistics from the Ministry show that Mpilo Central Hospital and the United Bulawayo Hospitals recorded some of the fewest maternal deaths compared to other health institutions.-statemedia