Shocking details have emerged that 7 out of 10 who lose their lives due to maternal health complications die at night, during the weekends and during public holidays. These are the times when some of the hospitals work on half shifts.
The Ministry of Health and Amref Health Africa reports indicate that a total estimation of about 5000 maternal deaths are reported annually and the shocking part is that 60-70% of the deaths happen in referral hospitals. 65 % of those deaths happen after 28 weeks of gestation period.
The investigations also revealed that the deaths can be attributed to the doctor’s absenteeism, inadequate healthcare workers, insufficient drugs administration, inadequate medical drugs, lack of blood and platelets and lack of adequate transport between different health facilities.
The head of the Division of Reproductive and Maternal Health at the Ministry of Health Dr. Edward Serem said that a total of 13 counties recorded the highest number of maternal deaths and they are Turkana, Migori, Makueni, Murang’a, Kilifi Wajir, Siaya, Homabay, Machakos, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Garissa and Tana River.
The major attribute of the deaths are postpartum haemorrhage, which is majorly known as blood loss of at least 500ml within the first 24 hours after death. It is also a major cause of the deaths in women.
The other worrying trend is that the maternal mortality ratio in Kenya is at 355 per 100,000 live births and the neonatal mortality rate is at 21% per 1000 live births. This is indeed a very worrying trend in the country.
