International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Efforts to reduce maternal mortality must increase in Bangladesh, despite a fall in death rates, it has been suggested.

According to Professor Towhidul Anowar Chowdhury, of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation in Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders, women's lives are still being lost and "there is no time to waste".

Speaking as the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) – an affiliate of FIGO – announced new measures to target maternal mortality in the Asian country, he said it would be necessary to increase the skilled manpower and functioning of emergency obstetric care centres.

Professor Chowdhury added: "We need to ensure quality of services and utilisation. This is especially important for women in rural areas, who face the greatest barriers and who often lack information about the danger signs during pregnancy."

RCOG says death rates have reduced from 512 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1996-2000, to 3.2 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2007, largely through improved access to contraception, skilled birth attendants, antenatal care and obstetric surgery.

However, the organisation claims that women in deprived areas face more limited access to skilled health providers and are less likely to be able to afford health care and transport costs.

SINC reported this week that maternal mortality levels in Spain rose by 17 per cent between 1996 and 2005.