International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Bringing down the maternal mortality rate in Ghana is proving to be a challenge, a healthcare official has admitted.

According to Gloria Quansah Asare, director of the Family Health Division of the Ghana Health Service, a number of factors are leading to women dying during childbirth, Ghana News Agency reports.

For instance, she said human resources are inadequate in some areas, while many places suffer from poor healthcare coverage and infrastructure.

However, Ms Asare stressed her organisation has been working to see where issues need to be addressed as a matter of urgency, so sufficient obstetric and newborn care can be offered to pregnant females and babies when it is required.

The latest figures from the Ghana Health Service show the maternal mortality rate rose from 166 per 100,000 live births in 2010 to 173 for every 100,000 live births in the following year.

Pre-eclampsia and haemorrhaging were found to be among the most common causes of maternal fatalities.

Posted by Paul Robertson