Citation

Saxena D. Indian Med. Trib. 1994; 2(5): 1, 3.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1994, J.K. Jain)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12179171

Abstract

In March, 1994, at Chandigarh, India, delegates of the conference on Safe Motherhood in South Asia: Challenges Ahead addressed maternal mortality. Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka have around 27% of the world's live births and 43% of the maternal deaths. Maternal mortality in south Asia ranges from 60 to 618/100,000 live births. Delegates to the conference debated over the future of using traditional births attendants (TBAs). Some advocated that, since TBAs are an accepted part of villagers, the health care system should encourage them to undergo training to provide safe reproductive health practices. Other delegates believed that trained physicians should provide maternal health services in areas where trained health personnel do not now serve. The Regional Health Officer for UNICEF advocated the training of general practitioners in specialized obstetric services (e.g., cesarean section), since there are few obstetricians. Another UNICEF delegate suggested more expansive measures to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity, such as including traditional practitioners in the health system, since they now provide 70-80% of health care to rural dwellers. The system should involve India's gram panchayats more often into the Safe Motherhood program because they are in a position to immunize and educate children, monitor the village water pump and wells, warn villagers not to defecate in open areas, and arrange transportation for mothers in an emergency. Widespread education in the community and broad-based use of existing health services contribute to high maternal health in Kerala State, India. Other topics discussed were strategic management based on local conditions, cost-effectiveness of various interventional steps, use of quinacrine pellets for sterilization, and a holistic view of maternal mortality.

Language: en