Observer Report
Pakistan Maternal Mortality Survey (PMMS) has claimed that the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in Pakistan has decreased from 276 deaths per 100,000 live births as per Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2006-7 to 186 now.
According to available document, key findings of the first exclusive nationwide survey highlighted that improvements in health services in the last decade and enhanced awareness and utilization of antenatal and postnatal care by women are likely to have contributed to the overall decrease in the MMR.
MMR is lowest in Punjab (157 per 100,000 live births), followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (165 per 100,000 live births), Sindh (224 per 100,000 live births), and Balochistan (298 per 100,000 live births). The MMR is 104 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and 157 in Gilgit-Baltistan.
MMR is higher in rural areas (199 deaths) than in urban areas (158 deaths). The MMR is 26 per cent higher in rural areas than in urban areas.
Commenting on the survey, an official from the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination said improving access of people, particularly women and other vulnerable segments to health facilities is an important priority of the incumbent government led by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
He said to identify the gaps in services and facilities at national and regional levels,
it is necessary to have access to reliable data which enables executing organizations
to implement remedial measures.
The government, therefore, encourages evidence-based research work to provide
a direction. Pakistan Institute of Population Studies (NIPS), as the only public sector organization at the federal level to undertake research in population matters, has met this need to an extent by regularly conducting the Pakistan Demographic and Health Surveys (PDHS) besides other research studies ranging from quality of health care to nutrition.
He added that first and last direct estimate of maternal mortality with a limited sample size was obtained in 2006-07, as a part of PDHS. It is unfortunate that substantive research work in this important area could not be undertaken at national level for more than a decade.
“Now finally, we have the results of the survey to provide a good insight into maternal complications and morbidities, age-specific mortality rates by region and gender. But more importantly, it provides national level MMR, a yardstick of progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
