Excessive Bleeding Said to be the Main Cause for Most Maternal Deaths in Kenya

Excessive bleeding has been termed as the main cause for maternal deaths in Kenya according to the recently released report by the Ministry of Health.

The report, dubbed Saving Mothers Lives: Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths in Kenya, focused on maternal deaths which occurred in the county and national referral hospitals in 2014.

Most maternal deaths were caused by poor care in health facilities. Substandard care was identified in nine out of 10 maternal deaths.

According to the report, of the 484 maternal deaths assessed, 447 (92 percent) received poor care. Of these, 394 (81 percent) received substandard care where different care management could have resulted in a better outcome.

The assessment constituted 51 percent of the 945 deaths of women who died in pregnancy or childbirth that were reported in the District Health Information System (DHIS) for the year 2014.

About three-quarters (73 percent) of the deaths occurred out of office hours between 5 pm and 8 am on weekdays, weekends and public holidays show figures from the study that was conducted from June 2015-June 2016.

Director of Medical Services Dr.Jackson Kioko said the survey points to the need for accountability on maternal and newborn health by highest level of leadership both at the National and County governments.

Dr.Kioko directed audits into health facility’s operations to ensure quality care is provided.

“Maternal deaths, especially those occurring outside working hours, are completely unacceptable. We must put in place systems to ensure people are held responsible for poor services,” said Dr.Kioko.

Maternal and neonatal deaths are major public health problems. Estimates published in 2015 show that globally, an estimated 303,000 women die annually during pregnancy, childbirth or in the postnatal period, 2.6 million babies are stillborn and 2.7 million babies die within one month of birth.

Most of these deaths happen in low and middle-income settings, are preventable and occur during labour and childbirth and in the first week after birth.

The report noted that quality care needs to be provided to every pregnant woman, mother, fetus, and newborn during this critical period for maternal and newborn survival.