Accra, May 28, GNA - The national maternal mortality survey for 2007 has revealed that for every 100,000 live births, 451 women die as against 378 in 2006.

The overall documented maternal deaths for the year 2007 were 996 women as against 837 in 2002 and 954 in 2001. Dr Frank Aboagye of the Human Resource Directorate of the Ghana Health Service gave the figures on Thursday at a day's forum organized by the Government Registered Midwives Group (GRMG) in collaboration with Ghana Registered Midwives Association in Accra to commemorate International Day of the Midwife.

Dr Aboagye said 14 per cent of women between the ages of 15 and 49 died as a result of maternal mortality caused by abortion complications, hypertension and haemorrhage. He said the situation had improved slightly as 96 per cent of all pregnant women in the country visited the hospital at least once for antenatal care. Also 77 per cent of these women visited hospitals for at least four times and only about 50 per cent visited the hospital in the first trimester.

Dr Aboagye added that 56 per cent of pregnant women did not visit the hospital for antenatal care because of financial constraints. He said total fertility rate was stable but family planning had declined because 77 per cent of women did not practice it.

He said the country had time for progress even though "we are off track to reducing maternal mortality, infant mortality and under-five mortality as against the Millennium Development Goals targeting the year 2015".

Mr Aboagye said there was the need for the improvement of skilled delivery since countries like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Egypt had adopted the system which had led to 85 per cent reduction in maternal mortality within a 40-year period.

Ms Rizwana Hawa Amoako-Agyei, National Chairperson, GRMG, said the group had achieved tremendous feats by contributing immensely in the health delivery service including their pledge of not embarking on any industrial action in the face of any difficulties.

"Aside this, members have been educated to eschew the habit of laziness, have cordial relations with the patients and do away with all unprofessional attitudes that bring setbacks to the profession and put in their maximum effort for the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals."

She said the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital had 91 per cent of midwives who were over 50 years therefore the need for the universal theme, "The World Needs Midwives Now More Than Ever" to bring to the fore the need for the training of more midwives.

Ms Amoako-Agyei advised pregnant women to form the habit of visiting midwives regularly for more counselling before, during and after pregnancy and asked the public to support midwives for a better service.