Unsafe abortion continue to harm maternal mortality

Accra, Feb. 22, GNA - Haemorrhage, hypertension and unsafe abortion seem to be running through all the causes of maternal mortality in the major hospitals in the Greater Accra Region.

Other causes such as Sepsis, Ruptured Uterus and Sickle Cell related diseases also contribute to the high causes of maternal deaths. These came out in the annual reports of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ridge Hospital, Tema General Hospital and the La General Hospital, at the opening of a four-day Greater Accra Region Review of 2009 Health Sector Performance in Accra.

Korle Bu Teaching Hospital last year recorded 10,673 maternal cases with 86 deaths out of which 18 were due to haemorrhage and 15 were induced abortion. Hypertensive-related cases accounted for 15 deaths, five were for Sepsis, five for ruptured uterus and 10 for sickle cell cases.

Dr Nelson Damale, a Consultant at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department of the Korle Bu, said almost half of the deaths occurred within the first 48 hours of arrival, with the age ranging from 25 to 30 years. He explained that most of the cases were referred cases and the late arrival contributed to the early deaths soon after admission.

Dr Damale complained about the referral system and the processes and called for a better system that will incorporate feedback system. "We should find a means of communicating with the Greater Accra Region, our main referral source, influence resuscitation before transfer of these cases to Korle-Bu and, if we can, detect hypertensive disorders early to avoid several deaths."

Dr Emmanuel K. Srofenyoh, head of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the Ridge Hospital, said it recorded a decline in maternal deaths for three continuous years and that showed a sign of improvement in their health delivery.

Ridge hospital in 2007 recorded 30 deaths out of 6,049 deliveries, 29 deaths out of 7,465 deliveries in 2008 and 26 deaths out of 2,825 deliveries in 2009. It also recorded 216 HIV positive mother deliveries with one death and 199 deliveries in 2009 with three deaths. Dr Srofenyo complained of shortage of all categories of staff: orderlies, health aides, midwives, doctors and specialists as well as shortage of blood products.

Issues of laboratory support, he said, were generally weak, he said, adding that the theatre "is too distant from the labour ward and antenatal area is a corridor which is too congested and stuffy".

He said, in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals on health, there was the need to act now to address these pertinent issues. Dr Irene Agyapong-Amarteyfio of the Greater Accra Regional Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) commended the region for the progress made as compared to that of last year and urged them to keep up the good work, and be more innovative with public health programmes. She said the region should also endeavour to continue efforts to improve primary and referral clinical care and Emergency and Obstetric Care (EOC).

Causes of neonatal deaths were attributed to sepsis and birth asphyxia. Dr Agyapong-Amarteyfio expressed concern about the inadequate human and other resources, and said the region would be investigating the issue of the withdrawal of the workers, who were assisting the hospitals under the National Youth Employment Programme.

"These people were contributing immensely to improved maternal care and delivery and we should not allow them to be taken away," she added.