The current study analyzed socio-economic and cultural determinants of maternal and neonatal mortality in Pakistan. This research was conducted at PIMS, Islamabad, Pakistan. In the first phase of research, we used a survey method to collect data from 56 respondents (36 female doctors and 20 female nurses) and their perceptions were enumerated about the socioeconomic and cultural determinants of maternal mortality. In the second phase of the research, 200 mothers (who had a baby under 1-year) currently admitted at PIMS were sampled for in-depth interviews and they were asked about the multiple determinants of neonatal mortality. In both phases, we employed a purposive sampling technique with a special inclusion criterion. The study highlighted multiple reasons influencing mortality of mothers and neonates such as lack of awareness, lack of transportation facilities, illiteracy, poverty, lack of antenatal care services and deliveries handled by unskilled birth attendants at homes.

Pakistan is facing a new wave of sectarian divide thus literally making it difficult for minority religious groups such as Shias to practice their religious rituals with freedom and liberty. During the last decade, the sectarian killings have increased to a substantial level much to the worry of the government and general public. The present study explores the impact of the widening sectarian cleavage due to the Shia rituals during and after the sacred month of Muharram in Pakistan. Shia religious practices are being challenged and their rites held down by the extremist groups who are bent upon hurl unforgiving criticism, random killings, a plethora of hate speeches, and religious demonstrations throughout Pakistan. Such practices have made it more exacting for the Shias to commemorate their religious rituals during Muharram throughout Pakistan. The large cities like Quetta, Hyderabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Jhang have faced multifaceted sectarian clashes which made Shias vulnerable in the performance of rituals.

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