Maternal and Perinatal Health Challenges in Pakistan

Farrukh, Muhammad Junaid; Tariq, Muhammad Haseeb; Shah, Kifayat Ullah

doi:10.5530/jppcm.2017.2.18

Cited by 5 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…Early marriages were seen to be the root cause of multiple pregnancies. These are the notable social and cultural conditions that increase the lifetime risk of maternal death [ 44 ]. The primary cause noted for early marriage in rural areas was the perception of daughters as a burden.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of social and cultural practices on maternal mortality: a qualitative study from South Punjab, Pakistan

Omer

Zakar

et al. 2021

Reprod Health

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Background A disproportionately high rate of maternal deaths is reported in developing and underdeveloped regions of the world. Much of this is associated with social and cultural factors, which form barriers to women utilizing appropriate maternal healthcare. A huge body of research is available on maternal mortality in developing countries. Nevertheless, there is a lack of literature on the socio-cultural factors leading to maternal mortality within the context of the Three Delays Model. The current study aims to explore socio-cultural factors leading to a delay in seeking care in maternal healthcare in South Punjab, Pakistan. Methods We used a qualitative method and performed three types of data collection with different target groups: (1) 60 key informant interviews with gynaecologists, (2) four focus group discussions with Lady Health Workers (LHWs), and (3) ten case studies among family members of deceased mothers. The study was conducted in Dera Ghazi Khan, situated in South Punjab, Pakistan. The data was analysed with the help of thematic analysis. Results The study identified that delay in seeking care—and the potentially resulting maternal mortality—is more likely to occur in Pakistan due to certain social and cultural factors. Poor socioeconomic status, limited knowledge about maternal care, and financial constraints among rural people were the main barriers to seeking care. The low status of women and male domination keeps women less empowered. The preference for traditional birth attendants results in maternal deaths. In addition, early marriages and lack of family planning, which are deeply entrenched in cultural values, religion and traditions—e.g., the influence of traditional or spiritual healers—prevented young girls from obtaining maternal healthcare. Conclusion The prevalence of high maternal mortality is deeply alarming in Pakistan. The uphill struggle to reduce deaths among pregnant women is firmly rooted in addressing certain socio-cultural practices, which create constraints for women seeking maternal care. The focus on poverty reduction and enhancing decision-making power is essential for supporting women’s right to medical care.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of social and cultural practices on maternal mortality: a qualitative study from South Punjab, Pakistan

Omer

Zakar

et al. 2021

Reprod Health

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“…There is a suspicion on the character of girls in case they remain unmarried for too long. The girls being young and under the in uence of their mother-in-law and husband were found to be unable to seek desired maternal care [44]. Previous studies have shown that bearing a child at an early age increases the risk of several medical complications and, therefore, leads to an increased risk of complications during pregnancy or post childbirth [44,45].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Early marriages were the root cause of multiple pregnancies. These are the notable social and cultural conditions that increase the lifetime risk of maternal death [44].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Social and Cultural Practices on Maternal Mortality: A Qualitative Study from South Punjab, Pakistan

Omer

Zakar

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: A disproportionate high rate of maternal deaths are reported in developing and underdeveloped regions of the world. Much is associated with social and cultural factors which are barriers for women to utilise appropriate maternal health care. A huge body of research is available on maternal mortality in developing countries. Nevertheless, there is paucity of literature on socio-cultural factors leading to maternal mortality within the context of the Three Delay Model. The current study aims to explore socio-cultural factors leading to a delay in seeking care in maternal healthcare in South Punjab, Pakistan. Methods: We used a qualitative method and performed three types of data collection with different target groups: i) 60 key informative interviews with gynaecologists, ii) four focus group discussions with Lady Health Workers (LHWs), and iii) ten case studies among family members of deceased mothers. The study was conducted in Dear Ghazi Khan, situated at South Punjab, Pakistan. Data was analysed with the help of thematic analysis.Results: The study identified that delay in seeking care – and its potentially following maternal mortality – is more likely to occur due to certain social and cultural factors in Pakistan. Poor socioeconomic status, limited knowledge on maternal care, and financial constraints of rural people were the main barriers in seeking care. Low status of women and male domination keeps women less empowered. The preference of traditional birth attendants results into maternal deaths. In addition to that, early marriages and lack of family planning as deeply entrenched in cultural values, religion and traditions – e.g. the influence of spiritual healers – prevented young girls to obtain maternal health care.Conclusion: The situation of maternal mortality is highly alarming in Pakistan. The uphill task of reducing deaths among pregnant women is deeply rooted in addressing certain socio-cultural practices, which are constraints for women seeking maternal care. The focus on reduction of poverty and enhancement of decision-making power is essential for approaching the right of medical care.

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“…Over the course of the Millennium Development Goals (1990–2015), the global maternal mortality ratio (MMR) declined substantially. However, many low-income countries did not reach the target for Millennium Development Goal 5, which aimed for a 75% reduction in the MMR between 1990 and 2015 [2,3]. Compared with other low- and middle-income countries, the MMR in Pakistan remains high and the decline has been extremely slow [4,5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Socio-Economic Factors and Health Information Sources on Place of Birth in Sindh Province, Pakistan: A Secondary Analysis of Cross-Sectional Survey Data

Noh

Kim

Akram

et al. 2019

IJERPH

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Medical facility birth with skilled birth attendance is essential to reduce maternal mortality. The purpose of this study was to assess the demographic characteristics, socio-economic factors, and varied health information sources that may influence the uptake of birth services in Pakistan. We used pooled data from Maternal-Child Health Program Indicator Survey 2013 and 2014. Study population was 9719 women. Generalized linear model with log link and a Poisson distribution was used to identify factors associated with place of birth. 3403 (35%) women gave birth at home, and 6316 (65%) women gave birth at a medical facility. After controlling for all covariates, women’s age, number of children, education, wealth, and mother and child health information source (doctors and nurses/midwives) were associated with facility births. Women were significantly less likely to give birth at a medical facility if they received maternal-child health information from low-level health workers or relatives/friends. The findings suggest that interventions should target disadvantaged and vulnerable groups of women after considering rural-urban differences. Training non-health professionals may help improve facility birth. Further research is needed to examine the effect of individual information sources on facility birth, both in urban and rural areas in Pakistan.

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Maternal and Perinatal Health Challenges in Pakistan

Cited by 5 publications

References 1 publication

The influence of social and cultural practices on maternal mortality: a qualitative study from South Punjab, Pakistan

The influence of social and cultural practices on maternal mortality: a qualitative study from South Punjab, Pakistan

Influence of Social and Cultural Practices on Maternal Mortality: A Qualitative Study from South Punjab, Pakistan

Impact of Socio-Economic Factors and Health Information Sources on Place of Birth in Sindh Province, Pakistan: A Secondary Analysis of Cross-Sectional Survey Data

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