Study of Clinical, Social and Behavioral Factors Affecting Maternal Health in Bangladesh

Abstract

Globally, more than 500,000 women die each year because of complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. They die due to haemorrhage, sepsis, hypertensive disorders, unsafe abortion and prolonged or obstructed labour – complications that can often be effectively treated in a health system that provides skilled personnel facilities to handle emergencies when they occur and post-partum care. Prenatal care is known to improve the outcome of pregnancy and birth for both mother and child. It not only monitors the health of the mother and foetus but also allows for the identification of potential complications. MDG 5 (Millennium development goal 5) on improving maternal health is one of the goals towards which least progress has been made. Teenage pregnancy, pregnancy within 19 years of age, is a public health concern both in developed and developing counties. Most of the studies found that pre-term delivery, still birth, fetal distress, birth asphyxia, anaemia, low birth weight, pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and spontaneous abortion were most frequently encountered complications during teenage pregnancies. As per a major survey by the Government of Bangladesh maternal mortality ratio in Bangladesh has dropped by 40% in the last nine years. However, as per this study conducted on 654 pregnant women, maternal health in Bangladesh is still under considerable risk. Majority of the participants 75% were married during their teen ages. 44% of the respondents first conceived during their teen ages. Pre-term delivery, still birth, fetal distress, birth asphyxia, anaemia, low birth weight, pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and spontaneous abortion were most frequently encountered complications during teenage as per previous studies. 94% of the pregnant women had no understanding or knowledge of the different complications that may occur during pregnancy. 98% of the patients did not know the blood group of their husband and 59% of the patients did not know their own blood group along with their husband’s. A close relation was found between education level, the marriage in teen age, age of 1st abortion as well as age when 1st time conceived.