The maternal mortality rate in Balochistan is increasing rapidly. According to a recent report, Balochistan is the highest contributor in Pakistan with 298 maternal deaths per 1,00,000 births as compared to the other provinces.
Balochistan, albeit the smallest province by population, but richest in terms of natural resources, is failed to cover issues like the maternal mortality rate. The major grounds by which the rate of maternal mortality is increasing are severe bleeding, infections, high blood pressure, unsafe abortion and socioeconomic status.
A research concluded that having low blood pressure can cause the deaths in women while giving birth to children. In Balochistan women are facing multifold problems due to low blood pressure in pregnancy and it is the most common cause of death during child birth.
Actually in rural areas of Balochistan women usually do not have their blood pressure checked which is very important for them. One of the main reasons that the women in these areas do not apply check-ups is a lack of healthcare centres in their areas, whereas coming to cities needs much money which most of them do not have.
Moreover, unsafe abortions and long-work-labor can cause many other infections in women too. When we talk about Baloch society, women mostly do not have good knowledge regarding pregnancy and know nothing what they must do to save themselves from infections. A lack of understanding, information on personal hygiene and how to care for the body after child birth can also put a woman at risk for infection. However, about 11 per cent of maternal deaths are the result of an infection.
In addition to that, the other cause of maternal mortality is severe bleeding [after child birth]. Severe bleeding is not normal in women. Actually, it is the responsibility of doctor to conduct a safe delivery and take care of bleeding during and after delivery. A small negligence can cause big problems. In many areas of Balochistan women lose their lives in such cases where mothers die from losing too much blood during delivery.
All in all, every woman must get a good diet and quality care, because women with low diet and lack of nutrition can lead to health deficiency and poor pregnancy outcomes. They mostly happen with women with lower socioeconomic status. A poor woman suffers a lot of troubles during pregnancy. Most of the people cannot afford a car or an ambulance to reach to hospital and sometimes the deficiency of good diet weakens the pregnant women, ultimately causing death for them.
At last, women in Balochistan need good healthcare centres and some financial support during the period of pregnancy. The government must take immediate action on it to save the lives of women along with their babies.
