Maternal Mortality Ratio and Mal-nutrition among Women in Rural Communities of Hyderabad Division; A Sociological Analysis

Abstract

Maternal mortality ratio (MMR) was one of priority goal among millennium development goals of United Nations till 2015. Which is again considered as a priority goal among sustainable development goals set by United Nations which are supposed to be achieved until 2030. As per these goals MMR should be minimized at the level of 71deaths among 100,000 live births during a specific time period. However, Sindh government couldn’t achieve the target of 2015, instead of running Mother New born and Child Health (MNCH) program at grass-roots level. Though government has appointing number of lady health visitors and workers but still there is need of more to cover all population of rural areas. It was found during study that available maternal health workers in rural areas are not enough in number and quality to reduce maternal mortality ratio. Majority of women are declared with nutritional deficiencies by local maternal health workers. Ratio of maternal mortalities due to malnutrition is always higher as also reported in other research studies. This study aims to find out the sociological barriers to reduce maternal mortality ratio in rural areas, such as, issue of malnutrition among women. Study has taken into account key socio-cultural factor/ variable effecting on maternal mortality. For that purpose, mixed methods of data collection were used, for quantitative data 385 in depth interviews were conducted with mothers and 45 key informant interviews were conducted with maternal health workers, in different rural areas of Hyderabad division. For qualitative data structured observations were conducted with three women from three different topographic areas of Sindh (Coastal belt, dry hilly area, barrage area).