Maternal and Perinatal Health Challenges in Pakistan

Dear Editor, Maternal and perinatal mortality have appeared a huge challenge in the health care setting of developing countries.1 Considering the importance of this issue, in 1987 maternal and perinatal health is considered a priority in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Regrettably, Pakistan is still struggling to meet to the MDGs goal of maternal and child health by 2015. A target goal of minimizing the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) to 100 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2015 was set by Pakistan’s Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Program.2 Despite significant improvements over the past 20 years, Pakistan’s ranking for MMR had dropped from 147th last year to 149 and infant and neonatal mortality is towards the bottom as per UNICEF.3 To achieve the target of 100 MMR and below Pakistan have a long way to go. Lower spending on health care, lack of maternal care facilities in rural area, early marriages, multiple gestations, malnutrition, lack of standard or appropriate maternal/ antenatal care services and low birth weight are some of the main factors contributing to higher maternal and neonatal mortality. Pakistan has the third highest rate of infant mortality in the world. In 2013, The perinatal mortality rate (PMR) per 1000 births was estimated to be 75.4 Read more. . .