by Anai Rhoads

12 December 2003

With only less than thirty percent of couples using traditional contraception, Pakistan is currently facing the highest maternal mortality rate of Asia. In addition to maternal deaths, infant mortality was an astounding 78.52 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2002. [1] Nearly half of Pakistani women have at least one child before they complete their adolescent years.

The lack of funds for contraception has prompted Britain to step up funding to Pakistan. The extended grant of 12.75 million dollars (7.5 million in pounds) will help the United Nation's Population Fund provide contraceptives for the next five years to the country.

Every woman is at risk of obstetrical complications. This in most part occurs during their labour and delivery. In some cases, unfortunately, it leads to maternal death. Each day, at least thirty women suffer death from excessive bleeding due to frequent pregnancies in Pakistan. The most prominent causes of maternal mortality are unsanitary or unsupervised abortions, haemorrhage, blood pressure issues, sepsis and lack of caesarian intervention.

Most of us take for granted the advantages of easy access to health care. Pakistan does not have that option since nearly 40 million residents live in poverty and seek international assistance for this crisis.

While the high pregnancy rate puts Pakistan as the seventh most populous country in the world, the lack of sex education and access to condoms have left an estimated 25,000 orphans of parents who died of AIDS. [2]

The United Nations hopes the grant will encourage safer sex and provide women with more choices with regards to their fertility.

© Copyright 2003 Anai Rhoads. All Rights Reserved. Written permission for reprint may granted by the author.

References:

[1] CIA World Fact Book. Pakistan Facts - People: Infant Mortality Rate.

[2] Population Association of Pakistan. Table 4.7 Estimated Number of Adults and Children Living with HIV/AIDS, End of 2001.