Fertility rate drops as contraception rises

Sat, 20 May 2017 10:41:11 +0000

By JACKSON MAPAPAYI

ZAMBIA’S fertility rate has dropped from 6.2 in 2007 to 5.3 in 2014 while the use of contraceptives has increased from 33 percent in 2007 to 45 percent in 2014.

And infant mortality rate has reduced from 70 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2007 to 45 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2014.

This came to light during the launch of this year’s Safe Motherhood Week.

In a speech read on her behalf by Minister in the Office of the Vice President Sylvia Chalikosa, Vice President Inonge Wina said access to antenatal care by mothers has also increased from 94 percent in 2007 to 96 percent in 2014.

Ms Wina however said antenatal attendance during the first three months of pregnancy was low at 9 percent, according to the Zambia Demographic Survey of 2014.

She disclosed that the survey of 2014 showed that 398 women per 1,000 live births die from complications of pregnancy and delivery.

“This therefore means that we will not be complacent and allow our mothers to lose their lives as a result of pregnancy and child birth.

“These statistics call for drastic measures and as such we cannot continue to do business as usual,’’  Ms Wina said.

The Vice President also said obstetric fistula continues to affect many women and young girls as a result of prolonged obstructed labour without timely access to emergency care.

She said over 500 women are living with fistula and cannot access reproductive health services including family planning commodities.

“It is for this reason that the Ministry of Health has undergone a transformation agenda which focuses on increasing access to health information and health promotion,’’ she said.

She disclosed that Government, with support from cooperating partners, has embarked on the training of health care providers in emergency obstetrics and new-born care.

“Furthermore,  Government has intensified and scaled up emergency obstetric and new-born care and family planning services in all districts,’’  she added.

And United Nations Fund Population Agency (UNFPA) country representative Dr Mary Otieno said ending fistula was a high priority to UNFPA and it was a key step to achieving the global Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

This year’s Safe Motherhood Week theme is “Universal access to safe reproductive health services: antenatal care within the first three months of pregnancy”.