Maternity deaths in decline in Gauteng

Recent efforts by the Gauteng Department of Health and Social Development to improve safety conditions during births have been effective, according to a recent report.

The report found there has been a decline in infant and maternal mortality since infection control measures were introduced in many hospitals in the region. It also partly attributed the decline in mortality rates to the introduction of “kangaroo” mother care units, where premature babies spend more time in skin-to-skin contact with their mothers.

The report found that:

• Maternal mortality rates have dropped from 166 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2008 to 144 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2011
• Prenatal mortality rates dropped from 33.5 per 1,000 in 2010 to 28.7 per 1,000 in the first quarter of 2011
• Neonatal deaths dropped from 11.7 per 100 in 2010 to 10.5 per 100 in the first quarter of 2011.

The department says the findings of the report are “encouraging”, and shows it is on its way to achieving the target to reduce this to 100 deaths per 100,000 live births.