Maternal Health Ntoroko
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MATERNAL HEALTH NTOROKO In Uganda, maternal mortality remains high at 440 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. For every maternal death in Uganda, at least six survive with chronic and debilitating ill health. Most maternal deaths are due to causes directly related to pregnancy and childbirth unsafe abortion and obstetric complications such as severe bleeding, infection, hypertensive disorders, and obstructed labour1. According to the State of Worlds’ Children WHO, declines in maternal mortality have been registered in Uganda. a review of emergency obstetric care (EOC) facilities showed that in 54 districts out of 56 EOC’s throughout the country, over 97 % of facilities that expected to provide basic emergency services were not able to do so. Among the key impediments to service delivery were Lack of running water, electricity, and functioning operating theatres. Further reviews are urgently required to ensure that existing facilities are upgraded and new ones are established in a sustainable manner. Funding for medical supplies, including essential medicines, is a further priority. The UN inter-agency list of essential medicines for reproductive health serves as a useful guide to the minimum number of effective, cost saving drugs that should be available.2 FIGURE 1, POPULATION IN NTOROKO Ntoroko district is in the Rwenzururu (aka Rwenzori) sub-region located approximately 300 kilometres (190 mi), by road, west of Kampala and has an estimated population of 84,100 (2012). There are three subcounties – Kanara, Karugutu and Rwebisengo, which include 10 parishes and 56 villages. Cities nearby include Kijura, Ntoroko, Ndaiga, Fort Portal, Yenga, Bundibugyo, Kikorba, Bugado, and Kyenjojo. In Ntoroko district they speak Rutooro, Runyankole and Rukonjo. Religions include Christian, Muslim, and traditional. 1 http://www.who.int/pmnch/media/membernews/2011/ugandabackgroundpaper.pdf?ua=1 2 State of Worlds Children, SCI2009 1 | Page Global Health Liaisons https://GHL.com FIGURE 2, DEMOGRAPHIC POPULATION, UGANDA Population Number Percentage Total 34.9million 100% Children aged 0-59 months (under five years) 6.6million 18.9% Women of reproductive age (15-49 years) 7.3million 20.9% Population that is 15 years of age/% 17.0million 48.7% Population of adolescents (10-19 years of age) 8.6million 24.5% Source: National Population and Housing Census 2014 In 2011, when the Demographic and Household Survey was last undertaken, the under-five mortality rate for the Rwenzori region, was at 116 deaths per 1,000 live births, way above the national child mortality rate of 90 deaths per 1,000 live births (Uganda Demographic and Household Survey, 2011). In a 2013/2014 report, Ntoroko’s health sector performance was ranked 110 out of 112 districts. In the two years that KOICA has been working with the district, this trend has been reversed. In the first year of intervention, the district had been ranked at 86 out of 112 (in 2014/15) and now 22nd out of 112 districts. In 2016, Ministry of Health and Save the Children International (SCI) reported a tremendous increase from 109th to 22nd in health service delivery. The MoH based its ranking on the districts’ annual performance in terms of effectiveness, responsiveness and equity in the health care delivery system, and has been attributed to efforts of the Rwenzori Korea Innovative Maternal Child Health Initiative (KIMCHI)3. 3 https://uganda.savethechildren.net/news/celebration-ntoroko-district-leaps-109th-22nd-health-service-delivery 2 | Page Global Health Liaisons https://GHL.com NTOROKO MAP 3 | Page Global Health Liaisons https://GHL.com Maternity wards at most facilities in FIGURE 3, SEX RATIO AND NTORKO POPULATION GROWTH RATES Ntoroko admit general patients too, hence the possibility of passing on infections to babies and mothers. This is due to the limited space the health centers have. The under-five mortality rates in the Western region are at 116 deaths per 1,000 live births, which is higher than the national under-five mortality rate that is itself high (90/1,000 live births). Despite the promotion of skilled birth attendance and institutional delivery as strategies to improve MNCH, only 15% of the women in Ntoroko deliver in health facilities. ### 4 | Page Global Health Liaisons https://GHL.com .