Health experts are optimistic that maternal mortality will reduce further if expectant mothers continue to seek antenatal care services.
The Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) 2022, released by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics highlighted key health indicators showing that the maternal mortality ratio reduced significantly to 189 out of 100,000 live births in 2022 from 336/100,000 in 2016.
Dr. Nicolas Mugaga an obstetrician in charge of St. Joseph hospital Wakiso, asked Mothers to seek healthcare services early to avoid suffering from chronic diseases and at the same time losing lives.
“My call to you all mothers is don’t wait until you are six months pregnant to think about going for antenatal. Antenatal is intended to make sure that as soon as you get pregnant you go to a health work get a thorough check-up of all the possible causes of troubles that may happen during pregnancy. We will look after you all through the pregnancy till you finally have a safe delivery,” Dr. Mugaga said at the Uganda Medical Expo 2023 in Kampala.
Released yesterday by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, the survey also indicated that child mortality declined between 2001 and 2022; and was highest in West Nile, Ankole, and least in Teso.
