Back

Safe motherhood and reproductive health

 

Maternal Mortality

Maternal and neonatal health in Somalia remains in a precarious condition as most childbirths are not attended by skilled health care personnel. Around 80% of deliveries take place at home or by unskilled traditional birth attendant (TBA).

Somalia has an estimated lifetime risk of maternal death of one in every 10 women. The estimated maternal mortality ratio is very high (1044-1400 /100 000 live births). Mothers die due to lack of access to emergency obstetric care for timely treatment of the main complications of childbirth: haemorrhage, obstructed labour, eclampsia and infection.

Reproductive Health Services in Somalia

The situation of maternal and prenatal health in Somalia is of pressing concern. Somalia has been marked by decades of conflict, insecurity, displacements of large segments of the population, and natural disasters. Reproductive health services have deteriorated considerably in this environment. Health services in Somalia are severely limited, relying almost exclusively on NGOs for delivery. They are hampered by a low number of health personnel often with limited capacity and skills, as well as poor infrastructure and an insufficient number of health facilities. The low availability of health services, as well as their weak capacity where they do exist, is compounding the precarious health situation which results from conflict, natural disasters and resource constraints. Skilled care during pregnancy and at birth is scarce. Only 9% of births in Somalia are attended by skilled health personnel. Access to emergency obstetric care (EmoC) is poor.

WHO Somalia cooperates with the national health authorities and other health partners to implement the neonatal and maternal programme for Somalia. WHO focuses on: Strengthening the capacity of nurses, traditional birth attendants, midwives and of major health facilities to provide quality reproductive health services; Improving coverage and utilizing of EmoC; Ensuring effective antenatal and post-natal care through service delivery and community-based interventions; Providing other health-related services on family planning, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS, reproductive tract infections and infertility to reduce mother and child deaths in Somalia.