Bangladesh is advancing rapidly in reducing under-5 child and maternal mortality, 18 months ahead of deadline for the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 2015.
At present, the under-5 child mortality per 1,000 live births has come down to 41 when the MDG target is 48.
On the other hand, maternal mortality rate per 1,00,000 live births now stands at 170. The MDG target is set at 140.
The latest information on the MDG progress of 75 countries – provided by Geneva-based Countdown to 2015 – was released in end June.
In 1990, under-5 and maternal mortality rates in Bangladesh were 144 and 550.
Prof Dr Abul Kalam Azad, additional director general at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), told the Dhaka Tribune: “We are trying our best to meet the MDG targets.”
The maternal mortality rate was 194 per 1,00,000 live births as per Bangladesh Maternal Mortality 2010.
On the other hand, according to Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey (BDHS) 2011, the under-5 child mortality rate was 53 per 1,000 live births.
The last findings titled “Fulfilling the Health Agenda for Women and Children: The 2014 Report” was launched at the meeting of Partnership for Maternal, New Born and Child Health (PMNCH) in Johannesburg, South Africa.
It contains the latest available health data on key maternal and child health indicators of Bangladesh.
The report presents together the best and latest evidence to enable an assessment of progress in improving reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH) and achieving MDGs 4 and 5.
Bangladesh’s country profile presents the most recent available information at the time it was published on selected demographic measures, coverage rates for priority interventions across the continuum of care, and indicators of equity, policy support, human resources and financial flows.
According to the latest statistics, only 26% Bangladeshis took all the four antenatal checkups during pregnancy, 32% got the service from skilled attendant during births while the rate of postnatal care is 27%. The rate of exclusive breastfeeding is 64%, says the report.
The survey also found socio-economic inequities in health service coverage. “The poor people do not get access same as the rich compared to antenatal care, delivery by skill birth attendants and care seeking for pneumonia.”
The latest report says the rate of early initiation of breastfeeding is almost same. The trend of vaccination (such as DPT, Measles and vitamin) between rich and poor is almost close.
Dr Abu Zafor Md Musa, director (primary health care) of DGHS, told the Dhaka Tribune that the latest figure was prepared in line with a UN survey.
While asked about fulfilling the MDG target of maternal mortality, he said they were conducting evidence-based intervention to reduce the rate.
He mentioned that there were around 35% indirect reasons behind maternal deaths like heart and kidney complications and hypertension. “We are very much hopeful to achieve the target.”