Balochistan’s Battle Against Maternal Mortality

Abdul Shakoor Khan

Quetta: Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in Balochistan is believed to be significantly higher than reported due to the under-recording of maternal deaths in remote areas, exacerbated by the absence of a vital statistics system.

Data collection in Balochistan remains incomplete and inconsistent, especially in rural regions with weak infrastructure and reporting systems.

According to health department data, the maternal mortality ratio in Balochistan stands at an estimated 298 deaths per 100,000 live births, while the infant mortality rate is between 60-70 deaths per 1,000 live births. However, these figures may not capture the full extent of the issue due to unreported cases.

“Implementing a vital statistics system at the district and union council levels is indispensable for accurate data recording and policy implementation concerning family planning and reproductive health,” said Abdullah Khan, Secretary of the Balochistan Population Welfare Department.

Limited Services and Insufficient Staff

Major factors contributing to the high MMR in Balochistan include limited healthcare services, a shortage of gynecologists and medical officers, and inadequate family planning services. Cultural barriers, low literacy rates, malnutrition, and poor infrastructure further compound the issue.

Aminullah, a resident of Pishin district, lost his wife and child en route to the hospital due to the lack of available doctors in his area.

Similarly, Umar Khan Nasar from Loralai district described how serious patients must be referred to Quetta for emergency care, resulting in many avoidable deaths due to the 265-kilometer distance between the districts.

Infrastructure Gaps

Of the 35 districts in Balochistan, only 15 have comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (EMONC) services, according to the Health Department.

Despite having 1,500 health facilities across the province, including teaching hospitals, district headquarters (DHQ) hospitals, and Basic Health Units (BHUs), the province’s rapidly growing population—19.26 million in 2023—requires urgent attention to healthcare improvement.

Dr Ali Mir of the Population Council emphasized the high unmet need for family planning in Balochistan, where 33 percent of married women wish to space or limit children but lack access to contraceptive methods. Reducing unplanned pregnancies through voluntary family planning could alleviate the strain on healthcare services and significantly lower MMR.

Abdullah Khan, Secretary of the Population Welfare Department, stressed the importance of expanding family planning services in rural areas despite limited resources.

The department is working closely with the Balochistan Human Capital Investment Program (BHCIP), WHO, and UNFPA to provide services and has committed to increasing the Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) to 36 percent  by 2025 and 46 percent by 2030.

Holistic Approach

Director-General of Health, Amin Mandokhail, highlighted the need for a multifaceted strategy that includes improving road connectivity, healthcare facilities, and basic amenities across the province.

“We need a holistic approach to achieve this goal,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of inter-departmental collaboration to save mothers and infants in Balochistan.

The challenge of controlling maternal mortality in Balochistan demands urgent, coordinated efforts to improve infrastructure, healthcare services, family planning, and education across the province.