21 Jun 2015

Maternal mortality has been attributed to avoidable factors. However, Botswana has made progress in reaching the Millennium Development Goal five as maternal mortality has been reduced by 75 per cent since 1990.

Giving a presentation at the Botswana Health Partners Forum Annual Health review in Gaborone on June 17, Dr Doreen Ramogala-Masire from University of Botswana said root causes of maternal deaths in Botswana were mainly caused by patient, individual, task, team, environment and organisation factors.

She said patient or family factors, which caused maternal death include several pre-existing conditions in families, delay in seeking care, poor recognition of health problems and distance from health care facilities.

She noted that poor communication between colleagues in the same institution, which include doctors and nurses, within referral chain, colleagues of different specialities were also contributing factors to maternal deaths. 

She said although Botswana experience some mortality deaths, she was lucky compared to other countries as her mortality rate was not high compared to other countries in the region 

Dr Ramogala- Masire said some possible solutions to these could be provided including improving training at all levels, and that the Ministry of Health should formalise handovers and multi-disciplinary ward rounds so that officers should know their role and responsibilities and shared problem solving and enhancing perception of teamwork rather than blame their leaders.

Earlier, Dr Ponatshego Gaolebale from Princess Marina Hospital said it was disheartening that women were the most affected in particular young mothers at the age of 25 years. ENDS