Issue, 30, Safe Delivery, published on March 2007.

Safe Delivery

The birth of a newborn baby is a happy event, a time for joy and celebration. But in Cambodia giving birth to a new baby can be a traumatic and even dangerous event. Every day in Cambodia five women die from pregnancy and delivery-related complications.
The maternal mortality ratio in Cambodia is - at 472 for every 100,000 live births - one of the highest in the region.

A key reason for the high number of maternal deaths is the fact that the majority of Cambodians give birth at home, either alone or with a Traditional Birth Attendant. Only 22% of all births take place in a health facility. Giving birth without a skilled professional vastly increases the risk of death from complications, but Cambodian women are often too poor to afford to travel to a health facility and/or pay the high fees charged for delivery. Many retain traditional beliefs about giving birth and may not trust the health services available.

This issue of Health Messenger explores some of the reasons behind Cambodia's high maternal mortality ratio and gives technical advice on how to deliver a baby safely. Midwives will be able to update their skills, and learn new information, while for general health workers it offers tips on how to counsel and prepare pregnant women for labour and delivery.

Multitopic section: Articles on Cambodian referral system, Infection Control, IUD's and Health Care Waste.