INTRODUCTION
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Ethiopia is
the third most populous country in Africa, with a population
of over 70 Million. The population is growing rapidly at rate
of 2.7% per annum and it is expected to double in less than 23
years. Females accounts for about half (35 million) of the
total population out of which about 17 million are in the
reproductive age group indicating that there is such a large
women population who need comprehensive Reproductive Health
services.
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The women enter into union at a
very young age. The median age at first marriage for the country
is estimated at 16 years. About 75% of young women marry by the
age of 17; this is particularly true for the rural areas.
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The country’s
health indices are among the poorest in Africa. Maternal
mortality, which is one of the highest in Africa, is estimated
to be 871 per 100,000 live births (Ministry of Health, 2000).
The health care coverage is around 50%, Infant Mortality Rate
(IMR) 98/1000 live births These figures are presumed to
underestimate the existing scenario as most of the deliveries
occur at home (90%), that is, only 10% of the deliveries are
supervised .The institutional delivery coverage is on average
not more than 5%. Antenatal care coverage is 29% and
post-natal attendance is 6-7%. This low attendance rate has a
significant influence on newborn care. The Total Fertility
Rate has gone down from 7 to 5.8 children per woman but still
it is very high. There appears to be a rising trend in the
contraceptive prevalence rate. Although some regions performed
well, the national average is 17.2%. The Tetanus Toxoid (TT2)
vaccination coverage for pregnant women is 29 %. |
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High fertility
profile of the Ethiopian woman and the prevailing high-risk
fertility characteristics expose the woman to repeated risks of
unnecessary death. The major contributing factors for the high
maternal mortality rates are mainly low socio-economic status
among women; excessive workload coupled with poor nutrition and
poverty. Other important factors are; the level of education, lack
of mobility, poor communication, and inadequate political
commitment to health care in general and inequitable access to
health cares in particular.
Limited and
inadequate skilled staff, equipment, supplies and drugs and
inefficient health referral system compounded by poor utilization
of maternal services and lack of appropriately skilled health
personnel has resulted in the unacceptably high maternal and
newborn mortality and morbidity.
