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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.
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.
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
%.
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.
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