Maseru
Lesotho continues to grapple with a harrowing reality, it ranks third among countries with the highest maternal mortality rates in the Southern African Development Committee (SADC) region.
This, was disclosed by Blandinah Motaung, a sexual reproductive health rights coordinator with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) at the Capacity–building workshop focused on the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Maseru on Tuesday.
She reported that approximately 566 out of every 100 000 live births result in maternal death, placing Lesotho among the world’s worst performers.
Motaung explained that the causes of these maternal deaths are varied, including hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders, infections and other medical conditions that can complicate pregnancy and childbirth.
She noted that many of these deaths occur among first-time mothers.
To combat this crisis, healthcare professionals and policymakers in Lesotho are implementing several strategies:
- Improving access to prenatal care and obstetric services, particularly in rural areas where such services are scarce.
- Educating women about pregnancy and childbirth risks, emphasizing the importance of seeking prompt medical attention for complications.
- Addressing socio-cultural and economic factors such as poverty, lack of education and gender inequality that contribute to maternal mortality.
Despite these efforts, Motaung emphasized that maternal mortality in Lesotho remains a stubborn issue. A key challenge is the affordability of health services and supplements.
Many women, particularly in rural areas, struggle to afford medical treatment, delaying their access to necessary care until it’s too late.
While antenatal care is free in public hospitals, transportation to these services poses a significant challenge. Lesotho’s mountainous terrain and poor road networks hinder timely access to healthcare facilities, especially in emergencies. Additionally, some women cannot afford transportation costs.
Cultural practices and beliefs also interfere with timely medical assistance. Traditional birth attendants, widely used in rural areas, often lack the necessary skills to handle emergencies, leading to complications.
Furthermore, the absence of a regulatory body in health facilities allows unauthorized medical practice in some areas.
These barriers, combined with inadequate healthcare infrastructure, make it difficult for Lesotho to reduce its high maternal mortality rate.
However, with continued efforts and investment in healthcare and education, progress is possible.
Maseretse Ratia, a Young People and Adolescents Analyst, highlighted the pressing issue of teenage pregnancy in Lesotho. She revealed that 19% of teenage girls in Lesotho are pregnant, with 3% being under the age of 15.
Alarmingly, 40% of these pregnancies occur among 19-year-olds, indicating a concerning trend. Ratia cited 26 births per quarter to girls under 15, underscoring the problem’s magnitude.
The analyst also noted the adolescent fertility rate in Lesotho, revealing a substantial number of young girls becoming mothers before they are fully prepared, sometimes resulting in newborn deaths.
She pointed out that child marriage is a significant factor, with 24% of children under 18 married, according to 2016 census data. “Child marriage not only violates children’s rights but also contributes to early pregnancy, limiting educational and economic opportunities for young girls,” she said.
Mathato Nkuatsana from the Ministry of Health added that a lack of comprehensive sexual education exacerbates the high rates of teenage pregnancy, she explained that many young people in Lesotho are not adequately informed about sexual health and contraception, leading to misinformed and risky decisions.
Nkuatsana observed that cultural taboos and parental discomfort with discussing sexual health leave young people to seek information from unreliable sources or personal experiences, which can be dangerous.
