The Jaman South District in the Brong-Ahafo Region recorded 266 abortion cases in 2013.
Out of the 266 cases, 70 were induced, and 196 spontaneous, the District Public Health Nursing Officer, Mrs Christiana Akua Afriyie, disclosed at the Annual Performance Review (APR) Meeting of the District Health Services Directorate at Drobo on Monday.
The meeting was to assess the performance of the Directorate, identify areas that needed improvement, and to plan for better health services delivery this year.
Mrs Afriyie said the cases were handled at the Drobo Saint Mary’s Catholic Hospital and other health facilities within the district.
She, therefore, appealed to health personnel and the general public to assist in promoting the use of female condoms in the district for the prevention of unwanted pregnancies and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).
Mrs Afriyie said cases of maternal mortality from 2008 to 2013 were three, two, eight, five and eight respectively, adding that the district recorded 3,089 delivery cases through Caesarean operation, during the year under review.
She gave the assurance that keen components of ‘Safe Motherhood Programme,’ such as safe abortion, ante-natal and post-natal care, would be pursued vigorously in the district.
Administrative Officer at the Saint Mary’s Hospital, Mr. Frank Kpoh, reported that eight maternal mortality cases were recorded at the facility, and explained that all the deaths were malaria-related cases involving pregnant patients who were brought to the hospital very late.
The District Director of Health Services, Madam Grace Vire,traced some of the causes of maternal mortality to erratic ante-natal care, still-birth, miscarriage, protruding complications and self-medication practices, such as taking concoction or un-prescribed drugs.
Source: GNA