DUSHANBE, March 10, Asia-Plus — The situation regarding infant and maternal mortality rates in Tajikistan remains complex.
In 2006, 152,928 babies were born in Tajikistan (22 per 1,000 of the country’s population), which is 2.3 percent more than in 2004, when 149,467 babies were born in the country, Shamsiddin Qurbonov, the head of the family planning department of the Ministry of Health (MoH) said.
According to him, despite a considerable decline in an infant mortality rate in the country, “it still remains one of the highest among the CIS states.” “During last year, 2,547 babies under one year died in Tajikistan, which 1.66 percent of a total number of babies born last year,” Qurbonov said.
“Infant mortality in 2006 was attributable above all to acute respiratory infection and intestinal infection diseases,” said the MoH official, adding that only 10 cases of death of influenza were officially registered last year.
Qurbonov noted that 20 percent of babies born in 2006 have congenital abnormality. According to him, one in 12 children dies, not reaching the school age.
He said that maternal mortality has increased in Tajikistan. “In 2006, 81 women died during the period from conception to 42 days after deliveries,” Qurbonov said, noting that it is 21 cases more than in 2005.
In 2006, the major causes of maternal death were: hemorrhages (26 cases), eclampsia, post-natal infections (3 cases), embolia (10 cases) and abortions (2 cases).
The rate of home deliveries remains high in Tajikistan. According to Qurbonov, 57,000 deliveries took place at homes in 2006.
Shamsiddin Qurbonov also said that 4 pregnant women died in Tajikistan in January 2007.
