Official: Mother deaths out of increase in Azerbaijan

By AzerNews

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Health has expressed its attitude to registered deaths among mothers and children in the country recently.

The Health Ministry's spokesman Anar Gadirli told reporters that the recorded facts of death among mothers and children are constantly being investigated by the Commission of assistance in child delivery of the ministry.

According to Gadirli, investigation of these issues requires a long time, as patient's condition, medical negligence cases and other similar questions are studied.

"Mainly, the cause of maternal deaths are related with their health problems," he said. "No facts on doctors` mistakes have been revealed yet. Investigation is carried out in connection with recent 3-4 cases. Investigation is implemented by the Commission of assistance in child delivery, medical examination is carried out. The question of which doctors has a mother attended for 9 months is cleared up."

Gadirli further noted that, the health ministry made ??official statements several times on television and press in connection with the facts of the death of mothers and children during the year.

"According to the latest statistics, the number of mother death has not increased. If the figure was 14 promille last year, the index does not exceed this year. We do not hurry to express particular position immediately after the registration of the death fact, and urge journalists not to fuss. There is medical examination, whilst doctors, or relatives of patients may say something emotionally. Only after full investigation a final decision and a statement can be made."

According to official statistics, only 26 women died during childbirth last year in Azerbaijan, most of which happened in the regions. The experts explain the fact with low level of public awareness and health service in rural areas.

Earlier the Health Ministry stated that approximately 15 women died out of 100,000 in 2012 compared to 34 women in 2007.

Maternal and infant mortality is a serious problem all over the world. Approximately 500,000 women die during childbirth each year. Some 49 women out of 100,000 die in neighboring Turkey, 30 in Armenia, 46 in Georgia due to childbirth or pregnancy related reasons.