Protect the lives of pregnant women, rights groups urge

Women in Mali face high risks during pregnancy and childbirth, and about one in 19 die from pregnancy-related causes, the New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights reported on Wednesday. A third of deaths among women aged 15-49 were due to complications resulting from pregnancy and childbirth, according to the institution. Calling upon the government of Mali to protect the lives of pregnant women, the centre said that "the most visible cause of maternal mortality in Mali is the poor state of the health-care infrastructure, which leaves adequate obstetric care out of reach for many women, particularly those in rural areas". The centre, together with the Association des Juristes Maliennes (Association of Malian Jurists) released the findings in a report titled: "Claiming Our Rights: Surviving Pregnancy and Childbirth in Mali". "Concerted national and international efforts are key to addressing these shortfalls in health care and their destructive impact on Malian women's lives," Laura Katzive, legal adviser at the centre said. "Contributing to the needless loss of lives are daily denials of women's rights to reproductive self-determination and non-discrimination." Only one in four births is assisted by a skilled attendant, according to the report, which said "Mali's high maternal mortality ratio, estimated at 630 deaths per 100,000 live births, is a reflection of broader societal discrimination". It added: "Child marriage is common, with the median age of first marriage at 16.5 years. Female genital mutilation is practiced among 94 percent of women [and] denials of women's right to reproductive self-determination, including lack of access to family planning methods, undermine women's ability to space births and thus protect their reproductive health and lives." The rights groups recommended that Mali strengthen the capacity of its health care systems to deliver maternal health services, reform laws to ensure women's equality and reproductive self-determination and encourage women to claim their right to go safely through pregnancy and childbirth. The full report