On the air of Birinchi Radio, obstetrician-gynecologist and head of the maternity department at the Perinatal Center of the National Center for Maternal and Child Health, Zhanilai Amiraeva, discussed alarming trends in maternal mortality in Kyrgyzstan and possible measures to improve the situation.
According to Amiraeva, the statistics provided by the Ministry of Health indicate that the increase in maternal mortality is not just statistical data, but real tragedies that can be prevented.
She emphasized that the mortality rate has increased compared to the previous year, and one of the main reasons is the lack of prenatal and antenatal care. According to her, many pregnant women do not seek medical help in a timely manner, which is also related to migration.
“About 70% of maternal mortality cases are due to women not registering on time and seeking help too late, when the situation becomes critical,” the doctor explained.
Amiraeva also highlighted the importance of quality medical care, noting the need for continuous training and educational programs for obstetricians-gynecologists.
In addition, she pointed out the importance of informing the population. Many women do not realize how critical it is to plan a pregnancy and undergo regular examinations. She stated that it is unfortunate that many are unaware of the need to register by the 12th week of pregnancy, which accounts for 80% of success in preventing maternal mortality.
Unfortunately, she noted, there are cases where women arrive at the hospital in extremely serious condition, and medical assistance is already ineffective. She shared instances where pregnant women arriving from remote areas were at risk because their relatives reported alarming symptoms, such as headaches, swelling, and vomiting, only after hospitalization. Many of them remained without medical assistance for a long time, not seeking help.
“Family support is extremely important. There are moments when a woman finds herself in the hospital alone, and that is very sad,” Amiraeva noted.
She also spoke about conducting surveys as part of antenatal care, where questions are asked about depression, domestic violence, as well as alcohol and drug use. The doctor emphasized that many women do not understand the importance of prenatal care, which directly affects the health of both the mother and the child.
Amiraeva listed alarming symptoms that pregnant women should pay attention to, such as severe vomiting (more than 10 times a day), lack of appetite, pulling pains in the lower abdomen, headaches, “floaters” in front of the eyes, absence of urine, and rapidly increasing swelling. She stressed that such conditions should not be considered normal, and this year there were cases of maternal mortality where women died from severe vomiting because they did not register and treated themselves.
When registering, pregnant women undergo necessary tests according to the clinical protocol for antenatal care, which helps identify risk groups and initiate treatment. However, as Amiraeva noted, some women, aware of the need for monitoring, still do not register, even if they have extragenital diseases such as heart or kidney diseases. This can pose a serious threat to health, and unfortunately, they seek help when medical intervention can no longer assist.
