PNG: High maternal mortality, seeks NZ assistance
21 September 2009
New Zealand Press Association
Papua New Guinea obstetrician Gunzee Gawin wants New Zealand to fund and train health workers to help the Pacific nation curb its staggering maternal death rate. PNG has one of the highest maternal death rates in the world .
The risk of a woman dying in childbirth in PNG is one in 20, compared with one in 10,000 in New Zealand, Dr Gawin said.
"Three years in Australia I didn't see any single maternal death, I've been two years back home and I've already seen 15.'' Dr Gawin gave an example of one hospital with an average of 40 deliveries a day and a daily staff of two or three midwives.
The high maternal death rate was due to a high fertility rate, low access to contraception, a high rate of teenage pregnancy, limited access to healthcare and male dominance, he said.
"Teenage pregnancies are very high and a huge proportion of the maternal deaths are teenagers, between 10 to 20 (years-old), in trying to abort unwanted, unplanned pregnancies and are dying,'' Dr Gawin told NZPA.
Male dominance in making decisions was also a problem, he said.
"A lot of the times, the woman wants to go to the hospital and the man says no and they stay home and then complications arise and the wife dies and the husband lives, it's quite unfair.''
The number of midwives and doctors trained to deal with childbirth in PNG was "very, very low'', Dr Gawin said. "We have the facilities there but it's not manned.''
Another problem is many people can not afford to travel to hospital, or do not know to go, he said. Dr Gawin wanted New Zealand to help PNG train and retain midwives and doctors. That could include a stint working or training in New Zealand and increased remuneration.
"We have this problem where we train people and they are so qualified to go and work in Australia or New Zealand that they leave, or some go to the private sector because its more lucrative.''
A midwife in PNG earns about $NZ150 a fortnight, Dr Gawin said. It is not much for "a lot of work'' and it is obvious why many move offshore, he said.
Dr Gawin has had to buy some work equipment with his own money because the Government cannot. NZPPD chairwoman, and National MP, Jackie Blue said PNG had a "massive problem'' with its maternal death rate and there was an "urgent need'' for improved family planning and healthcare access.
"Lots of teen pregnancies and being pregnant as a teenager in PNG is clearly not good...girls up to the age of 14 are five times more likely to die in childbirth, between 15 and 19 it's twice as likely.''
Like any health system, the workforce was the most important aspect, Dr Blue told NZPA. Problems of retaining staff, particularly in remote areas, was also an issue in New Zealand.
Asked how the Government would help PNG overcome a problem they had not solved here yet, Dr Blue said people had suggested various solutions. Increased remuneration and rotating staff through New Zealand were two of those, she said.
As well as Dr Gawin and his Pacific colleagues, the NZPPD will hear from others including the United Nations, the Pacific Society for Reproductive Health, the International Planned Parenthood Federation, World Vision and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. After hearing all submissions the NZPPD will make a recommendation to the Government.
