Bangladeshi birth attendants

Women employed as Skilled Birth Attendants are dramatically helping to reduce the maternal death rate in Bangladesh. Their role has been highlighted after a 2022 government report revealed that 30 percent of Bangladeshi women give birth without the assistance of a medical professional.

Skilled Birth Attendants support women through their pregnancy. Following several months training, they're able not only to provide assistance with delivery, but also to screen women in the preceding weeks and months. Consequently, they can refer women with potentially risky pregnancies to hospitals based further away.

For the last five years, Nargis Akhter's been practising her skills as a Birth Attendant.

"We classify pregnant women first whether it's a normal pregnancy or a risky pregnancy. Then, if found risky, we tell them not to try for the delivery at home in any way, rather to go to the developed hospitals at Upazila level or district level. Sometimes, I take them to those hospitals myself."

According to the World Health Organisation, over the two decades they've been in place, the mortality rate for pregnant women has fallen to 123 deaths per 100,000 births, a decrease of 72 percent. Baby deaths have similarly dropped, to 20 per 100,000 births.

Abdullahel Maruf, a doctor and local health officer, is optimistic.

"And per year we are achieving 6 percent less maternal deaths. And if we follow this trend or a bit better, then we can surely achieve SDG [Sustainable Development Goal] in our scheduled time or tentative time by 2030."

A campaign to promote local health clinics to those living in remote areas has also had an impact. It recommends giving birth in the comparative safety of the clinics to help lower mortality rates.

Mafia, whose first baby didn't survive, has benefitted from the support of Nargis and the clinics, and now proudly holds her newborn.

"My first delivery was at home, by the midwives. They don't have all the facilities with them. They try their best with whatever they have. My first baby died because of time. If the delivery could have been made on time, maybe she would've survived." View Less