Dampong-Ashanti, Dec. 29, GNA 96 Asante-Akim South District Hospital at Juaso recorded three maternal deaths this year as against eight last year.

Mrs Agnes Buabeng, Senior Nursing Officer in-charge of Maternity at the hospital, said the deaths could have been prevented but for a combination of some factors that required extensive educational campaign among women.

She said these were refusal of pregnant women to attend antenatal clinic early and the delay in referring complicated cases to health facilities by Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs). Mrs Buabeng was addressing the closing session of a sensitisation workshop organised by the Antenatal Care Section of the Asante-Akim South District Health Directorate on Safe Motherhood for some selected communities at Dampong near Asankare.

The communities included Krofa, Morso, Nkwanta, Amanfrom, Bokro, Asuboi, Banka, Tokwai-Asuboi and Gyadam.

The workshop formed part of efforts by the health directorate to reduce the rate of maternal mortality in the district and the need to pursue effective preventive measures to arrest the situation. Mrs Buabeng noted that although there had been reduction in the rate, it was imperative for stakeholders to collectively find a lasting solution to the problem.

She said attending antenatal clinic during early stage of pregnancy would enable nurses to identify high risk mothers and guide them against complications during labour.

Mrs Buabeng said women who had given birth to more than five children and those pregnant for the first time were most prone to complications and urged such women to attend antenatal clinic regularly in their own interest.

Nana Yaw Okyere, Krontihene of Dampong called for the institution disciplinary measures to deter TBAs from defying ethics of their profession.

He expressed appreciation to the health directorate for initiating measures to reduce maternal mortality and appealed to the women to adhere to the advice.