During a broadcast on Birinchi Radio, obstetrician-gynecologist, head of the maternity department at the Perinatal Center of the National Center for Maternal and Child Health, Zhanail Aamiraeva, shared information about the factors contributing to the increase in maternal mortality in Kyrgyzstan, as well as possible measures to improve the situation.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, the rise in this indicator is not just a statistical fact, but a real tragedy that could have been prevented.
Aamiraeva noted that compared to the previous year, the situation has worsened. The main problem lies in insufficient prenatal and antenatal care. Many women do not register on time, which is also related to migration.
She explained: "70% of cases of maternal mortality are due to women not seeking medical help until their condition becomes critical." The specialist also emphasized the importance of quality medical care. It is necessary to conduct educational activities and training for obstetricians-gynecologists to improve their qualifications.
Aamiraeva also stressed that public awareness plays a key role. Many women do not realize the importance of pregnancy planning and the need for regular medical monitoring. She noted that it is important to register by the 12th week of pregnancy, as this already accounts for 80% of success in preventing maternal mortality.
Unfortunately, there are cases when women arrive at the hospital in critical condition. Aamiraeva spoke about situations where pregnant women come from remote areas, and their relatives only report symptoms that have been alarming for weeks—such as headaches, swelling, and vomiting—after hospitalization. Women sometimes stay at home for a long time without seeking help.
"Support from loved ones is of great importance. There are cases when a woman ends up in the hospital alone, and that is very sad," she added.
As part of antenatal care, surveys are also conducted that address issues of depression, domestic violence, as well as alcohol and drug use. Aamiraeva noted that women often do not understand the importance of prenatal monitoring, even though it has a direct impact on the health of both the mother and the child.
Additionally, she listed symptoms that pregnant women should pay attention to: severe vomiting, lack of appetite, pulling pains in the lower abdomen, headaches, "floaters" in front of the eyes, lack of urine, rapidly increasing swelling. These conditions should not be considered normal, and this year there have been cases of maternal mortality associated with severe vomiting in women who did not register and treated themselves.
According to Aamiraeva, when registering, a pregnant woman undergoes the necessary tests according to clinical protocols, which allows for the identification of at-risk groups and the initiation of appropriate treatment. She noted that some women, realizing the need for monitoring, still do not register, even having extragenital diseases such as heart or kidney diseases. This can be dangerous for their health, but they ignore doctors' recommendations and seek help only when it is too late.
