Low birth weight cases have been alarming in Malindi and Magarini districts.
Malindi and Magarini district medical health officer Joan Karanja said yesterday the cases have been increasing each year.
She said that in 2010--2011, 396 cases were reported while in 2011--2012, 596 cases were reported. The medical officer said Magarini district is the most affected.
“The numbers are worrying because they keep on increasing each year,” said Karanja. “People have been attributing the problem to the salt firms but we are soon launching a research to find out the real cause,” she added.
Karanja, however, said lack of antenatal visits may lead to underweight births. “Most women do not visit the clinics to get advice on how best to take care of their unborn babies,” she said.
Karanja said maternal mortality rates are a result of bleeding.She said most bleeding cases are a result of traditional practices where a woman is massaged by an unqualified traditional birth attendant.
“Most women prefer to be massaged so that they can give birth without pain. Unfortunately this is dangerous to the mother and the baby,” said Karanja. “Bleeding is a major cause of deaths in mothers and unborn babies. For instance 10 out of 19 deaths are a result of bleeding,” she said.
The massage, she said in most cases leads to injuring the womb and the baby. “These massaging in most cases hurts the baby to death,” she posed.
She also said that infections during pregnancy can lead to bleeding. She called on women to visit clinics and to avoid being attended in homes.
Karanja however, attributed lack of hospitals to the problem. “There are no enough hospitals in this area. Women walk for 17-20 km in search for hospital. In most cases there is no means of transport,” she said. She called on well-wishers to put up hospitals.
