Child and Maternal Mortality
in Islamic Countries
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Countries like Bangladesh and Indonesia are facing significant environmental challenges due to
global warming81,82 – leading to flood, sea level rise – that may significantly affect their economic
growth and divert resources from health sectors. Similarly, conflict situations and other natural
disasters may adversely affect the progress of the OIC countries. All these may jeopardize their
progress towards achieving the SDG-3. Without an emergency saving and disaster plan, the
countries may not sustain and maintain developmental resilience.
4.2 Recommendations
Based on our extensive data analyses, reviews of documents, literature reviews, and in-depth
interviews of stakeholders in four case-study countries, we recommend the following:
Improve health system functioning and quality of care
Quality of care was identified as the most problematic and a major barrier in all countries by the
study informants. Accountability and strengthening leadership will be needed to improve the
health system and quality of care. Implementing and practicing standard operating procedures,
standardized recommended practices, and implementing harm-free, respectful practice
protocol will be needed for assuring high quality of care. The World Health Organization has
published a set of recommended standards for maternal, neonatal and child care practices.83-85
The countries should consider to train the health providers on these recommended practices
and establish a monitoring system for tracking the use of recommended practices at health
facilities on an ongoing basis.
Well-functioning facilities and efficient referral systems will be needed for handling life-
threating complications. Although physical accessibility was not identified as a major barrier by
the informants, in many settings ambulance availability and transportation remain a challenge
for EmOC. The countries must assess the transportation and referral situations and address the
challenges with innovative, cost-effective solutions. There will be also needed for accountability
and assurance of efficient supply-chain management for adequate supplies of life-saving drugs.
Improving access to the cesarean section is critical for reducing maternal mortality and
morbidities fromobstructed and prolonged labor. While many countries have very low cesarean
section rate (<5%), other countries are facing epidemics of cesarean section. In countries where
cesarean section rates are high, such as Bangladesh, there are needs to examine the causes of
the problem and address it through monitoring and enacting regulations.
There are a number of success stories for reducing maternal and child health that utilized
proven, effective strategies and interventions.86 The countries should examine the relevance of
these interventions, evaluate their effectiveness, and consider scaling-up cost-effective
programs. There is no single solution for all countries. We encourage the countries to explore
the best solutions for their needs, contexts and available resources.
Reduce inequity in maternal and child health care
A pervasive finding was the presence of high inequity in MNH care and a large disparity in
mortality risks among the poorest segments of the population. Just by the elimination of
socioeconomic inequity in lower SES populations, it possible to improve MNCH care utilization