Child and Maternal Mortality
in Islamic Countries
29
A striking finding was the presence of large disparity between urban and rural areas in the rates
of skilled birth attendants during delivery and facility delivery in many OIC countries. In Chad,
61.7% of women in urban areas were delivered by a skilled provider, contrast to 17.4% in rural
areas. Such a large inequity was also observed in Guinea (82.5% women in urban areas were
delivered by an SBA, compared to 28.6% in rural areas), Mauritania (85.9%vs 29.1%), and Niger
(85.3% vs 24.1%). In Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Morocco,
Gambia, Senegal and Uganda, the rates of SBA in rural area were 20%-40% lower than the urban
area. Almost a similar pattern of disparity prevailed for the facility delivery rates. Lack of
availability and access to maternity care, poor transportation, lack of trained providers, low
education level of women, poorer socioeconomic status, low knowledge of life threatening
complications and cultural barriers are commonly cited factors that deter women from seeking
maternal care in predominately rural areas.31-33 Urban slum populations also face similar
barriers in accessing maternal care in many settings.34
Figure 2.11. Assistance during delivery from a skilled provider and births at a health facility
by urban-rural residence in selected OIC countries
Skilled Birth Attendance Delivery at a health facility
Data source: Demographic and Health Surveys