By Michael Gwarisa
Most women in Zimbabwe who die during childbirth do so due to delays in receiving appropriate and adequate care at health facilities.
Also known in medical terms as the “Third Delay,” this delay in accessing care is the leading cause of maternal mortality in rural areas.
Speaking at a recent meeting in Harare, Dr. Chipo Chimamise, the National Maternal Health Officer in the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) emphasized that poor-quality maternal care remains the primary driver of high maternal deaths in Zimbabwe.
95% of all maternal deaths are avoidable, and 86% are due to the Third Delay. In provinces that are predominantly rural, the Third Delay accounts for 78% of all maternal deaths,” said Dr. Chimamise.
She added that Zimbabwe’s severe shortage of skilled healthcare workers is leading to burnout and poor performance among medical staff.
“Human factors, including delays in patient assessment and management, clinical decision errors, gaps in knowledge and skills, poor judgment, and negative attitudes among healthcare workers, along with shortages of critical equipment, essential medicines, and consumables, are the main contributors to poor-quality maternity care at all levels,” she said.
Zimbabwe continues to struggle with high rates of pregnancy-related complications, which account for 72% of maternal morbidity and mortality in the country.
