AsiaCalling

Download Cambodia's maternal mortality rate is the second-highest in East Asia.

Every year, an estimated 2,000 women die during pregnancy, delivery and after birth, mostly due to heavy blood loss.

Many women, especially those in rural areas, do not have access to proper medical services.

But a newly launched series of advertisements being run in the country’s state-owned media is designed to improve the health of pregnant women.

Borin Noun visits a home in Posat Province, west of Phnom Penh, to look at why it’s needed.

This is the funeral of Khum Sophal in Sam Lab village, Porsat province.

A Buddhist ceremony is taking place as family members mourn over her dead body.

At the age of 33, she died after delivering her fifth baby.

The baby survived, but after losing lots of blood the mother did not make it.

Her husband, Keol Koeun, is grief stricken.

“When I returned from the field early morning, my wife was already dead. I’m so devastated. I asked her a couple of times to check her pregnancy but she always refused. I think she’s tired of having a lot of babies...It’s my fault...”

Sophal came down with malaria during her pregnancy. Malaria in pregnancy increases the risk of maternal anemia, spontaneous abortion and neonatal death.

But Sophal chose to check her pregnancy with a local midwife, not at a health clinic.

Oum Phay is her neighbour.

“When I asked her to go to a health clinic, she refused. She said she only believes midwives to deliver her babies. I was also helped by a midwife for a long time. But now she’s dead. It’s not just her family who grieves, we all do.”

Sun Tou was the midwife assisting the delivery of Sophal’s baby.

“I’ve never seen a case like her. I’m a famous midwife of the village here but I could not save her. She lost so much blood during the delivery. I feel very sorry about that.“

In Sam Lab village, there are no public or private health clinics. Pregnant mothers go to midwives for help even though many have never been formally trained.  

And there is little information available about how to have a healthy pregnancy.

It’s a situation that a new initiative being run on state-run radio and TV intends to change.

On the new TV and radio advertisements, women in rural areas are urged to get check ups at health clinics at least four times during their pregnancies.

And along the main roads, big banners display pictures of women receiving medical care – a drive to ensure more expecting mothers get a tetanus vaccine.

Kat Mom is the director of a health center in Cheou Tom district. He says more women need to visit health clinics to reduce the country’s high maternal mortality rate.

“Actually, local midwives can spark health risks for pregnant women. We want mothers to know about their own health condition during pregnancy. But sometimes we have difficulties we have no means of transports to reach pregnant women in rural areas.”

At this health center in the capital Phnom Penh, pregnant women are given detailed information about pre-natal health, while mothers are taught how to take care of their newborn babies.

At the clinic, women can meet with specialist doctors and nurses.

Sen Sang Hour comes from Kompong Cham province, 150 kilometers from the capital.

She just delivered her first baby here.

“I delivered my first baby here because I cannot rely on the village midwife. I’m terrified I might lose lots blood during the delivery. I’m very satisfied here.”

But with many Cambodians living on less than 1.25 US dollar a day, many women are too poor to pay for services at health clinics.

Chhea Saven is a villager from Kompong Spue province. She says she is worried about the health of her pregnant daughter because they can only afford to see the local midwife.

“If I go to a community clinic, I have to pay a lot of money. For me it’s difficult for us, poor women. I have to spend 25 US dollars for the clinics...it’s too much.”