How Kenya can lower deaths tied to C-section deliveries

Caesarean sections (C-section) or surgical delivery is recommended for mothers considered to be at risk of certain complications that may harm them. A study published in the Lancet Global Health Journal shows maternal deaths following C-sections are 50 times higher in Africa compared to high-income countries. According to the researchers, the findings highlight the urgent need for improved safety of surgical deliveries in African countries like Kenya. Dr Marleen Temmerman, a gynaecologist and Head of the Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, notes that a key step to averting maternal deaths is to ensure that mothers are monitored throughout their pregnancy. This will enable doctors to detect complications.