Sci.Int(Lahore),25(1),119-122,2013 ISSN 1013-5316; CODEN: SINTE 8 119 RAMIFICATION OF COMPLICATIONS OCCURRING DURING PREGNANCY Aftab Ahmed 1 , Abid Ghafoor Chaudhry 2, Sajjad Hussain 3, M. Imran Afzal 4, M. Khurum Irshad 5 , Dr. Adeel Tahir 6 1 Anthropologist, Association of Social Development (ASD), Islamabad, 2 Dpt. Of Anthropology and Sociology, PMAS-AAU Rawalpindi, 3 Regional Development Network (RDN), Islamabad, 4 Peace Education and Development Foundation, Islamabad, 5 Association of Social Development (ASD), Islamabad, 6 Project Coordinator (MNCH) ASD, Islamabad 1 huda.aftab@gmail.com ABSTRACT: Objective. This sampled survey tries to answer the question “To find the pregnancy related complications rate among rural Women of Reproductive Age (WRA) during pregnancy in Village Shah Bollah”. Methods: Structured Questionnaire technique was implemented to collect information. This tool is focused on such question which helped to gather the information on the complications which occurred during pregnancy. The data was collected with the help of LHW after taking verbal consent of targeted females. Results: 75.3% (N=73) of the respondents used Hospital facilities for their last delivery. 11% vaginal bleeding, 20% anemia, 15% severe abdominal pain, high grade fever 7%, 18% severe headache, only 2% loss of consciousness, swelling of lower limbs was recorded 12%, fast heart beat 8% and child does not move responded by 7% was recorded during pregnancy (N=73). Conclusion: The effectiveness of social mobilization and attitudinal change towards safe birthing strongly correlates with the intensive efforts carried out by Government and Line Departments which surely has led to bring a change in traditional mind sets of intended beneficiaries in rural areas. Key words: Complications, Pregnancy, LHW, Delivery, WRA INTRODUCTION There are an estimated 4 million neonatal deaths and 500,000 maternal deaths worldwide each year [1,2]. The vast majority of these deaths occur in developing countries, where 43 percent of births are attended by traditional birth attendants, the proportion generally being higher in rural areas. Training traditional birth attendants was a central component of the Safe Motherhood Initiative launched by the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children’s Fund (also known as UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund, the World Bank, and other organizations, but the lack of evidence from randomized, controlled trials to inform decision making has prohibited widespread implementation of such training [3,4]. Complication during pregnancy and after pregnancy is globally accepted terminology in health sector. Awareness about pregnancy complications was improved after the implementation of Government and Line Department Projects (LHW Program and MNCH program) at ground level. Media role is no doubt did successful effort to spread awareness at local level. Globally, every minute, at least one woman dies from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth – that means 529 000 women a year. In addition, for every woman who dies in childbirth, around 20 more suffer injury, infection or disease – approximately 10 million year [5]. women each Most maternal deaths are avoidable as the health care solutions to prevent or manage the complications are well known. This includes well-functioning health system that provides accessible and high quality care from household to hospital level. Egyptian health officials have long been concerned about the country's preventable maternal deaths, with good reason. According to Egypt Demography and health Survey, slightly more than one quarter of Egyptian pregnant women do not receive antenatal care. However, among those who receive antenatal care only one third of them received advised about signs of obstetric complications and where and when to seek medical assistance [6]. Organized data on routine health outcomes do not exist in rural Pakistan. The World Health Organization’s estimate of maternal mortality in Pakistan (350 per 100,000 live births in 1995) was modeled from projections of deaths of adult females [7]. In Pakistan, more than 89 percent of deliveries, and 80 percent of maternal deaths, occur at home, and 80 percent of deliveries are attended by only a traditional birth attendant [8,9]. Only 1 in 20 women with complications of pregnancy or childbirth reaches a facility with emergency obstetrical care. Infant mortality is estimated at 82 per 1000 live births [10]. Global attention to maternal health and safe motherhood has grown significantly in the past decade. Reproductive health problems account for more than a third of the total burden of disease of women aged 14-44, compared with only 12% for men. The WHO estimates that half a million women die annually from pregnancy-related causes and that 99% of these deaths occur in developing countries [11]. In Pakistan, the recently reported maternal mortality ratio (MMR) is 340/100,000 live births as compared to 13/100,000 for developed countries [12]. The Maternal Mortality Survey in three provinces of Pakistan conducted by The Aga Khan University had indicated a range of MMR from as low as 281 in Karachi to 673 in Khuzdar, Baluchistan [13]. This gap in pregnancy related deaths between developing and developed countries signify the disparity in human development index. The huge toll of morbidity resulting from neglected or inadequately managed obstetric complications is far greater than mortality, often leading to