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 Amnesty International found that the majority of maternal deaths in
the country were avoidable, and said the main problems were late and
infrequent antenatal care and the fact that nearly one third of
pregnant women are living with HIV.
Delays in going to clinics until the later stages of pregnancy could
have grave consequences for pregnant women and girls, especially
those with HIV, the human rights group said.
South Africa's maternal mortality rate has risen dramatically since
2000 and currently stands at 269 deaths per 100,000 live births, far
higher than the rate of 38 which the government committed itself to
achieving by 2015, the report said.
Louise Carmody, co-author of the report Struggle For Maternal
Health, said people were worried about antenatal care due to a lack
of patient confidentiality, information about sexual health rights,
and transport to hospitals and clinics.
"Women and girls need to feel assured that their human rights will
be respected when they visit healthcare facilities," Carmody told
the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Some antenatal clinics used designated waiting areas and distinctive
medicine containers for women and girls living with HIV, the report
said.
Women and girls in South Africa told Amnesty that healthcare workers
often shouted out or inappropriately shared information about their
HIV and pregnancy status, which led to them being stigmatized by the
local community.
CHANGE IN MINDSET NEEDED
"There needs to be a change in mindset regarding confidentiality and
privacy among healthcare workers," Carmody aid in a telephone
interview from Johannesburg.
The report also found a widespread perception that the HIV test was
a mandatory part of antenatal care, which led many women and girls
to delay or avoid such care.
Several worried about finding out that they were living with HIV and
then having to tell their partner, risking abandonment and abuse.
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A shortage of information about sexual and reproductive health and
rights has had "devastating consequences" for South Africa, the
report said.
"It is contributing to a high rate of unplanned pregnancies,
particularly among girls, the spread of HIV and late access to
antenatal care," it said.
Most pregnant women and girls had to walk to their nearest clinic,
often an hour away, because of the lack of public transport,
according to the report.
The cost of a taxi or ambulance means that many women and girls
cannot afford to go to a clinic or hospital.
Carmody called on the government to address a range of factors
surrounding antenatal care.
"This is not just a health issue, there are also social, transport
and infrastructure factors that South Africa must consider.
"It is the responsibility of all government departments to work
towards a lasting solution for pregnant women and girls across the
country," Carmody added.
(Reporting By Kieran Guilbert, editing by Tim Pearce)
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