KUALA LUMPUR: Health conditions associated with non-communicable diseases (NCD) have been found to be one of the most prevalent causes that contribute to the rising maternal mortality rate in Malaysia, says Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa.
She said a study conducted from 2019 to 2021 recorded the highest maternal mortality rate on a three-year average, mostly due to NCD-associated medical conditions and post-partum haemorrhage.
"Among mothers with NCD-associated medical conditions, more than 50% of deaths were due to heart diseases.
"In addition, obesity was the main risk factor found among maternal deaths due to pulmonary embolism after a caesarean section,” she said during her presentation at the 56th Malaysia Singapore Congress of Medicine which was held in conjunction with MyWomen International Congress 2023 here today (July 7).
Dr Zaliha said in order to reduce the maternal mortality rate, the Health Ministry has been strengthening the pre-pregnancy care (PPC) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment and prescribing thromboprophylaxis for pregnant women.
On another development, the minister said as of June, there have been 105,789 individuals who had undergone health screenings at Health Ministry facilities under the National Health Screening Initiative, a year into the programme since it was launched in July last year.
Interestingly, she said out of the 105,789 individuals, 58,441 or 55.24% of them are women, and it indicated better health-seeking behaviours among women nowadays.
"The number of women screened by state is more than 50% with Selangor having the highest screening rate (61.9%) while Penang has the lowest screening rate at 55.5%,” she added. - Bernama
