Pakistan has third highest burden of maternal and children mortality across the globe. This grim situation is further intensified by flaws of planning and implementation set forth in health sector. Natural calamities (earth quakes, floods), disease outbreaks and lack of awareness in different regions of country also further aggravate this situation.

Pakistan’s maternal mortality ratio (MMR) has declined from 521 in 1990 to 332 (range, 250–433) in 2012, still far behind the proposed target of 130 by 2015. Complications of pregnancy and childbirth are the leading causes of death in women aged 15–45 years, accounting for 20% of the 8000 annual deaths among women of child-bearing age 3. There are also huge disparities in maternal mortality: the MMR in rural parts of Pakistan is almost twice that in urban areas (319 vs. 175), and there are also wide variations between provinces, MMR being lowest in Punjab (227) and highest in Baluchistan (785).

According to the Survey in 2019 Families in Pakistan are getting healthier according to the newly released 2017-18 Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS). The 2017-18PDHS is the fourth DHS survey conducted in Pakistan since 1990-91. The survey results, released today at a national seminar in Islamabad organized by NIPS, highlight major improvements in child survival and maternal health care, while progress has been slower in nutrition and family planning use among women.

On this occassion Ms. Nosheen Hamid parliamentary secretary of Minister of National health services express her views ” pakistan demographic and health survey 2017-18 provides important data on reproductive health, nutrients, family planning, disability, migration and violence against woman. It provides useful information for program managers to develop effective strategies and planning for maternal and child health initiatives. The survey highlights how much more work has to be done UN child and maternal health programs to make it more result oriented. It’ll help us to achieve PM Imran vision of healthy Pakistan by providing better health services to children and mothers. I welcome population surveyors, students, NGOs and other relevant departments to come forward by analyzing this data to develop and implement better health initiatives.

More children in Pakistan are surviving early childhood than ever before as under-5 mortality has sharply declined. Currently, the under-5 mortality rate is 74 deaths per 1,000 live births, a decline from 89 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2012-13. This means that approximately 1 in every 14children in Pakistan does not survive to their fifth birthday. Basic vaccination coverage has improved in Pakistan. Two in three children age 12-23 months have received all eight basic vaccinations, an increase from more than half of children in 2012-13. Basic vaccination coverage is lowest in Balochistan (29%) and highest in Punjab (80%).

Dr Ruth Lawson, Head of Basic Services at the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) stated, “The UK is proud to have partnered for the survey, as good data leads to evidence-based decision making both by the Government and development partners. I’m glad that this survey reports on disability as well, as DFID’s programmes are especially focused on leaving no-one-behind.”

Pakistan has one of the highest fertility rates in the region with an average of 3.6 births per woman. The use of family planning among married women has stagnated around 34% over the last five years. The unmet need for contraception remains high at 17%.More work needs to be done to improve the availability and choice of family planning information and services.

The 2017-18 PDHS was implemented by NIPS under the aegis of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations,and Coordination, Islamabad, Pakistan. ICF provided technical assistance through The DHS Program, a project funded by USAID that provides financial support and technical assistance in the implementation of population and health surveys in countries worldwide. Support for the survey was also provided by DFID and UNFPA.