Resumen : The acute economic crisis in Peru has deepened poverty and increased the unsatisfied demand for housing, health, and other services. 25% of Peru's 1993 population of 22,639,433 were women of reproductive age. Reproductive health problems of Peruvian women include a maternal mortality rate officially estimated at 303/100,000 live births, and widespread illegal abortion, which accounts for 30% of admissions to obstetrics and gynecology wards. 85% of maternal deaths are from direct causes. 23% result from hemorrhage, 22% from abortion, 18% from infection, and 17% from gestational hypertension. 15% of reported maternal deaths are in adolescents. The 1992 version of the National Plan to Reduce Maternal Mortality has not yet been approved. The Alan Guttmacher Institute estimates that 270,000 induced abortions occur each year, or 4 per 10 live births. Rural and poor urban women usually resort to untrained practitioners for abortion or try to induce abortion themselves, and their complication rates are high. Wealthier urban women seek abortion from physicians in 79% of cases and run a much lower risk of complications. It is estimated that half of women with complications are hospitalized. There were 54,000 hospitalizations for complications of induced abortion in 1989. 60% of Peruvian pregnancies are believed to be undesired, and half of undesired pregnancies end in induced abortion. The maternal-perinatal health program has set specific goals of reducing the maternal mortality rate from 303/100,000 to 220 in 1995 and less than 150 by the year 2000. The perinatal mortality rate is to be reduced from 30/1000 live births to 25 in 1995 and 15 in 2000. Service goals include increasing coverage of prenatal care to 75% in 1995 and 85% in 2000.
Notes : Español/espagnol/Spanish, nbsp;Abstract : Popline (http://db.jhuccp.org/popinform/basic.html) - PIP 110519