Childbirth in Iraq

Maternal mortality is a much debated figure in Iraq. In 2010 the CIA World Factbook reported maternal mortality at 63 deaths/100,000 births.[2] Iraq's Ministry of Health and the WHO reported in 2011 the maternal mortality rate at 84 death per 100,000 births. That would categorize Iraq as one of the 68 countries that account for 97% of the maternal and child deaths globally.[3] In 2013 the two organizations were divided on the issue with the WHO reporting maternal mortality at 64 deaths per 100,000 and Ministry of Health reporting 25.[4]

In 2014 total infant mortality in Iraq was reported 37.53 deaths/1,000 live births: male: 41.57 deaths/1,000 live births and female: 33.28 deaths/1,000 live births.[5]

In 2009, the United Nations reported that in Iraq abortion was only permitted to preserve a women’s life. It was not allowed in the case of rape or incest, to preserve a women’s physical or mental health, for economic or social reasons, or on request.[7]

In 2011, 74% of recorded births in Iraq took place in a hospital or birth center, 79% of urban births and 67% of rural births.[17]

In 2011, 89% of births in Iraq were attended by a skilled birth attendant.[18] Sixty percent were attended by a public or private doctor and 28% were attended by a nurse-midwife or certified midwife.[19] Traditional birth attendants, called jiddas, attended 10% of the births.[20] For hospital births, no family members are allowed to accompany the women into the hospital.[21] For a home birth, a women's mother or sister is often present [22]

Women in Iraq generally expect that there will be pain with labor and delivery. An absence of pain is often interpreted as a poor progress in labor. Epidurals are not commonly used in public hospitals in Iraq.[23]

In 2006, 20% of recorded births in Iraq were via Caesarean section.[24] The rate was higher in private hospitals and the likelihood increased with a woman's age and education level [25]

A recent report found that only 20% of newborns in Iraq are exclusively fed breast milk for the first six months.[26] There is often pressures to switch to formula feeding, though this can be unsafe in a country such as Iraq where clean drinking water is not always available.[27]

Female circumcision is controversial in Iraq. While it is not widespread throughout the country, it is still common practice in Iraqi Kurdistan.[28] The decision to perform female circumcision is often made by the mother or grandmother on religious, social, or purity grounds.[29] Negative consequences to the child's health include bleeding, sepsis, shock, psychological disorders, obstetrical complications, and urogenital problems.[30] In 2010 the United Nations released a report that placed the prevalence of female genital mutilation at 78% of women in Kurdistan.[31] A more recent survey of 1,508 women in Kurdistan recorded a prevalence of 23% of women, with the mean age at which it performed being 4.6 years old.[32] Traditionally the procedure is performed at home by a midwife, traditional birth attendant, or relative. In 2011 a law was passed which made female circumcision illegal in Iraqi Kurdistan[33]