Determinants of Maternal Mortality of Somalia in the Period 1990 to 2012

ABSTRACT This study investigated the influence of gross domestic product per capita, total fertility rate and HIV/AIDS prevalence rate (termed as determinants) on maternal mortality of Somalia in the period 1990-2012. This model is dedicated from demographic transition theory-derived from modernization theory. Secondary data between 1990 and 2012 inclusive collected from the publications of United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) and World Health Organization (WHO) was used for this study. The trend of each of the above mentioned variables have also been examined in this study to show their movements and changes with the time. In order to determine the relationship between GDP per capita, total fertility rate, and HIV/AIDS prevalence rate as explanatory and maternal mortality ratio as dependent variable and the influence of independent variables on maternal mortality, the researcher used Pearson correlation coefficient and ordinary least square (OL.S) regression analysis with the help of STATA, versionl2, Line graphs were also used to examine the trends of the four research variables. The findings of this study showed that the trend of GDP per capita of Somalia in the study period is not predictable and there were fluctuations from time to time, GDP per capita of Somalia has experienced decreasing trend in three periods; from 1991 to 1992, 1999 to 2005 and from 2009-2012 while it has showed increasing trend in the periods; 1993-1998 and 2006-2008.The trend of the total fertility rate of Somalia in the period under, there were two equal and opposite trends. In the first decade (from 1990 up to 2000) an increasing trend while in the last decade (from 2001 to 2012) the trend was declining. In HIV/AIDs prevalence rate, there was generally rising trend of HIV/AIDs prevalence rate in Somalia in study period. The maternal mortality ratio of Somalia in the period 1990-2012 exposed increasing trend in the period covered by the study under consideration. Consequently the extent of maternal mortality ratio is as high as 978 deaths per 100000 live births. The study also showed that the explanatory variables (GDP per capita, TFR and HIV/AIDS ix prevalence rate) have strong relationship to the maternal mortality ratio as R2 coefficient of determination was found 81%. The study concluded that GDP per capita, TFR and HIV/AIDS prevalence rate have high influence on the maternal mortality and therefore, it is in line with the demographic transition theory. Based on the findings of this study, it is therefore, recommended that incomes of the population among them vulnerable groups should be elevated by giving microfinance to poor families, put forward policies to reduce fertility rate such as education and employment opportunities given to the women, and Community awareness campaign to be taken to warn people the ways that HIV/AIDS spreads.