Pakistan experiencing 30,000 maternal deaths per
year and 420,000 under 5 child deaths per year is among the
six countries in the world which contribute to 50% of
maternal deaths (India, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, and
the Democratic Republic of the Congo are the other five).1
Maternal mortality ratio of 276 per 100,000 live
births in Pakistan [PDHS 07] has wide rural urban
difference (319 for rural and 175 for urban areas).2 In
addition to the well known rural-urban divide, differences in
terms of wealth quintile are quite striking. Adjusted
probabilities of deliveries by skilled provider are 25% for
poorest quintile and 63% for richest quintile.3 Under 5 child
mortality rate in Pakistan is 94 per 1000 live births,2 infant
mortality rate 69 per 1000 live births4 and neonatal
mortality rate 54 per 1000 live births,2 but what is striking
is the wide difference in mortality in terms of wealth
quintile (Figure-1).