Health 1 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
High Neonatal Deaths in Kigezi Region Linked to Home Births and Herbal Remedies
Neonatal mortality is surging in Kabale and Rubanda districts due to mothers skipping antenatal care, delivering at home with traditional birth attendants, and using herbs to induce labor. Health officials report 132 infant deaths in the second half of last year and urge facility-based deliveries to curb the trend. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/why-neonatal-deaths-are-rampant-in-kigezi-region-5409836
Neonatal deaths are alarmingly high in Uganda’s Kigezi region, particularly in Kabale and Rubanda districts. Health workers blame this on pregnant women avoiding antenatal clinics and opting for home deliveries assisted by traditional birth attendants (TBAs).
Between July and December last year, 132 neonatal deaths were recorded in these areas, with Kabale alone losing about 100 infants due to missed antenatal visits and late arrivals at health centers during labor. Officials warn that without change, the toll could hit 200 by year’s end.
Key causes include herbal labor induction, poor fetal positioning, post-term pregnancies, infections, and birth defects. Rubanda reported 32 neonatal and one maternal death in the same period.
The 2022/2023 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey highlights Kigezi’s maternal mortality at 541 per 100,000 live births, exceeding the national average of 336, due to home births, substandard facilities, and scarce skilled care.
Kabale health educator Alfred Besigensi urges early antenatal attendance and hospital deliveries. Rubanda DHO Dr. Abdon Birungi stresses ultrasound scans for fetal checks and bans TBA use, noting 25% of local births occur at home.
“Antenatal services are vital for mother and baby health,” Dr. Birungi said, calling for proper screenings to assess baby size and position.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)