Page 84 - GHES-3-1

Global Health Economics and
Sustainability

PERSPECTIVE ARTICLE
Impact of education, poverty, and demographic

background on maternal mortality, fertility, and
family planning in Pakistan

Talib H. Lashari*

Department of Population Welfare, Government of Sindh, Pakistan

Abstract

In recent decades, maternal mortality has significantly reduced on a global scale.
However, persistent inequities have undermined these advances in middle- and
low-income countries. Therefore, there has been a shift toward more inclusive
approaches, such as human capital formation. This perspective article analyzes
maternal mortality, fertility, and family planning outcomes in Pakistan, comparing
them with educational attainment, socioeconomic status, and demographics.
Academic editor: Pakistan’s maternal mortality rate among those with a rural background is 21% higher
Mihajlo Jakovljevic M.D. Ph.D. MAE than those with an urban background in the country. Historically, the country’s total
*Corresponding author: fertility rate (TFR) has been gradually declining, from 4.9 in 1990 – 1991 to 4.1 in
Talib H. Lashari 2006 – 2007, to 3.8 in 2012 – 2013, and to 3.6 in 2017 – 2018. However, there are
(technicaladvisor.cip@gmail.com)
stark disparities in TFR based on demographic background, education, and poverty.
Citation: Lashari T.H. (2025). Meanwhile, the contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) has remained stagnant for
Impact of education, poverty and
demographic background on the past two decades, largely due to inadequate initiatives in poverty reduction,
maternal mortality, fertility, and education, and rural development. Pakistan has committed to reducing maternal
family planning in Pakistan. Global mortality and fertility and increasing CPR under the International Conference
Health Econ Sustain, 3(1):76-82.
https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.2531 on Population Development, Family Planning 2030, and the recommendations
of Pakistan’s Council of Common Interest. Along with these goals, infrastructure
Received: December 26, 2023
development, in (interprovincial roads connecting rural and urban areas and
1st revised: April 3, 2024 alternative energy initiatives) presents promising prospects for economic growth,
2nd revised: May 9, 2024 poverty reduction, and increased employment opportunities. The paper concludes
that health service delivery measures cannot sustain improvements in maternal
3rd revised: May 19, 2024
health, fertility, and family planning indicators alone. Rather, a multipronged strategy
Accepted: May 27, 2024 focused on poverty reduction, education, and reductions in rural–urban disparities is
Published online: November 14, essential for sustained progress.
2024
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s). Keywords: Family planning; Maternal mortality; Fertility; Socioeconomic status;
This is an Open-Access article
distributed under the terms of the Education; Demographic background
Creative Commons Attribution
License, permitting distribution,
and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is
properly cited. 1. Introduction
Publisher’s Note: AccScience In recent decades, a remarkable reduction has been observed in maternal and child
Publishing remains neutral with mortality worldwide. For example, maternal mortality decreased by up to 38% from
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional 2000 to 2017. However, middle-income countries continue to lag behind in maternal,
affiliations. neonatal, and child health outcomes (PMNCH, n.d.).

Volume 3 Issue 1 (2025) 76 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.2531