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The 2015 targeted maternal mortality ratio is 43.5 deaths for every 100,000 live births, while the national ratio in Egypt is projected to be 21.3 deaths for every 100,000 live births by 2015. If Egypt maintains its current rate of declining maternal mortality, it will decline more than the targeted ratio at the national level with a few regional exceptions: Dakahliya, Sharkia, Kalyoubia, Beni Suef, Minya and Aswan.
The governorates of Sharkia, Kalyoubia, Beni Suef, and Minya are not expected to achieve this MDG target due to inequality in the distribution of medical services. In these governorates, there are 2.6–3.2 hospitals and health units for every 100,000 persons and the number of Ministry of Health and Population physicians ranges between 3.7–5 doctors for every 10,000.
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In addition, hospitals and health units are concentrated in urban areas within these governorates.
High rates of illiteracy among women (ranging between 44.7 percent and 55.4 percent) also lead to low levels of health awareness, contributing to high maternal mortality rate.
Births attended by skilled health personnel increased by an average annual rate of 3.4 percent during the two periods 1992–1997 and 2000–2005. If this rate continues, Egypt will come close to achieving the 2015 target for this indicator. It is worth mentioning that the rate of increase in the number of births attended by skilled health personnel took a leap of 9.2 percent between 2000 and 2005 due to tangible efforts exerted in this area.
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