Zimbabwe Hospital Charges Women $5 Every Scream During Childbirth

A hospital in Zimbabwe charges pregnant women $5 every time they scream during childbirth, a latest report by Transparency International (TI) reveals.

The hospital authorities claimed that this bizarre practice was a part of charging people who raised "false alarms." The report by the organization that works to curb global corruption further stated that if women failed to give the penalty amount or other fees, they were detained at the hospital until they paid the full amount.

The report was published in TI's biennial issue of 'Global Corruption Barometer.'

Zimbabwe's expecting mothers prefer birth at home that often proves fatal. At least eight women die every day during delivery in the country, statistics released by United Nations revealed. In a  country where the average annual income is $150, pregnant women are charged not less than $50 for deliveries.

The TI report found that Zimbabwe was one of the most corrupt countries. The report also stated that nearly 25 percent of the world's population was involved in bribery last year that also included police and courts.

Transparency International's Zimbabwe branch notified officials about the hospital imposing fine for the screaming mothers during delivery. After not getting any response, lawyers with TI informed the ministry and met Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe. He then told the Minister of Health to investigate the matter.

"Since then TI Zimbabwe has received no further complaints from women in the area, and has remained in close contact with local residents to ensure that this situation is not reversed," TI wrote in a report titled Captive Mothers.