This qualitative study conducted at District Lodhran, Punjab, Pakistan adopted a constructivist approach with an aim to investigate the social-cultural factors accelerating maternal mortality. The primary data was collected through in-depth interviews from 40 family members of deceased mothers and four focus group discussions, and the information for the secondary data pertaining to the victims of maternal death recorded in District Lodhran for the year 2016-17 was collected from the Health Department. The study concluded that there are various social and cultural practices, i.e. the practice of early marriages, repeated pregnancies with the wish of having a male child, treatment and living of pregnant women in the joint family system, and son’s preferences are the causative factors behind maternal mortality. The study recommends inculcation of awareness, especially among gestating women, regarding maternal health and associated factors, besides civil society’s measures for improvement and the government’s special attention towards the issue.

Gender inequality poses a challenge to the educational participation of teenage-girls in Jhelum Pakistan. This paper seeks to examine the complex factors underpinning and the extensive effects of gender inequalities in education within this area. The present study details various causes of gender inequalities as analyzed from a qualitative content analysis of various works, which include economic factors, social-cultural beliefs and practices; early marriage, lack of awareness, physical facilities, and gender biases. This study finds that all these factors work together to exclude girls from education and maintain poverty and non-advancement of socio-economic status. Finally, the discussion highlights the need to establish various strategies to address gender inequality, such as; community sensitization, increasing the percentage of girls education, finances, establishing safe school structures, and favorable laws on gender. The solution to these recommendations would help Jhelum move towards the right direction for giving teenage-girls equal education opportunities and better community.