JOIN USStriving to save mothers
Every minute, a woman dies in pregnancy or childbirth —this adds up to more t
han 10 million over a generation. Almost all of these women — 99 per cent — live and die in developing countries. A high maternal death rate is an indicator of an inadequate health care system, including those that offer poor and only limited access to health services. It also indicates that a woman's fundamental rights to life and health are being violated.
Yet the vast majority of maternal deaths could be prevented. In industrialised countries, deaths owing to pregnancy and childbirth are rare. The maternal death rate in East Asia and Latin America has also decreased — by as much as 50 per cent in some countries. But in Africa and South Asia, complications during pregnancy and childbirth remain the most frequent cause of death for women. In some countries the number is increasing. And when women suffer and die, children suffer and die also.
We know what it takes to save women's lives: universal access to contraception to avoid unintended pregnancies, access to skilled care during delivery, and rapid access to quality emergency obstetric care when required.
Current situation
Every year, 536,000 women die from pregnancy-related causes. This adds up to more than 10 million women over a generation. Every year, more than 1 million children are left motherless and vulnerable because of maternal death. Children who have lost their mothers are up to 10 times more likely to die prematurely than those who haven't.
The risk of a woman dying as a result of pregnancy or childbirth during her lifetime is about 1 in 7 in Niger and about 1 in 48,000 in Ireland. Nearly 10-15 million women a year suffer severe or long-lasting illnesses or disabilities caused by complications during pregnancy or childbirth. These range from obstetric fistula to infertility and depression.
The main reasons for maternal deaths are haemorrhage, infections, unsafe abortions, high blood pressure leading to seizures and obstructed labour.
Definition of maternal mortality
Maternal mortality is defined as the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days after termination of pregnancy from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or; its management. This includes death as a complication of abortion at any stage of pregnancy.
Contraception and unsafe abortions
*200 million women want to delay or avoid pregnancy but are not using effective contraceptives.
* One in three deaths related to pregnancy and childbirth could be avoided if women who wanted effective contraception had access to it.
*An estimated 19 million unsafe abortions take place each year in developing countries.
*Every year, an estimated 68,000 women die as the result of unsafe abortions and millions more suffer complications.
*About 90 per cent of abortion-related deaths and disabilities worldwide could be avoided if women who wished to had access to effective contraception.
*Skilled assistance and emergency obstetric care
*The number of maternal deaths is highest in countries where women are least likely to have skilled attendance at delivery.
*Worldwide, 62 per cent of births are attended by a skilled health worker. Almost all births in developed countries are attended.
*In less developed countries, the figure is 57 per cent. In least developed countries it falls to only 34 per cent.
*An estimated 35 per cent of pregnant women in developing countries do not have contact with health personnel prior to giving birth.
*In sub-Saharan Africa, where most maternal deaths occur, about 70 per cent have no contact with health personnel following childbirth.
*Mortality is highest during labour and the two days following a birth.
Benefits of action
No woman should die giving life. Ensuring access to voluntary family planning could reduce maternal deaths by a third, and child deaths by as much as 20 per cent. Ensuring skilled attendance at all births, backed by emergency obstetric care when needed, would reduce maternal deaths by about 75 per cent.
Not only do maternal health interventions work but they are also cost-effective. Saving a mother's life usually means saving the life of her newborn and that of her older children. Children who have lost their mothers are up to ten times more likely to die prematurely than those who haven't.
Poor women are far more likely to die during pregnancy, childbirth and afterwards. Poor families and individuals have less money and tend to live further from healthcare facilities. Tackling the problem of maternal death is a significant step towards poverty eradication.
Strategies to reduce maternal death and disability strengthen health systems to the benefit of all. Maternal health indicators are used to gauge health system performance in terms of access, gender equity and institutional efficiency. Investing in maternal health holds the promise of improving overall health service delivery.
Courtesy: Bangalore Birth Network
BangaloreBirth@gmail.com