Issue investigator chap 6-8 Maternal Mortality

There are many definitions to what is or what constitutes maternal mortality but I will use the WHO definition in my entry.

Maternal mortality is the death of a woman during or shortly after a pregnancy. Most of these deaths are medically preventable as the treatments to avoid these deaths are known and available since the 1950's. "maternal mortality is a sentinel event used to assess the quality of a health care system." (wikipedia)

A 2010 research by, U. of Washington and U of Queensland Brisbane Austraila, estimated global MM in 2008 at 342,900 (down from 526,300 in 1980). It also determined that 99% occurred in the developing world where 85% of the population lives. Reducing the MM rate by 3/4's is part of the Millennium Development Goals for the UN.

According to WHO the causes are:
*25% Severe bleeding/hemorrage
*13% Infection
*13% Unsafe abortions
*12% Eclampsia
*8% Obstructed labour
*8% Other direct causes
*20% Indirect causes
"indirect causes such as malaria, anaemia, HIV/AIDS, and cardiovascular disease complicate pregnancy or are aggrevated by it."


Maternal Mortality Ratio(MMR) is the ratio of the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. If we look at the MMR we can measure the quality health care of a particular country.

According to Central Asia Health Review:
MMR Country
2,000 Sierra Leone
1,900 Afghanistan
0 Ireland
4 Austria
13.3 U.S

According to WHO in 2003 the world average was 400 per 100,000, for developed countries 20, for developing countries 440. The numbers of MM are decreasing. The reason for the decline is mostly due to improved asepsis(freedom from disease-causing contaminants or, preventing contact with microorganisms), fluid management and blood transfusion, and better prenatal care.

How we can continue to decrease maternal deaths is for women to have access. Access to health care, family planning services, emergency obstetrics care, intrapartum care and funding.

Why don't women get the care they need? There are many reasons why women don't get the care they need before, during, and after childbirth. Some reasons include: services aren't available, they can't afford them or reaching them are to costly, and some don't like the quality of care offered. Cultural beliefs or the low status of women can also be a barrier.

Kristof and WuDunn have been very consistent in stating that we need to change reality rather than changing laws. What I really liked was how women in sub-Saharan Africa have been taught medical procedures in order to help save the lives of women.

There are ways to eradicate MM and each and every step taken to do so helps to alleviate the unnecessary suffering that occuring every minute of every day.