scholarly journals Universal Maternal Rights: A Matter of Life and Death

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alicia Ryan

Childbirth has been a part of our lives since the beginning of time. Without the process none of us would be alive today. So why is it that maternal mortality remains one of the greatest inequities in the world? To date, approximately 500, 000 women die annually due to the lack of appropriate prenatal and obstetric care. Difficulties arising with childbirth cannot be predicted. However, the way in which we react to a situation can have a lasting, positive effect on the countries and the women who are at risk. The ways in which to help reduce the large number of maternal deaths in developing countries is not complicated and can be achieved if it is made a priority. In conclusion, there are multiple obstacles in regard to succeeding the highest achievable standard of health globally.  With the education of evolving scientific methods, and the collaboration of humanitarian views, the welfare and health of women and their children, can be internationally restored. With the education of evolving scientific methods, and the collaboration of humanitarian views, the welfare and health of women and their children, can be internationally restored.

2009 ◽  
Vol 16 (01) ◽  
pp. 135-138
Author(s):  
TASNIM TAHIRA REHMAN ◽  
MAHNAZ ROOHI

Objective: To find out maternal mortality ratio (MMR) and to determine major causes of maternal death. S t u d y d e s i g n:A descriptive study. Setting: Department of Obstetric and Gynaecology, Allied Hospital, Faisalabad. S t u d y period: From 01.01.2008 to31.12.2008. Materials a n d m e t h o d s : All cases of maternal death during this study periods were included except accidental deaths. Results:There were 58 maternal deaths during this period. Total No. of live births were 5975. MMR was 58/5975 x 100,000 = 970/100,000 live births.The most common cause of maternal death was hemorrhage (34.5%) followed by hypertensive disorders/eclampsia (31%). Most of thepatients (75.86%) were referred from primary & secondary care level. C o n c l u s i o n : Maternal mortality is still very high in underdevelopedcountries including Pakistan. We must enhance emergency obstetric care (EOC) to achieve the goal of reduction in MMR.


Author(s):  
Sasmita Behuria ◽  
Jyoti Narayan Puhan ◽  
Subhra Ghosh ◽  
Bhabani Sankar Nayak

Background: Pregnancy, although being considered a physiological state, carries risk of serious maternal morbidity and at times death. This is due to various complications that may occur during pregnancy, labor, or thereafter. The major causes of maternal mortality are mostly preventable through regular antenatal check-up, proper diagnosis, and management of labor complications. Therefore, the factors at different levels affecting the use of these services need to be clearly understood. The aim is to study the incidence of MMR, assess the epidemiological aspects, causes of maternal mortality and avoidable factors that can prevent maternal deaths.Methods: A retrospective hospital-based study was conducted in obstetrics and gynecology department, SLN MCH, a tertiary care referral hospital in a tribal area of southern Odisha over a period of 2 years from April 2017 to March 2019.Results: A total of 108 deaths were analyzed over 2 years period and MMR was calculated to be 1124/1 lakh live births. Most of the maternal deaths occurred in the age group of 20-24 years (35.1%), majority of maternal deaths were observed in multipara (46.3%), 70.3% deaths occurred within 24 hours of admission. Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (37%) were the leading direct cause followed by hemorrhage (14.8%) and sepsis (11.1%). Among the indirect causes jaundice (7.4%) and anaemia (3.7%) were the leading cause.Conclusions: MMR in our study was very high as compared to national average of 167/1,00,000 live births, being a tertiary care hospital as most of the patients were referred from peripheral centers. Most maternal deaths are preventable by intensive health education, basic obstetric care for all, strengthening referral and communication system and emphasizing on overall safe motherhood.


2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 27-30
Author(s):  
Durga B.C. ◽  
Ganesh Prasad Neupane ◽  
Maya Rai ◽  
Aseem Sharma

Introduction: Maternal mortality is an indicator of the quality of obstetric care in a community directly reflecting the utilization of health care services available. Maternal mortality has been recognised as a public health problem in the developing countries. Aim and Objective: To analyse the etiology of maternal deaths. Material and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in the gynaecology and obstetrics department of the Nepalgunj Medical College Teaching Hospital Banke Nepal for a period of two years from august 2016-august 2018. All cases of maternal deaths in line with the definition of World Health Organization have been included. Data were collected and analyzed. Results: Twenty three (23) maternal deaths were identified during the study period. 69.56% of deaths occurred due to direct obstetric causes. Uncontrollable postpartum haemorrhage with 37.5 % was the leading cause of maternal death followed by eclampsia (18.75%) and sepsis (18.75%). Indirect causes were dominated by heart disease. Maximum 56.5% of deaths had occurred after 48 hours of admission. Conclusions: Haemorrhage, eclampsia and infections are the main causes of maternal deaths in our study. access to emergency medication, transfusion and anaesthetic and surgical teams in hospitals but also through the involvement of religious leaders, traditional and any community to better understand the population obstacles to reducing maternal mortality.


2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 86-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Papa Dasari

Objective: To determine the trends in maternal mortality ratio over 5 years at JIPMER Hospital and to find out the proportion of maternal deaths in relation to emergency admissions. Methods: A retrospective analysis of maternal deaths from 2008 to 2012 with respect to type of admission, referral and ICU care and cause of death according to WHO classification of maternal deaths. Results: Of the 104 maternal deaths 90% were emergency admissions and 59% of them were referrals. Thirty two percent of them died within 24 hours of admission. Forty four percent could be admitted to ICU and few patients could not get ICU bed. The trend in cause of death was increasing proportion of indirect causes from 2008 to 2012. Conclusion: The trend in MMR was increasing proportion of indirect deaths. Ninety percent of maternal deaths were emergency admissions with complications requiring ICU care. Hence comprehensive EmOC facilities should incorporate Obstetric ICU care.


Author(s):  
Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Makuwani ◽  
Dr. Phineas Ferdinand Sospeter ◽  
Dr. Leonard Subi ◽  
Dr. Mukome Anthony Nyamhagatta ◽  
Dr. Ntuli Kapologwe ◽  
...  

Background: Globally, Civil Registration, and Vital Statistics is the recommended method to track births and deaths. This system is weak in developing countries, including Tanzania. Other systems that may be used to report deaths, especially maternal mortality include integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) and DHIS 2. Tanzania has been using Demographic and Health Survey to track maternal deaths from as early as 2000. This study uses a sisterhood method which is conducted every five years, tracking events of the past ten years. It collects maternal deaths related from sisters of the same mother from sampled 10,000 households out of 11,000,000 available in Tanzania. The methodology uses wide confidence intervals, which affect its reliability. Therefore, the presented data is the outcome of tracking maternal deaths data using routine system from health facilities and communities in Tanzania Mainland.


Author(s):  
Suni Halder ◽  
Steve Yentis

The risk to women’s health is increased during pregnancy, and maternal mortality is used as an indicator of general healthcare provision as well as a target for improving women’s health worldwide. Morbidity is more difficult to define than mortality but may also be used to monitor and improve women’s care during and after pregnancy. Despite international efforts to reduce maternal mortality, there remains a wide disparity between the rate of deaths in developed (maternal mortality ratio less than 10–20 per 100,000 live births) and developing (maternal mortality ratio as high as 1000 or more per 100,000 live births in some countries) areas of the world. Similarly, treatable conditions that cause considerable morbidity in developed countries but uncommonly result in maternal death (e.g. pre-eclampsia (pre-eclamptic toxaemia), haemorrhage, and sepsis) continue to be major causes of mortality in developing countries, where appropriate care is hampered by a lack of resources, skilled staff, education, and infrastructure. Surveillance systems that identify and analyse maternal deaths aim to monitor and improve maternal healthcare through education of staff and politicians; the longest-running and most comprehensive of these, the Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths in the United Kingdom, was halted temporarily after the 2006–2008 report but is now active again. Surveillance of maternal morbidity is more difficult but systems also exist for this. The lessons learnt from such programmes are thought to be important drivers for improved maternal outcomes across the world.


Author(s):  
Neha Agrawal ◽  
Hemangi K. Chaudhari

Background: This study is carried out on 382 cases of maternal deaths from July 2010 to June 2016 at the department of obstetrics and gynaecology of tertiary centre to evaluate causes and risk factor associated with maternal deaths.Methods: Retrospective analysis of all maternal deaths occurred in department of obstetrics and gynaecology of tertiary care hospital from July 2010 to June 2016.Results: The MMR in the study period was 915/100000 live births. Maximum no. of maternal death 42.7% were in age group of 21-25 years, majority of them residing in urban area. 117 patients referred from sub-district/district hospital. 76.4% patients were registered. 60% maternal deaths were seen in postnatal period. In present study majority of maternal deaths 60% were due to indirect cause while 40% patients died due to direct cause. Major causes of maternal deaths were hypertensive disorder 12%, obstetric haemorrhage 11% tuberculosis 11%, hepatitis E 8% and pregnancy related infections 5.6%.Conclusions: High maternal mortality can be due to the fact that the study was conducted in tertiary care referral centre. Referral of moribund cases from rural, sub-district, district and peripheral hospital to our institute have inflated this mortality ratio. All of these being preventable causes of death can be avoided by improving standard of obstetric care, increasing number of health professionals, upgradation of healthcare facilities at first referral units and by making better health policies.


Author(s):  
Sujani Kempaiah ◽  
Urvashi . ◽  
Mamatha . ◽  
Jessica Celina Fernandes ◽  
Gayatri Devi Sivasambu ◽  
...  

Background: Maternal mortality is attributed usually to complications that generally occur during or around labour and these are mostly preventable through proper understanding, diagnosis and management of labour complications. The quality of health services women receive during pregnancy, intranatal and postnatal periods are crucial for the survival and well-being of the mother and her newborn baby. The objective was to analyse the changing trends in maternal mortality occurring over a decade, to assess factors associated with maternal mortality and propose effective interventions in preventing such mortality.Methods: It was a retrospective study to analyse maternal mortality between January 2010 and January 2020 in Ramaiah medical college hospital. Data was collected the institutional medical and delivery records and patient details regarding obstetric history, pre-existing comorbidities, cause of death, interventions done was noted and review of maternal mortality was done.Results: The maternal mortality in the present study was 432.73/1 lakh live births. There were 57 maternal deaths in the study period. Most deaths occurred in the 20-25 age group. 42.10% of deaths occurred ninety six hours after admission. Sepsis (42.1%), hypertensive disorders (12.30%) and haemorrhage (10.5%) are the most common direct causes of maternal death. Post-operative and post abortal sepsis, ARDS, cardiogenic shock, pulmonary embolism and AFLP are the other direct causes. Hypertensive disorders (9.64%) and haemorrhage (19.5) is the two leading indirect causes of maternal deaths.Conclusions: Maternal health services should move beyond the focus on emergency obstetric care, to a broader approach that encompasses preventive and early interventions and integration with existing services. Most of the maternal deaths can be prevented if the high risk antenatal women are identified earlier and referred to the tertiary centre earlier for diagnosis and management. 


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silas Ochejele

Maternal death was once a common occurrence worldwide but today, 99% of maternal deaths occur in low income countries. Most of the maternal deaths are due to direct obstetric complications. Emergency obstetric care is the intervention required to save the lives of these women. It is based on a tripod of signal functions, skilled birth attendants and a functional health system. The objective of this article was to discuss the role of Emergency obstetric care in maternal mortality reduction. A systematic review of available articles on Emergency obstetric care; and Emergency obstetric care training materials, experience and observations used/made between 2003 and 2017 in Nigeria was used for this work. Emergency obstetric care is the nucleus on which all other maternal mortality reduction activities are hinged. The paradigm evolvement of Emergency obstetric care offers the last hope for a woman with direct obstetric complication. However, the skilled birth attendant must have the right attitude in addition to her/his professional skills for effective implementation of these interventions. Women need access to and availability of Emergency obstetric care as well as a continuum of care that includes antenatal, intra-partum and postnatal care, newborn care and family planning services to reduce maternal mortality.


2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 351-362
Author(s):  
P. Lalthapersad-Pillay

The medical expertise to treat to complications arising from pregnancy and childbirth has not spared girls and women in developing countries from dying of such conditions. Developing countries account for the bulk of the global share of maternal deaths with complications of pregnancy and childbirth being the leading cause of death in young women aged between 15 and 49. Sub-Saharan Africa is responsible for nearly three-fifths of all global maternal deaths which have saddled it with notoriously high levels of maternal mortality ratios, a concern that has been red-flagged internationally and regionally. Most studies on maternal mortality in Africa have been confined to an examination of factors impinging on maternal mortality from both medical and socioeconomic standpoints for individual country’s based on survey data. Our study differs from others as it employs logistic regression to look at the association between non-medical factors and maternal mortality nationally for all African countries. Whilst the results from the logistic regression suggests that there is no statistically significant relationship between any of the variables and maternal mortality, the odds ratio for Human Development Index (HDI) and Gross National Income per capita (GNI) imply that African countries with low HDI are about three time more likely to have high maternal mortality compared to high HDI countries. Similarly, African countries with low GNI are about five times more likely to have high maternal mortality compared to high GNI countries.


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