Maternal Health
By Mary Joe Arada
Artifact: Iron and folic acid supplements are important for pregnant
women to reduce the risk of low birth weight, maternal anemia, and iron
deficiency.
o Iron is used by the body to make extra blood (hemoglobin) for
the pregnant woman and the baby and helps move oxygen from
the mothers lungs to her baby.
o Folic acid is a man-made form of a B vitamin called folate
which plays an important role in the production of red blood
cells and helps prevent neural tube defects (NTDs).
The neural tube is the part of the embryo from
which the baby's spine and brain develop.
Examples of NTDs include spina bifida (fetal spinal
column does not close completely) and anencephaly
(most of the babys brain and skull do not develop).
WHOs 10 facts on Maternal Health:
o Nearly 830 women die every day due to complications during
pregnancy and childbirth.
o Women die in pregnancy and childbirth for 5 main reasons:
severe bleeding, infections, unsafe abortion, hypertensive
disorders, and medical complications.
o More than 135 million women give birth per year and about 20
million of them experience pregnancy-related illness after
childbirth.
o About 16 million girls aged between 15 and 19 give birth each
year.
o Maternal health mirrors the gap between the rich and the
poor.
o Most maternal deaths can be prevented.
o Many women dont see a skilled health professional enough
during pregnancy.
o About 22 million abortions continue to be performed unsafely
each year
o Reducing the maternal mortality ratio has been slow.
o The lack of skilled care is the main obstacle to better health for
mothers.
Fact 1
Nearly 830 women die every day due to complications during pregnancy and
childbirth
About 303 000 women will die worldwide in 2015 due to complications during
pregnancy and childbirth. In developing countries, conditions related to
pregnancy and childbirth constitute the second leading causes (after HIV/AIDS)
of death among women of reproductive age.
Fact 2
Women die in pregnancy and childbirth for 5 main reasons
These are severe bleeding, infections, unsafe abortion, hypertensive disorders
(pre-eclampsia and eclampsia), and medical complications like cardiac disease,
diabetes, or HIV/AIDS complicating or complicated by pregnancy.
Fact 3
More than 135 million women give birth per year
About 20 million of them are estimated to experience pregnancy-related illness
after childbirth. The list of morbidities is long and diverse, and includes fever,
anaemia, fistula, incontinence, infertility and depression. Women who suffer from
fistula are often stigmatized and ostracized by their husbands, families and
communities.
Fact 4
About 16 million girls aged between 15 and 19 give birth each year
They account for more than 10% of all births. In the developing world, about
90% of the births to adolescents occur in marriage. In low- and middle-income
countries, complications from pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of
death among girls 15-19.
Fact 5
Maternal health mirrors the gap between the rich and the poor
Less than 1% of maternal deaths occur in high-income countries. The maternal
mortality ratio in developing countries is 239 per 100 000 births versus 12 per
100 000 in developed countries. Also, maternal mortality is higher in rural areas
and among poorer and less educated communities. Approximately 830 women
die every day the countries represented by these deaths is widely
disproportionate. Roughly 550 women live in sub-Saharan Africa and 180 live in
Southern Asia compared to 8 in high-income countries.
Maternal Health
By Mary Joe Arada
Artifact: Iron and folic acid supplements are important for pregnant
women to reduce the risk of low birth weight, maternal anemia, and iron
deficiency.
o Iron is used by the body to make extra blood (hemoglobin) for
the pregnant woman and the baby and helps move oxygen from
the mothers lungs to her baby.
o Folic acid is a man-made form of a B vitamin called folate
which plays an important role in the production of red blood
cells and helps prevent neural tube defects (NTDs).
The neural tube is the part of the embryo from
which the baby's spine and brain develop.
Examples of NTDs include spina bifida (fetal spinal
column does not close completely) and anencephaly
(most of the babys brain and skull do not develop).
WHOs 10 facts on Maternal Health:
o Nearly 830 women die every day due to complications during
pregnancy and childbirth.
o Women die in pregnancy and childbirth for 5 main reasons:
severe bleeding, infections, unsafe abortion, hypertensive
disorders, and medical complications.
o More than 135 million women give birth per year and about 20
million of them experience pregnancy-related illness after
childbirth.
o About 16 million girls aged between 15 and 19 give birth each
year.
o Maternal health mirrors the gap between the rich and the
poor.
o Most maternal deaths can be prevented.
o Many women dont see a skilled health professional enough
during pregnancy.
o About 22 million abortions continue to be performed unsafely
each year
o Reducing the maternal mortality ratio has been slow.
o The lack of skilled care is the main obstacle to better health for
mothers.
Fact 6
Most maternal deaths can be prevented
Most of these deaths can be prevented through skilled care at childbirth and
access to emergency obstetric care. In sub-Saharan Africa, where maternal
mortality ratios are the highest, less than 50% of women are attended by a trained
midwife, nurse or doctor during childbirth. Women and girls living in fragile
states or those in humanitarian crises face some of the highest risks because
health systems are often broken in these situations, exposing the most vulnerable.
Fact 7
Many women dont see a skilled health professional enough during pregnancy
Although a large proportion of women see skilled health personnel at least once
during their pregnancy, only about half receive the recommended minimum of at
least 4 visits during the pregnancy. Women who do not receive the necessary
check-ups miss the opportunity to detect problems and receive appropriate care
and treatment. This also includes immunization and prevention of mother-to-child
transmission of HIV/AIDS.
Fact 8
About 22 million abortions continue to be performed unsafely each year
Over 5 million of these result in complications some of which may end in death.
Almost every one of these deaths and complications could have been prevented
through sexuality education, contraceptive use, and the provision of safe, legal
induced abortion, and care for complications of unsafe abortions.
Fact 9
Reducing the maternal mortality ratio has been slow
Since 1990 the global maternal mortality ratio has declined by only 2.3%
annually instead of the 5.5% needed to achieve MDG 5a; but in some countries,
accelerated rates of decline were observed after 2000. This means that with
continued efforts, it is possible to end preventable maternal mortality and reach
the new SDG. SDG 3 strives to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less
than 70 per 100 000 live births by 2030, with no country having a maternal
mortality rate twice the global average.
Fact 10
The lack of skilled care is the main obstacle to better health for mothers
This is aggravated by a global shortage of qualified health workers. Only 51% of
women in low-income countries benefit from skilled care during childbirth. This
means that millions of births are not assisted by a midwife, a doctor or a trained
nurse.
Sources: www.who.int | www.webmd.com | www.babycenter.com | Sources: www.who.int | www.webmd.com | www.babycenter.com |
www.medlineplus.gov www.medlineplus.gov