Enlightening the Complexity of Maternal Mortality
Isha Gupta
April 2024
About every two minutes, a maternal death occurred in the year 2020, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).[5] Maternal mortality is a critical global health issue that takes away numerous women’s lives around the world. Data from 2020 reveals that around 95% of all maternal deaths happened in low and lower-middle-income countries, most of which could have been prevented.[5] Since maternal mortality causes so many deaths worldwide, it is important to unravel the intricacies and be aware of diverse outcomes, factors, and prevention strategies that can influence maternal mortality and save women’s lives.
Maternal mortality is an essential concern to be aware of not only because it takes away so many women’s lives, but it can also directly affect the life course of infants born to mothers who have passed away during and after childbirth. For instance, the infants may not be able to be breastfed and receive the health benefits of breastfeeding as well as lack a maternal figure in their lives. Moreover, the death of a woman during pregnancy or childbirth can drastically affect the lives of her other loved ones. For example, research has found that among previous children of mothers who have died during or after the subsequent pregnancy, their mental health and emotional well-being can be significantly impacted. This, in turn, can also make it more difficult for them to concentrate on academics,[6] especially when they mourn and grieve the loss of their mother. By the same token, some men who have lost their wives to maternal mortality can be at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder.[6] Maternal death can also bring up concerns about additional child caregiving responsibilities and financial worries[6] among men whose wives have passed away during pregnancy or childbirth. Therefore, along with posing a threat to women’s lives, maternal mortality can affect men and children to some degree, which is why it is such an important global health concern.
Throughout pregnancy and childbirth, several complications can arise, some of which can lead to maternal mortality. The most common complications leading to maternal mortality include severe bleeding, infections, high blood pressure, and complications from delivery, as well as unsafe abortions.[5]In order to effectively mitigate such complications as well as other biological and physical health factors leading to maternal mortality, proper medical facilities with trained healthcare workers, medical supplies, access to pharmaceutical drugs, and sanitary services are essential. Women’s lives can also be saved by addressing complications in a time-efficient manner. For example, although a woman experiencing severe bleeding after childbirth can die within hours, medical professionals can help reduce the risk by immediately administering oxytocics after childbirth.[5] Moreover, the WHO suggests that maternal deaths linked to unsafe abortion can be reduced by providing access to safe abortion services and post-abortion care. Additionally, ensuring access to contraception can help address maternal mortality, by preventing unintended pregnancies.[5] Furthermore, women who are pregnant[4] or planning on becoming pregnant[2] should maintain healthy lifestyles and regularly monitor their health and wellness. Women should be encouraged to continue positive health behaviors, such as eating nutritious food, and eliminate behaviors that can pose a threat to their or their infant’s life, such as substance use.[2]
Maternal mortality can be complex especially since along with the biological and physical health aspects that can lead to it, numerous and diverse socio-cultural factors can influence it. For instance, in societies where women are considered inferior to men, women’s dietary needs are often ignored. Interestingly, in some cultures, traditionally, the women in a family are able to start eating only after the men and children in the family have finished their meals, as opposed to all members of the family eating together at the same time. Some women cannot access adequate and nutritious food, which is necessary during pregnancy and after childbirth to safeguard their health and prevent complications.[3] Additionally, exposure to stress and traumatic experiences, including violence, can affect maternal health and well-being. For example, research has shown that intimate partner violence can significantly increase the risk of maternal mortality, especially since it can increase the risk of developing complications such as preterm labor.[1] Furthermore, since pregnancy and childbirth are so common and natural, women often get ignored or dismissed when they share concerns about them. Research found that especially in societies where pregnant women lack autonomy and mobility, their in-laws decide whether it is worth seeking healthcare, based on components such as the perceived severity of concern, the nature of the threat, and healthcare cost. Many families doubt why they should spend a lot of money on medical facilities when women have given birth in their own homes throughout generations.[3] As a result, oftentimes, pregnant women are brought to medical facilities when it is too late and they are nearing death due to complications.[3]
Although pregnancy and childbirth are natural processes that countless women have undergone throughout history for the creation of new lives, it is important to be aware of the diverse factors surrounding maternal mortality and continue advocating for maternal health. Researchers acknowledge that governmental efforts have been made to help provide access to healthcare and basic needs including food, as well as advocating for women’s education and economic empowerment. Nonetheless, awareness[3] of maternal health should be further raised to promote health literacy and prevent adverse outcomes associated with delays in seeking medical care and complications. Awareness of maternal health should be spread in comprehensive ways and include essential information about the significance of nutritious food, the importance of seeking timely medical care, and effectively caring for women before and after childbirth. The WHO also recognizes the importance of remembering that the health of a pregnant woman directly affects the health and life of both her and her newborn.[5] Therefore, pregnant women as well as women in the postpartum period should be attentively and responsibly monitored, supported, cared for, and empowered.
References
[1] Agarwal, S., Prasad, R., Mantri, S., Chandrakar, R., Gupta, S., Babhulkar, V., Srivastav, S., Jaiswal, A., & Wanjari, M. B. (2023). A Comprehensive Review of Intimate Partner Violence During Pregnancy and Its Adverse Effects on Maternal and Fetal Health. Cureus, 15(5), e39262. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.39262
[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, April 26). Preventing Pregnancy-Related Deaths. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternal-mortality/preventing-pregnancy-related-deaths .html#:~:text=Many%20factors%20influence%20pregnancy-related,health%20problems%20bef ore%20getting%20pregnant.
[3] Omer, S., Zakar, R., Zakar, M. Z., & Fischer, F. (2021, May 18). The influence of social and cultural practices on maternal mortality: a qualitative study from South Punjab, Pakistan. BioMed Central. https://reproductive-health-journal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12978-021-01151-6
[4] Stickler, T. (2020, July 9). Maintaining a Healthy Pregnancy. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/healthy-pregnancy
[5] World Health Organization. (2023, February 22). Maternal mortality. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality
[6] Zhou, H., Zhang, L., Ye, F., Wang, H. J., Huntington, D., Huang, Y., Wang, A., Liu, S., & Wang, Y. (2016). The Effect of Maternal Death on the Health of the Husband and Children in a Rural Area of China: A Prospective Cohort Study. PloS one, 11(6), e0157122. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0157122
