Many people see childbirth as the miracle of life, but sadly, childbirth does not always result in the bringing of a new life. Maternal mortality, death that results from childbirth or pregnancy, is still a public health issue across the world. Even though maternal deaths have decreased by half since the 1990s, the number of preventable maternal deaths is still too high. Everyday, 800 deaths occur because of maternal mortality. 99% of maternal deaths occur in third world countries, where health services and resources are scarce. The regions of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia account for 86% of all maternal deaths, with 510 mothers dying for every 100,000 deaths in sub-Saharan Africa. The countries that make up over 50% of maternal deaths are India, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Pakistan, and the United Republic of Tanzania.
There are many complications that can arise during childbirth that can lead to the death of the mother, the child, or even both. 75% of these complications that result in maternal death occur from unsafe abortions, complications from delivery, infections, bleeding, obstructed labor, and pre-eclampsia. Many of these complications can actually be prevented using easy techniques. Severe bleeding or hemorrhaging can be greatly reduced with an injection of oxytocin after childbirth, and pre-eclampsia can be treated early on with magnesium sulfate drugs. It is the lack of resources, knowledge, and health care in developing countries that leads to the high number of deaths.
Image Source: realPHOTO
Surprisingly, the United States is one out of eight countries that have seen an increase in maternal mortality in the last decade. According to a study at the University of Washington, 18.5 mothers die for every 100,000 births in the United States, which is quite a significant increase from the 7.2 maternal deaths per 100,000 births in 1987. The causes for maternal mortality in the United States are a little different from the causes for the deaths in developing countries, with cardiovascular diseases and infections as the greatest cause for maternal mortality in the US. Diseases, such as obesity and diabetes, that are increasingly common in the United States, increase the risk of complications during pregnancy.
Maternal death is not a new public health issue, but it is one that has shied away from the spotlight in the recent decade. Even though the numbers have reduced on average of 2.6% a year, it is not enough to meet the Millennium Development Goal of 5.6% reduction per year established by the United Nations in 2000. There are many organizations, such as WHO and the Prevention of Maternal Mortality Network, that have been pushing to reduce maternal mortality. However, there is still much that can be done to reduce the number of preventable deaths around the world.
Feature Image Source: Il-Young Ko
