Every Woman Counts

            FACT: Every minute a woman dies during childbirth or pregnancy somewhere in the world.

Maternal mortality affects people worldwide. It is most common in developing countries, but it still occurs at alarming rates within disadvantaged populations in the United States and other developed countries. Over half a million women die each year, leaving over a million children motherless and vulnerable. Many privileged Americans have trouble relating to this issue, because here in America, the incidence of maternal mortality is relatively low. Most American women have the ability to drive to a nearby hospital when they go into labor. In most American hospitals, women are put up in a nice room, with round-the-clock medical care for both mother and child, as well as private bathrooms and televisions.

Now, flash to a pregnant woman in a developing country. She doesn’t have these luxuries. She is forced to give birth in a field by herself, with no medical help or tools to ensure her safety as well as the safety of her child. This doesn’t have to be the case. Through education and awareness, we can drastically reduce maternal mortality.

Many Americans are unfamiliar with the maternal mortality crisis. Maternal mortality refers to the death of a mother due to complications during pregnancy or child birth. While many people think that such deaths are unavoidable, the fact is that nearly all of the maternal mortality deaths are easily preventable. Most women die simply because they are not close to educated healthcare professionals who can assist them through the birthing process (WRA). 

A handful of organizations are working to address this issue. The White Ribbon Alliance is a leading organization that focuses on putting an end to maternal mortality globally. According to the WRA, “Pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death and disability for women in developing countries” (WRA). This is shocking when on considers that such deaths are so easily preventable. The victims usually come from underdeveloped countries throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America. In Niger, a woman has a 1 in 7 chance of dying due to birth related causes, while a woman in Sweden has a 1 in 17,000 chance of dying due to birth related causes (WRA).

When a mother dies giving birth to a child, she leaves that child and any others she may have without their primary caregiver.   Motherless children are more vulnerable to threats such as hunger and disease, and their chances of reaching adulthood decrease. Motherless children are 10 times more likely to die prematurely than children who have not lost their mothers. (UNFPA). Thus, the death of a mother affects the entire family, and can have a negative impacts that stretch for generations.

Maternal mortality can be addressed through the proper allocation of financial resources and medical expertise. As stated previously, death during childbirth occurs because of preventable and avoidable complications during pregnancy and labor. Ending  maternal mortality requires money in order to provide educated nurses, doctors, and midwifes to ensure safety of both mother and child during pregnancy (CARE). Medical complications such as uncontrolled bleeding, obstructed labor, infection, and high blood pressure can all be addressed with proper medical care.  But many of the women who are at risk lack the most basic medical facilities.  Some are forced to give birth in cornfields or beside roads, with no sanitary tools to assist in a safe delivery of the baby and safe and proper care of the mother (UNFPA). Many of the villages in which these women live are hours away from the closest hospital, so by the time a woman enters labor, the likelihood of reaching a hospital in time is slim to none. There are also various societal factors that contribute to women dying in childbirth. Many women face gender discrimination, cultural stigmas, legal and economic hurdles, and logistical barriers that prevent them from receiving lifesaving health care (WRA).

             In order to achieve a significant reduction in maternal mortality, there needs to be a commitment, both nationally and globally, to fight to end it. Resources must be dedicated to teach skilled health workers how to properly take care of the mother and child throughout the three stages of pregnancy: before, during and after. Young women across the world should be taught proper family planning strategies, to make sure that young girls postpone their first pregnancies until they have the resources to have their babies safely. It would only cost, on average, $1.50 to send an expectant mother in a developing country a maternal health services package, which would help her  deliver a her baby safely (Huffington Post). The United Nations Millennium Development program has sought to address maternal mortality, and has made their Goal #5: “to reduce maternal mortality by 75% and to achieve universal access to reproductive health services by 2015” (WRA). Unfortunately for the UN and for the victims of maternal mortality, this goal is still far being realized.

            Organizations such as White Ribbon Alliance and CARE have done tremendous work in creating awareness of the issue of maternal mortality, but far more remains to be done.  Maternal mortality is global problem that requires a global solution. According to the White Ribbon Alliance, the United States, with its vast resources, has the potential to make a tremendous impact on this issue.  Just as the U.S. has made great strides in combatting HIV/AIDS by placing the disease on the President’s Emergency Plan, the U.S. can play a key role in diminishing maternal mortality.  Every American can make a difference by becoming aware of the issue and pushing for change. By supporting this effort, you can save a woman’s life. You can prevent her death. You can be the change.

If you yourself want to help, you can donate to charities such as the White Ribbon Alliance that will use your money to promote awareness, provide the proper birthing tools and medical supplies, and educate nurses, doctors, and midwifes to ensure the safety of mothers throughout the world. (VIDA)