While advances in maternal health have been excellent in some countries, a Review in Women Deliver, The Lancet this week describes progress as “uneven, inequitable and unsatisfactory”.
Dr. Kirrin Gill, Rohini Pande, and Dr. Anju Malhotra, International Center for Research on Women, Washington, DC, USA, and team conclude that as maternal health interventions are cost effective, it makes sense to invest in much needed improvements in this area – which would represent a tiny proportion of global spending.
“During these (reproductive) years women not only bear and raise children, but are active members of society in many ways – as workers, leaders, and key actors in social change and development – and have the greatest potential to deliver not only for their own lives, but also for broader development.”
The writers point out that more than 500,000 maternal deaths happen each year on this planet. Maternal and childbirth related deaths vary greatly between countries.
Women’s status and empowerment in jobs, education, the decision-making process, intimate partner violence, and reproductive health all have an impact on their maternal health – this includes their access to and utilization of services during pregnancy and childbirth.
“Maternal health has profound effects on neonatal and child survival and morbidity and grave implications for the long term wellbeing of children – particularly girls – through its effect on their education, growth, and care. Maternal death and illness is costly for families because of high direct health costs, loss of income, loss of other economic contributors, disturbed family relationships, and social stresses,” the researchers wrote.
They quote Sri Lanka as an example where maternal mortality has fallen from 1,600 live births per 100,000 during the 1940s to 58 per 100,000 live births in 2005.
“The continued scarcity of progress in maternal health over the past two decades in several parts of the world is disturbing, The little progress is especially of concern for south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, which have consistently presented the worst maternal health in the world,” the authors explain.
The link between maternal mortality, poverty and status of women is not accidental, the authors stress. Countries which have strived to improve women’s education and job prospects have seen improvements in maternal care. “Thus, the examples of countries like Thailand and Malaysia suggest that MDG5 is achievable with appropriate financial and political commitment,” the researchers say.
More research is needed to find out what the impact of poor maternal mortality is on women’s status and productivity, household wellbeing and economic growth. “However, additional evidence alone will not be enough to ensure future progress. Concerted efforts are also needed to change the public perceptions about the severity of the problem and the solutions that are available, and to create a coalition of stakeholders committed to improving maternal health…adequate investment in maternal health and in women will enable women to fulfill their potential to deliver as mothers, individuals, members of families, and citizens,” they added.
Written by: Christian Nordqvist