Poverty Myth #12

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FACT: The rate of maternal mortality in developing countries remains very high.

Maternal mortality is more than a tragic irony; its prevalence in the poorest countries contributes to instability and is often the result of the denial of basic human rights. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), a woman dies from pregnancy-related causes every 60 seconds—equal to more than 500,000 deaths each year. Initiatives to better understand and prevent maternal mortality are given such low priority that women around the world continue to die in pregnancy or childbirth from mostly preventable causes.

Not surprisingly, maternal mortality is rare in industrialized nations. Studies have shown that poor women with limited socio-economic rights are at higher risk for pregnancy- and childbirth-related injury or death than women who have access to education, decision-making power and comprehensive health care. Women in impoverished areas also often lack the basic necessities, such as nutritious food and clean water, to have healthy pregnancies and children. The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), defined as the annual number of women’s deaths from pregnancy-related causes per 100,000 live births, is 12, on average, for high-income countries By comparison, in sub-Saharan Africa, the MMR is 1,098—over 90 times that of the richest nations. This implies that every two minutes, somewhere in sub-Saharan Africa a mother dies while giving birth.

Almost 75% of maternal deaths result from problems that occur during pregnancy, birth or the post-partum period, including hemorrhage and sepsis (a condition caused by blood toxicity). In both of these cases, anemia, a treatable condition, is a common pre-disposing factor. Unsafe abortions performed by untrained providers are estimated to account for 13% of all maternal deaths. Pre-existing conditions such as HIV/AIDS or cardiovascular disease also impact maternal health and pregnancy outcomes. Efforts must be made, therefore, to address such conditions by ensuring all women have access to adequate health care before, during and after childbirth.

There are also other factors and indirect obstacles that greatly impact maternal health and well-being. One is a woman’s ability, or inability, to cover the related costs of health care, medication, supplies, and so on. In many cases, women and their families are unable to cover even the most basic expenses, such as bus fare to get to a clinic or hospital in case of an emergency.

Still, even if finances are not a problem, the local infrastructure may not support access to timely medical care. In Herat, Afghanistan, for example, a high MMR can be attributed to poor infrastructure such as unsafe roads and lack of transportation options, especially in rural areas. Mobilizing local communities to make standby arrangements for suitable transportation in an emergency has helped make a difference in countries such as Sierra Leone and Nigeria. Additionally, in many developing countries, maternal health facilities are understaffed and under-equipped, and are therefore incapable of providing effective emergency obstetric care.

In some cases, there are underlying socio-cultural factors that contribute to the existence of such obstacles. In countries as diverse as Ghana, Bangladesh and Tunisia, pregnant women often need permission from their family members to seek medical care, and often can only be seen by a doctor when accompanied by an elder. As a result, many women can not obtain timely and appropriate health care.

To ensure maternal health, sustained intervention is needed at all levels. Collective organization and action by communities can make a real difference in supporting women’s health before, during and after birth. Above all, governments must play an increased role. Increasing access to safe contraception can significantly reduce maternal deaths simply by reducing the number of pregnancies women experience during their lifetime. Governments must ensure that all deliveries are supervised and handled by skilled birth attendants, who have access to safe and hygienic techniques for routine deliveries. At the same time, governments need to fortify infrastructure and, above all, emergency obstetric care facilities. Without consistent government action, the lives of women and their children will continue to be at risk.

Poverty Myths

Poverty Myth #1: Are illiterate parents interested in sending their children to school?

Poverty Myth #10: Child labor, not education, helps families end the cycle of poverty.

Poverty Myth #11: By increasing per capita income, poor countries can become developed by 2015.

Poverty Myth #13: Poor women do not benefit from microcredit programs.

Poverty Myth #14: Basic education does not help people living in poverty.

Poverty Myth #15: Increased food availability will reduce hunger caused by famines.

Poverty Myth #16: Raising incomes is the best way to reduce poverty.

Poverty Myth #17: The Millennium Development Goals focus on eradicating poverty by the year 3000.

Poverty Myth #2: If school is free, why don’t more children in poor countries attend?

Poverty Myth #3: Children do not attend school because it is too far away.

Poverty Myth #4: Societies and countries are poor because their populations are large.

Poverty Myth #5: Reducing birth rates in developing countries will end poverty.

Poverty Myth #6: Girls drop out of school because it is too hard for them.

Poverty Myth #7: Strict population control measures are the most effective way to slow down population growth in developing countries.

Poverty Myth #8: Indian children are malnourished because they do not have enough food.

Poverty Myth #9: Limited or no access to drugs is the single greatest impediment to stopping the AIDS pandemic.