About the Subject

Pregnancy-related death is defined as the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the cause of death.

The major direct causes of maternal morbidity and mortality include hemorrhage, infection, high blood pressure, unsafe abortion, and obstructed labor.

Some non-medical causes of maternal mortality include: poverty, distance to health care, lack of information, inadequate services, and cultural practice such as child marriage. Lack of access to safe abortion, family planning, skilled birth attendants, health facilities, clean water, safe and clean birthing environment are also common causes. A woman's status in her family and community is closely linked to the likelihood of her receiving proper medical care.

Maternal Mortality Ratio is the ratio of the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. The MMR is used as a measure of the quality of a health care system.

Maternal Mortality Rate is the lifetime risk of a women dying from a pregnancy and childbirth related death. For example: In Ethiopia, 1 in 27 women die from childbirth-related causes. In Cambodia, 1 in 48 women die from childbirth-related causes. In Haiti, 1 in 44 women die from childbirth-related causes. In the U.S., 1 in 4,800 women die from childbirth-related causes. In Sweden, 1 in 17,400 women die from childbirth-related causes.

http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/87/4/07-048280/en/

THREE DELAYS

Delay in decision to seek care

Failure to recognize complications, acceptance of maternal death, low status of women, socio-cultural barriers to seeking care: women's mobility, ability to command resources, decision-making abilities, beliefs and practices surrounding childbirth and delivery, nutrition and education

Delay in reaching care

Poor roads, lack of bridges, mountains, islands, rivers - poor organization

Delay in receiving care

Inadequate facilities, supplies, personnel, poor training and motivation of personnel, lack of finances

HEALTHWORKERS

Emergency Surgical Health Officer. Goitom Berhane graduated as an Emergency Surgical Health Officer in January 2012 and has a degree in Public Health. As an Emergency Surgical Health Officer Goitom meets women when there is already a trauma in the pregnancy.

Midwife. Pum Mach is 1 of only 2,014 registered midwives in Cambodia. Midwives are trained in maternal assisted deliveries, family planning, antenatal care, newborn care and newborn resuscitation, prevention of mother-to-child transmissions of HIV, counseling and health and nutritional education. In Cambodia, where 80% of the population is rural, the shortage of midwives means many mothers do not have access to a skilled attendant. The Health Center that Pum Mach works at serves thousands of rural families yet runs on generator power and does not have blood bank facilities.

Traditional Birth Attendant. Madam Bwa - As a Traditional Birth Attendant (TBA), Madam Bwa has no formal medical training, but provides the majority of primary maternal care in her community.

Health Extension Workers. Hirity Belay is one of 1,220 Health Extension Workers in Tigray. Health Extension Workers are female high school graduates, who completed a one-year training course in hygiene, maternal and family health, disease prevention and control and nutrition. Health Extension Workers bring care to most rural women.