Domestic Violence and Maternal Health Her Rights Part 2

Although domestic violence contributes to the overall health inequities women face on a global level, it is not the only factor contributing to this dilemma. Another challenge and barrier women face that infringes on their human rights, as well as their health in general, is maternal health.

Low- and middle-income countries have high rates of maternal mortality. Maternal mortality is described as a death of a woman within 42 days of initially becoming pregnant or terminating a pregnancy, and is caused or aggravated by the pregnancy itself.

There are three major causes of maternal death, especially in low-income countries: 1) hemorrhaging, 2) infection, and 3) high blood pressure.

The first cause is hemorrhaging. This is described as an instance of excessive bleeding after a woman has given birth, as the uterus refuses to contract and expel the placenta. When a blood transfusion is not given to women experiencing hemorrhaging, they die of blood loss. In fact, some religions prohibit women from accepting blood, and as a result, women have lost their lives. Similarly, in low-income countries and hospitals, there is a shortage of blood, which leads to an increased number of women dying whilst giving birth due or during their pregnancy as a result of hemorrhaging.

Next, a leading cause of maternal death is infection. An infection can occur at any stage of pregnancy. A common type of infection in this case is a UTI. A UTI can turn into sepsis, which ultimately affects the blood and causes dire illness. Low-income countries often don’t have a sufficient supply of antibiotics to give women, and thus infection leads to death.

Lastly, many women are experiencing high blood pressure. In low-income countries, there are no properly functioning machines to measure a woman’s blood pressure, and so this issue often goes unnoticed. Having high blood pressure can lead to several long-term illnesses that can shorten a woman’s life span, especially while she is pregnant.

How can we care for women of maternal age, and how can we address issues related to maternal mortality? To begin, there should be provision and access to antenatal care that is provided to pregnant women by skilled health professionals. Antenatal care can better ensure that the health of both the mother and baby are up to par during and shortly after pregnancy.

It is also important to reduce the financial burden of pregnant women. In low-income countries, there is a reduction in financial ability because of poor maternity leave legislations. In higher income countries, there are supports in place for pregnant women who can’t work; however, low-income countries have little provision in this regard and cannot provide pregnant women with satisfactory resources and support, such as counselling or healthy eating advice.

Other ways to address maternal mortality and decrease the rising rates are to ensure pregnant women are in contact with midwives and/or health professionals, have access to hospitals with medical supplies and maternity beds, and receive vaccinations. There are many vaccinations, such as tetanus shots, that can reduce mortality rates amongst pregnant women.

I want to also briefly touch on the notion of birthing a girl versus birthing a boy. Although maternal health is an extremely important topic, as rates of deaths are increasing, it is important to also address issues that women face after giving birth. In some low-income countries, and some areas of the world that hold tightly to culture and religion, there is stigma around birthing girls. Boys are seen as more desirable babies, and are given more attention, care, and recognition. To overcome this stigma, individuals in society and on a global level need to acknowledge that girls can contribute to the world just as well as boys can, and that it is her right to live peacefully and in freedom, regardless of her gender.

That being said, maternal health and mortality also includes issues women face after giving birth. There is a significant aftermath on a woman’s body after the pregnancy is over that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Although maternal mortality is contained within a 42-day period, women experience health complications that can last up to 12 months post-delivery. As a result, women must understand—before getting pregnant—the challenges, obstacles, and barriers they must face. As discussed earlier, this connects directly to her right in the sense that women have a right to be educated regarding these health complications, regarding pregnancy, and regarding their contraception options.  

Whether it be in relation to domestic violence or maternal mortality, women have a right to adequate and equitable healthcare, regardless of the country they live in.

A healthy society leads to healthy children and healthy generations to come. Her health is her right.

Contributor

Dr. Ezinne Ijeoma

International Every Girl Win's UK Representative 

Watch her full speech https://youtu.be/Rqtp4JLIb-w