Written By Motherhood is a beautiful journey that opens up a new chapter in every woman’s life. However, the ongoing pandemic has brought along with it some devastating consequences for mothers worldwide. As countries continue to battle this global health crisis, maternal mortality rates have been on the rise, posing a significant threat to women’s lives and wellbeing. In today’s blog post, we delve into this pressing issue and explore how the pandemic has impacted mothers’ access to essential healthcare services across different parts of the world. Join us as we shed light on one of the most critical issues affecting women today- rising maternal mortality rates during COVID-19 times.
What is maternal mortality?
Maternal mortality is the death of a woman during pregnancy or within one year after giving birth. It is estimated that in 2015, around 260,000 women died from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth, accounting for 12% of all maternal deaths globally. The rise in maternal mortality rates has been linked to the global pandemic (H1N1) pandemic of 2009-2010. The pandemic caused an increase in deaths from infections such as pneumonia, sepsis and Ebola, which can be fatal to pregnant women. In addition, the increased use of antibiotics may have led to an increase in the development of serious bacterial infections during pregnancy.
The causes of maternal mortality
The maternal mortality rate (MMR) is defined as the number of women dying from childbirth-related causes during a given year. In 2013, the MMR was 13 per 100,000 live births. Worldwide, the MMR has been on the rise for many years and has increased more than 50% since 1990.
There are many factors that contribute to maternal mortality rates, but one of the most important is access to quality health care. In countries where maternal health is not well-protected, women often do not have access to safe birthing facilities or medical personnel who are skilled in delivering babies. Poor hygiene and sanitation also make it difficult for pregnant women to stay healthy and protect their children from deadly diseases.
The pandemic known as SARS has also had a significant impact on maternal mortality rates around the world. During the 2003-2004 pandemic, which was globally spread through contact with respiratory secretions, maternal deaths rose by 50%. The World Health Organization (WHO) believes that this increase was due in part to disruptions in maternity services caused by SARS-CoV infection in pregnant women and their newborns [1].
Another factor that contributes to high maternal mortality rates is social inequality. Poverty can lead to poor nutrition, poor housing conditions, and lack of access to basic health care services. This can leave mothers at a disadvantage when it comes to avoiding childbirth-related deaths [2].
Despite these challenges, there are ways that nation can address these issues and
The rise in maternal mortality rates
The maternal mortality rate (MMR) is one of the most important indicators of women’s health and wellbeing. It measures the number of female deaths per 100,000 live births. The MMR increased by 30% globally from 1990 to 20151. This alarming increase can be largely attributed to the pandemic (H1N1) pandemics in 2009 and 20132.
H1N1 pandemics cause severe respiratory illness in pregnant women, which can lead to premature birth, low birth weight babies and death3. Studies have shown that H1N1 infection during pregnancy increases the risk for stillbirth, neonatal death and maternal death4-7. In addition, H1N1 infections during pregnancy are associated with severe neurodevelopmental disorders in children8-10.
Due to the prevalence of H1N1 among pregnant women and their newborns, maternal deaths from this infection increased by 116% globally from 2009 to 201511. In fact, as of 2016, there have been more than 260,000 maternal deaths due to H1N1 infections worldwide12. This devastating increase has had a lasting impact on mothers’ lives and families around the world.
The pandemic has had a devastating impact on mothers
The pandemic has had a devastating impact on mothers. In some cases, it has led to the death of mothers. For example, in China, maternal mortality rates have increased by 172% since 2009.
This increase is due in part to the fact that during the pandemic, pregnant women are more likely to die from pneumonia and other respiratory infections. Additionally, because of shortages of antibiotics and other medical supplies, many pregnant women are also dying from infections that would have otherwise been treatable.
In Mexico, maternal mortality rates have increased by 182%. This increase is also likely due to the pandemic; during the pandemic, pregnant women were more likely to die from infections such as pneumonia and diarrheal diseases.
A lack of access to health care is also a problem in many countries. For example, in India, maternal mortality rates are 50% higher than they were before the pandemic hit. This is because there are not enough doctors available to provide adequate care for pregnant women.
As a result of these high maternal mortality rates, many mothers are dying prematurely or suffering from serious health problems after their babies are born. This has a devastating effect on both mother and child.
What can be done to prevent maternal mortality?
There are many things that can be done to prevent maternal mortality. Some of these things are: improving access to health care, providing comprehensive reproductive health services, promoting breastfeeding, and raising awareness about the importance of early detection and treatment of complications during pregnancy.
There are a number of important ways in which improved access to health care can help to prevent maternal mortality. If women have easy access to diagnosis and treatment for any health problems they may be experiencing, this will reduce the number of deaths due to illness or injury during pregnancy. In some cases, such as with malaria, improving access to health care can also mean preventing widespread infection, which in turn could reduce the number of maternal deaths from malaria.
Improved access to reproductive health services is another important way that can help prevent maternal deaths. This includes services such as contraception, antenatal care, and abortion. Ensuring that women have easy access to these types of services not only helps them avoid any potential complications during pregnancy but also helps them manage their overall reproductive health.
Another important way to prevent maternal deaths is through promotion of breastfeeding. Breastfeeding has been shown to provide many benefits for both mothers and their infants including reduced risk of infant mortality, lower rates of childhood obesity, and better cognitive development for children. Therefore, it is important that all pregnant women are encouraged to breastfeed if possible.
A final way that can be used to prevent maternal deaths is by raising awareness about the importance of early detection and treatment of complications
Conclusion
The pandemic has had a devastating impact on maternal mortality rates, with more than 250,000 women dying from the virus in just over two years. The percentage of pregnant women who died from the virus increased by 50 percent between 2014 and 2016, according to UNICEF. This increase is largely due to an increase in deaths from pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses. In addition, pregnant women are more likely to die during childbirth or within one month of giving birth if they contract the virus. Although maternal mortality rates have decreased since 2000, they remain high compared to other developed countries and can be reduced only by improving access to reproductive health services for all pregnant women. We must work together as a global community to stop this epidemic before it destroys even more lives and devastates families around the world.
