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  • Title: Maternity care for all.
    Author: Abouzahr C.
    Journal: ORGYN; 1993; (4):12-6. PubMed ID: 12318474.
    Abstract:
    Until the 20th century, women and families worldwide knew that it was always a possibility that women would die from childbearing (e.g., over 2000 maternal deaths/100,000 births in Europe). Increased knowledge about pregnancy and its complications and the application of that knowledge in maternal health care systems in developed countries reduced maternal mortality considerably (e.g., 20 in northern Europe). Improvements in delivery management helped greatly to reduce maternal deaths, which include aseptic techniques, appropriate use of forceps, safe blood transfusion, sulphonamides, and proper management of preeclampsia and eclampsia. Maternal mortality is still high in developing countries (e.g., 5% of women in some parts of Africa die from a pregnancy-related condition) where 99% of all maternal deaths occur. These pillars of family life die in the prime of their life and often leave other children. Their loss adversely affects social and economic development. Just 78 countries (35% of the world's population) have a vital registration system recording causes of death, thereby making it difficult to understand the extent of maternal mortality. The 1st cause of maternal death to fall in developed countries and now in developing countries is sepsis. Other causes of maternal death are obstetric hemorrhage, eclampsia, ectopic pregnancy, unsafe abortions, and obstructed labor. Lack of access to maternal health services keeps many women with pregnancy complications from receiving the care they need to survive. Trained persons help only about 50% of women worldwide with labor and delivery. Upgrading of local health centers and training midwives in recognizing complications and in aseptic delivery techniques are needed to improve the quality of maternal health care. Each health center must have the means to transport women to district hospitals. Health centers must offer contraception to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Countries need to reduce the social inequalities that women face.
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