NURS1003 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: In Utero, Colostrum, Amref Health Africa
Topic 4: Birthing through a cultural lens
Importance of Maternal Health
Maternal Health: “the health of a woman during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum
period”
Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR): “the ratio of the number of maternal deaths during a given
time period per 100,000 live births during the same time period”
Maternal Health is important because it impacts the:
Health of newborns – health of family, children, nation and globally
ohealthy during pregnancy good birth weight
omalnutrition during pregnancy low birth weight
Health of children and families
omay become orphans
orequire assistants from grandparents who are ageing less able to provide
care
ofamily member taking out from the work force to provide care for the child
less income to provide
owomen with complication due to poor health fistulas from birth inability
to engage in productivity, excluded from social events
ofemale mutilation difficulty for childbirth
Health and wealth of countries
Health of women
Main Causes of Maternal Mortality
75% of maternal deaths are caused by:
1. Severe bleeding, mostly after childbirth
2. Infections, mostly after childbirth
3. High blood pressure during pregnancy – pre-eclampsia and eclampsia
4. Complications from delivery – (e.g. obstructive labour)
5. Unsafe abortion
Pre-morbid condition of the mother Malaria or HIV/AIDs during pregnancy are also
important risk factors in many parts of the world
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Cultural variation in pregnancy, birth and post-partum periods
Who is present at birth
Rituals – transition of woman to ‘mother,’ pregnancy is a limbo time of particular
vulnerability
Rules on post-partum time – washing hair or body, visitors, diet
Taboos about sexual intercourse following birth
Colostrum – valued or disposed
Placenta – buried with rituals, consumed by the mother for nutritional benefits,
disposed as waste or by-product
Views on breastfeeding
Dietary taboos, recommendations
Pain, pain expression and pain treatment
CASE STUDY: Biomedical birth
Health documentation and surveillance – (difficult birthing documented)
IVF for people with fertility challenges
Nutrition for conception, pregnancy and lactation
In utero foetal screening, diagnosis of cogential abnormalities
Reducing maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity - caesarean sections, blood
transfusions, emergency services, treating septicaemia
Other contributing factors from Biomedicine – vaccination, pharmaceutical drugs,
screening for other diseases and conditions
Biomedical Birth Culture
Obstetrician-dominated
Male-dominated
Risk-oriented
Hospital-based
find more resources at oneclass.com
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Document Summary
Maternal health: the health of a woman during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period . Maternal mortality ratio (mmr): the ratio of the number of maternal deaths during a given time period per 100,000 live births during the same time period . Maternal health is important because it impacts the: Health of newborns health of family, children, nation and globally: healthy during pregnancy good birth weight, malnutrition during pregnancy low birth weight. 75% of maternal deaths are caused by: severe bleeding, mostly after childbirth. Infections, mostly after childbirth: high blood pressure during pregnancy pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, complications from delivery (e. g. obstructive labour, unsafe abortion. Pre-morbid condition of the mother malaria or hiv/aids during pregnancy are also important risk factors in many parts of the world. Cultural variation in pregnancy, birth and post-partum periods. Rituals transition of woman to mother," pregnancy is a limbo time of particular vulnerability. Rules on post-partum time washing hair or body, visitors, diet.
