Lamia Ayaz

Independent Research G/T

2021-2022

Effective Methods to Mitigate Maternal Mortality

 Maternal mortality is a global crisis disproportionately affecting developing countries.

Current research is on the efficacy of distributing misoprostol, clean delivery kits, and

contraception to women having home births in underdeveloped regions. Home deliveries are

especially dangerous; there are risks of postpartum hemorrhage and infection, for example.

Misoprostol causes the uterus to contract, reducing the likelihood of postpartum hemorrhage, and

clean delivery kits decrease the risk of infection for both mother and baby. Contraception helps

to prevent unwanted pregnancies, which increase the risk of maternal mortality through both

unsafe abortions and potentially dangerous deliveries. Additionally, meta-analysis was

conducted on whether misoprostol distribution or contraceptive distribution is a more effective

method of reducing maternal mortality. Current models suggest that contraceptive distribution

has the potential to cause a greater decrease.

Although maternal mortality has significantly decreased with the advent of better

healthcare technology, it remains a substantial problem in many countries. Maternal mortality is

the deaths of women during pregnancy and childbirth and following childbirth. Annually,

295,000 women experience preventable maternal mortality, and 99% of these deaths take place

in developing countries (World Health Organization, 2019, para. 1; Latt et al., 2019, para. 5).

Most mortality occurs because women cannot access healthcare, often because of poverty and

distance (World Health Organization, 2019, para. 18). They then succumb to complications like

eclampsia, infection, and postpartum bleeding (World Health Organization, 2019, para. 9). The

most obvious impact of maternal mortality is the loss of life for large numbers of women.

Maternal mortality also negatively impacts the finance, health, and education of living family

members, creating significant strain (Kes et al., 2015).

 This issue is a matter of life and death. It is unethical that a woman may lose her life due

to something entirely preventable; not enough emphasis is placed on potential solutions, from

healthcare reform to increased abortion access. By implementing evidence-backed, cost-effective

ways to reduce maternal mortality, lives can be saved, making the world a healthier place for all.

Furthermore, improving healthcare access can have a domino effect, reducing mortality from

other causes as well.

Research Question: What methods can be implemented to reduce maternal mortality in

developing countries?

Hypothesis: Increasing contraceptive access is the better short-term method to reduce maternal

mortality in developing countries when compared to distributing medications like misoprostol.

Basis:

In an ideal world, health organizations could implement all possible methods to reduce

maternal mortality, including healthcare system reform, construction of new clinics, and

distribution of contraception and medications. However, critical healthcare reform will take

decades to even begin in many countries, and there is limited funding for maternal health

programs as it is. Thus, the best short-term solution must be identified. If public health officials

know whether increasing contraceptive access or distributing medications is more beneficial, for

example, they can direct all resources to the better option. Current literature provides examples

of effective ways to reduce maternal mortality; one critical source, for example, describes that

satisfying unmet contraceptive needs today could reduce maternal mortality by 29%.

Nevertheless, no sources have pinpointed the most effective way to reduce maternal mortality,

and so the need for this hypothesis arises.

 I will be conducting descriptive correlational research through primary data analysis of

quantitative data. I will identify studies on the effect of contraceptive distribution on maternal

mortality and studies on the effect of misoprostol distribution on maternal mortality. I will then

compare these correlations through statistical analysis and determine whether contraceptive

distribution or misoprostol distribution is a better method of reducing maternal mortality.

Increasing contraceptive distribution—Any statistically significant increase in the availability of

contraception. All contraceptive methods using medical devices (i.e. excluding coitus interruptus

and the calendar rhythm method) will be included.

Reduction in maternal mortality—Any statistically significant decrease in maternal mortality.

Increasing misoprostol distribution—Any statistically significant increase in the availability of

misoprostol.

Developing Countries—All countries with a low or medium Inequality-Adjusted Human

Development Index, with groupings seen on page 352 to page 354 of

http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/hdr2020.pdf
 References

Kes, A., Ogwang, S., Pande, R.P. et al. The economic burden of maternal mortality on

households: evidence from three sub-counties in rural western Kenya. Reprod Health 12,

S3 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1186/1742-4755-12-S1-S3

Latt, S. M., Milner, A., & Kavanagh, A. (2019). Abortion laws reform may reduce maternal

mortality: An ecological study in 162 countries. BMC Women's Health.

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-018-0705-y

World Health Organization. (2019, September 19). Maternal mortality [Fact sheet]. Retrieved

November 14, 2021, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-

mortality