Lending a hand to stop maternal deaths<\/p>\n
Maria Endah Hulupi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Cicih was in the late stages of pregnancy and her past
\nexperiences told her that it was time for her to deliver her
\nbaby.<\/p>\n
So one morning, the mother of four and her husband walked to a
\nmaternity clinic where she was to have a routine check on her
\npregnancy. It was a five-kilometer trip but they got there on
\ntime.<\/p>\n
Anxious and in pain, Cicih had to wait her turn. While
\nwaiting, she started bleeding.<\/p>\n
Even after her turn came, she still had to wait, this time for
\nthe midwife to finish breakfast and her own husband to go out and
\nbuy a pair of gloves, several blood bags and other medications.
\nAll the while, she continued bleeding profusely. And by the time
\nher husband got all \"the requirements\", Cicih was dead.<\/p>\n
The rural woman's tragic experience as disclosed by non
\ngovernmental organization Maternal Neonatal Health (MNH) was a
\nreal picture of what many Indonesian women have to face.<\/p>\n
The saddest part is, the facts show that 80 percent of
\nmaternal death can be prevented but still, death rates remain
\nhigh and usually take place during critical periods, between the
\nlate stage of pregnancy and a week after delivery.<\/p>\n
Ministry of Health data reveals a staggering maternal death
\nfigure at an average of 18,000 cases annually -- or about two
\ndeaths every hour. And the country ranks 3rd highest in maternal
\ndeaths among the Southeast Asian countries.<\/p>\n
Maternal Neonatal Health (MNH) identified three delays as the
\nmajor causes of maternal and\/or newborn death during this
\ncritical period -- a delay in recognizing the danger signs of
\npregnancy on time, delays in immediately taking the pregnant
\nwoman to nearest health center and like Cicih's case, a delay at
\nthe health center.<\/p>\n
The organization also warned that several factors, like
\nfrequent pregnancy, too many children and young or old age for
\nchild bearing, can also lead to obstetric complications.<\/p>\n
MNH communication specialist Luthfi Hasan warned that
\nobstetric complications are common, making all pregnancies at
\nrisk, regardless of the stage.<\/p>\n
The organization's data estimated 40 percent of pregnant women
\nsuffer from obstetric complications. \"15 percent of which suffer
\nserious complications that require immediate professional help,\"
\nLuthfi said.<\/p>\n
Pregnancy related deaths can be prevented with active roles of
\nthe pregnant woman -- like taking good care of herself and her
\npregnancy, her spouse and\/or other adult family members (to watch
\nover their pregnant relative), neighbors (to provide immediate
\nhelp when needed) and obstetricians or doctors or trained
\nmidwives (to provide proper services).<\/p>\n
Prevention initiatives have been highlighted in the group's
\ncampaign, dubbed Siaga, literally meaning to be prepared. Siaga
\nis short for Siap-Antar-Jaga, or ready to watch over a pregnant
\nwoman and take her to a nearby maternity clinic.<\/p>\n
Through the campaign, expecting women, spouses and other
\nfamily members are encouraged to be aware of possible life
\nthreatening symptoms which might take place during pregnancy
\nlike bleeding, eclampsia, abortion, infection, delayed delivery
\nor anemia; or during or after delivery, such as bleeding, uterial
\nrupture (often a result of rigorous massaging), eclampsia and
\ninfection (due to poor hygiene).<\/p>\n
Expecting women are advised to perform routine checks, which
\nideally would be accompanied by her spouse or other family
\nmembers, in order to provide information to all of them as their
\nsupport is needed to ensure her well-being.<\/p>\n
\"When something unexpectedly goes wrong, they (the patient's
\nspouse or family members) know what to do. This is important
\nbecause a pregnant woman (ready to deliver her baby) is in pain
\nand unable to make decisions,\" said Luthfi.<\/p>\n
Pregnant women living in villages are also encouraged to seek
\nhelp from professionals like obstetricians, doctors or trained
\nmidwives for the delivery process instead of entrusting the
\nprocess to unskilled traditional midwives.<\/p>\n
Unlike unskilled traditional midwives, Luthfi said, health
\nprofessionals were trained to, among others, provide counseling
\nprior to giving birth or in emergency, ensure clean and safe
\ndelivery and provide immediate treatment for obstetric
\ncomplications and proper care of newborns.<\/p>\n
However, it would not be easy since some areas, especially in
\nsmall villages, still lack accessible and affordable maternity
\nservices.<\/p>\n
The organization believed their campaign would help overcome
\nthe problem and mobilize community members to provide life-saving
\nassistance, like alerting local doctors or trained midwives or
\nallowing the use of a neighbor's car to transport women who are
\nready to give birth.<\/p>\n
Luthfi urged the public to shift their old perceptions that
\npregnant women are the ones to make decisions of her own or her
\nbaby's health, and though maternal death is widely believed as a
\nsyahid death (if she dies during the laboring process she will go
\nto heaven), it should not dampen efforts to immediately save her
\nlife.<\/p>\n
\"We have seen people work shoulder to shoulder to help their
\nneighbor when a family member dies. Such an attitude is also
\nneeded to help save the lives of pregnant women in our
\nneighborhood.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/lending-a-hand-to-stop-maternal-deaths-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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