Maternal Problem in Australia - Coursework Example

Maternal problem in Australia Introduction According to the World Vision Australia report (2014), around six million children below the age of five die every year, because of diseases such as pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria. Moreover, thousands of mothers and pregnant women also die every year, because of pregnancy and child birth problems. However, many reports and studies have proved that maternal care in Australia is much more effective than that in many other countries in the world. For example, a new study in the Lancet shows that only 5.1 women die in Australia due to maternal problems whereas in the 8.2 and 16.7 in the UK and US respectively. Only Sweden (4.6) and Italy (3.9) are ahead of Australia in maternal care (Rogers, 2010). At the same time, the Department of health Australia (2015) says that smoking, alcoholism and drug use during pregnancy is common in Australia. It should be noted that smoking, alcoholism and drug use during pregnancy would cause immense harm to the physical and mental health of the mother and the child before and after its birth even though these habits may cause fewer threats to the life of the mother. In short, even though the death rates among the pregnant mothers due to maternal problems in Australia is less, crazy behaviors during pregnancy are causing problems to the newly born children in Australia Maternal problem in Australia As per the views of the Australian government: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (2013), Australia helps and advices developing and underdeveloped countries such as Asian and African countries in saving the lives of children, mother and pregnant women. In other words, Australia is currently giving tips to save the life of mothers and infants in the developing world. In fact they have the rights to do so since maternal problems in Australia is comparatively less and Australia has developed several innovative mechanisms to counter the problems during maternal life. At the same time, Perlen et al. (2013) conducted a study in Australia and concluded that many of the pregnant women in Australia are facing physical as well as mental problems. Perlen et al found that nine per cent of pregnant women (131/1500) had clinical depression in early pregnancy. As per their findings, the most commonly occurring problems during pregnancy are: exhaustion (86.9%) followed by morning sickness (64.3%), back pain (45.6%), constipation (43.5%) and severe headaches or migraines (29.5%) The above findings are not much surprising considering the fact that a lot of pregnant women in Australia are smokers, alcohol users and drugs users. Zaffanello et al. (2010, p.87) mentioned that some medications such as Nephrotoxic medication can cause damages to the embryo if taken during pregnancy by mothers. Several Australian mothers have the habit of drug abuse even during pregnancy and also during the early periods after the birth of their children. The harmful ingredients in the drugs can enter the body of the fetus while the mothers use drugs during pregnancy. It should be noted that the body of the fetus is incapable of handling the problems generated by the harmful ingredients in the drugs. As a result of that, the development of the fetus will not take place properly. Ma et al., (2010, p.78), pointed out that “drug infusions can deliver significant fluid loads to children, depending on the infusion system’s architecture and fluid flow rates”. Kidney failures and renal failures may occur among children whose mothers are drug addict. In short, drug abuse by mothers cause immense damage to the physical and mental development of children. According to Dr. Dryden-Edwards (2011), substance abuse and alcohol addiction can cause several mood disorders and personality disorders such as depression, anxiety, antisocial personality disorder etc. Many studies have proved that the pregnant women should keep a pleasant mood always in order to help the healthy development of the embryo. However, mental disorders such as depression developed due to alcoholism and drug use will prevent the pregnant mothers in Australia to keep a pleasant mood always. The future of any nations rests on the shoulders of the upcoming generation. Therefore, it is necessary for a nation to implement strategies suitable to construct an upcoming generation which has good physical as well as mental health. However, in Australia, these things are not taking place properly. The government of Australia is keen on ensuring that the death rate among the pregnant women at a lower level. However, the governmental effort to reduce behaviours such as alcoholism, drug use and smoking habits during pregnancy are not yielding the desired results. According to a study by ABC Health and wellbeing, (2015), around 80% Australian women consume at least some alcohol during pregnancy. Another interesting thing reported by ABC Health and wellbeing is that some of the obstetricians in Australia advise pregnant women to take some alcohol during pregnancy (ABC Health and wellbeing, 2015). In other words, even doctors are not advising the pregnant women to take some alcohol during pregnancy. It is a fact that some hot drinks during pregnancy may help the pregnant women to eliminate negative thoughts about pregnancy and child rearing. However, doctors ignoring the fact that pregnant women may loss control while taking drinks because of the mental stress generated by pregnancy. As a result of that they may consume more alcohol and put the life of their child in jeopardy. In short, while advising pregnant women to take some alcohol, the doctors in Australia are not doing a wise thing. In 1992, the health authorities in Australia discouraged the use of alcohol totally during pregnancy. But in 2001, the same authorities recommended that no more than two standard drinks a day is not harmful for the pregnant women. However, in 2009, they changed their views again and asked pregnant women to stay completely away from alcohol use (ABC Health and wellbeing, 2015). In other words, the healthcare professionals and agencies in Australia are not sure about whether it is desirable to allow pregnant women in Australia to take drinks or not. They are changing the rules periodically and the pregnant women in Australia are confused. Conclusions The death rate among the pregnant women in Australia is extremely low compared to that in many other developed countries such as America and Britain. In fact, Australia has the third lowest death rate in the world as far as pregnant women are concerned. At the same time, it is illogical to claim that maternal problems in Australia is less and negligible. Drug use, alcoholism and smoking habits among pregnant women in Australia are creating many maternal problems. These habits are not only causing damages to the physical and mental health of the mothers but also to that of the embryos. Even the health care professionals in Australia are not sure about whether to allow pregnant women to consume alcohol in a controlled manner or not. They have advised pregnant women to take little bit alcohol many times in the past even though at present they have changed their decision. It is necessary for Australian government to conduct more studies before advising pregnant women to take alcohol or not. In short, the government of Australia has many problems to solve as far as the maternal health in Australia is concerned. References Australian government: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 2013. Health. [Online] Available at: http://aid.dfat.gov.au/aidissues/health/Pages/maternal-child-health.aspx[Accessed 20 January 2015] ABC Health and wellbeing, 2015. Alcohol in pregnancy: why experts say no. [Online] Available at: http://www.abc.net.au/health/thepulse/stories/2014/04/22/3986116.htm [Accessed 20 January 2015] Department of health Australia. 2015. Maternal and Infant Health [Online] Available at: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/phd-maternal-index [Accessed 20 January 2015] Dryden-Edwards, R. 2011. Drug Abuse. 2011. [Online] Available at: http://www.medicinenet.com/drug_abuse/page2.htm[Accessed 20 January 2015] Ma,H., Lovich, M.A., & Peterfreund, R.A. 2011. Quantitative Analysis Of Continuous Intravenous Infusions In Pediatric Anesthesia: Safety Implications Of Dead Volume, Flow Rates, And Fluid Delivery. Pediatric Anesthesia 21 (2011) 78–86. 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Perlen S, Woolhouse H, Gartland D, and Brown SJ. 2013. Maternal depression and physical health problems in early pregnancy: findings of an Australian nulliparous pregnancy cohort study. Midwifery. 2013 Mar;29(3):233-9. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2012.01.005. Epub 2012 Feb 22. Rogers, S. 2010. Maternal mortality: how many women die in childbirth in your country?. The Guardian. 13 April 2010. World Vision Australia. 2014. Maternal and child health [Online] Available at: http://campaign.worldvision.com.au/issues/maternal-and-child-health/ [Accessed 20 January 2015] Zaffanello, M., Bassareo, P.P., Cataldi, L., Antonucci, R., Biban, P., & Fanos, V. 2010. Long-Term Effects of Neonatal Drugs on the Kidney”. The Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, October 2010; 23(S3): 87–89. Read More