Maternal Mortality in Australia - Term Paper Example

Executive Summary The essay discusses about various causes and consequences of maternal death in Australia and presents recommendations to deal with the challenges of maternal death. In this report, the poor medical health service and lack of proper education to the woman regarding maternity were identified as a few paramount causes of maternal death. Furthermore, the report identifies two types of maternal death, namely direct maternal death and indirect maternal death. However, the rate of maternal death in Australia is much less, compared to other countries. Certain, negative consequences of maternal death has been identified on the economy of Australia as well as the family of the deceased woman. In order to overcome the problem, certain recommendations are provided which include focusing on providing proper education regarding maternal health to the Australian women as well as developing effective strategic health policies by the Australian government. Table of Contents Introduction 3 Problem of Maternal Death in Australia and Contributing Factors 3 Consequences of Maternal Death in Australia 5 Recommendations for Reducing the Maternal Mortality 5 Conclusion 7 8 References 8 Appendix 10 Introduction Maternal death is considered as a major problem in today’s world. Maternal death is referred to death of a woman during the time of her pregnancy or within forty two days from aborting the child. Every year millions of women die throughout the world due to pregnancy complications or childbirth. However, the rate of maternal mortality is considerably low in Australia in comparison to other countries of the world. As per the World Health Report (2010), during the year 2006-2010 about 99 maternal deaths were reported in Australia (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2014).. Thus in terms of Maternal Mortality Ratio, there were 7 deaths per 10000 women who gave birth to their child. Moreover, among the 99 maternal deaths in Australia, 39 deaths were reported to be directly related with pregnancy and the rest 60 deaths were indirect maternal death (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2014). However, there are certain factors that are responsible for both direct and indirect maternal death in Australia and in order to overcome the problem a major focus should be given on certain aspects like antenatal care, giving proper training to the birth attendants and mobilization of the community (National Centre for Biotechnology Information, 2012; Public Health Association of Australia, 2008). With this concern, the essay aims to produce a report on maternal problem in Australia. Subsequently, report entails factors contributing to maternal death in Australia and its consequences, along with relevant recommendations to deal with the issue. Problem of Maternal Death in Australia and Contributing Factors Even though the rate of maternal death in Australia is less in comparison to other countries of the world, but it has been found that majority of the victims of maternal death in Australia are the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. Their death rate is three times more than the indigenous Australian women. Cardiac problems and sepsis are regarded as the major causes of death for the native Australians. However, there are several other causes of direct maternal deaths as well as indirect maternal deaths in Australia. Eclampsia, amniotic fluid embolism, obstetric haemorrhage and thromboembolism, are identified to account for almost 75% of all direct maternal deaths in Australia. In the like manner, the major cause of the indirect maternal death in Australia is considered to be the cardiac disorder. During the 2006-2010, fifteen maternal deaths were reported in Australia due to cardiac diseases. Moreover, psychological disorder is also attributed as one of the major causes of maternity death in Australia. Evidently, during the same period nine women died due to suicide while the death of five women were reported to result from non-obstetric haemorrhage and three deaths due to ectopic pregnancy. Thus the major cause related to the maternal death in Australia is the poor performance of the health service and the risks that are associated with the childbirth as well as pregnancy (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2014). Besides, lack of proper access to information, gender inequality, improper education, inappropriate medical service, lack of proper infrastructure and medical equipment were also identified as the other causes of maternity death in Australia. Therefore, in order to reduce the maternal death rate, it is necessary to ensure an effective health service that will aim at improving the overall maternal health of the Australian women (Unsw Medicine, 2013). Consequences of Maternal Death in Australia The maternal death has a harmful and negative impact on the family of the victim as well as the economy of the country. The high death rate due to mortality negatively affects the per capita income of the people, which results in decreasing the Gross Domestic Product of Australia. Moreover, the child also has to suffer from several difficulties that have lost his/her mother and the same goes for her family members as well. The health of the new born babies is also affected as they are deprived from the primary care that they receive from their mother. Similarly, the older children have to carry out their household activities as a result of which their cognitive and physical growth and development is affected severely during early years of childhood. Maternal death may also push the family into poverty because of the various costs that are related with the maternal death like, hospital fees, funeral costs and transportation costs, among others. It has ben further found that the low income group families in Australia spent almost one third of their annual income on the costs related with the maternal death and thus they are taking the help of the money lenders for financing. Moreover, women contribute to the resources of the family by means of working or through business. Thus, with the death of women who contributes towards meeting the financial requirements of a family also lead to financial crisis and ultimately poverty. Thus, apart from the harmful impacts of maternal death on the economy, the family members are also negatively affected (Amiri & Gerdtham, 2013) Recommendations for Reducing the Maternal Mortality There are certain recommendations that may be followed in order to reduce the rate of maternal mortality in Australia. The women or the expectant mother should have proper access to skilled care before and after they give birth to child. The health care service providers should be properly trained regarding the obstetric care and the medical units should be provided with the proper medical and surgical equipment that will be able to address various complications. Mobilization of the community and strengthening of the maternal health care centres as well as providing proper education to the birth attendants is very essential for reducing the mortality rate. Moreover, the trained birth attendants should be posted to the remote areas of Australia areas as well as so that every woman in the country has the access to proper medical facilities. The health service providers should also be provided with proper incentives that may motivate them to perform their duty more sincerely and effectively. The Australian government can also tie up with the private organizations for delivering effective health care services, for ensuring quality service across the country. Moreover, awareness programs and education for girls and women regarding various healthcare issues including maternal health would aid in controlling the immature maternal death. The Australia government should also launch certain professional health care policies related with the maternal health. The user fees and the transportation costs that are related with the maternal health centres should also be revised and reduced to ensure that pregnant women access to proper health facilities regardless of their income. Thus, implementing the above mentioned strategies can be identified to reduce the maternity death in Australia and provide a healthy life for the women as well as their children (Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet, 2013). Conclusion Thus, from the above discussion it can be concluded that maternal death is a major problem in today’s world and it has a negative influence on the economy of Australia as well as the family of the deceased mother. It has been found that the maternal death rate in Australia is less in comparison to any other countries of the world. However, the poor and inappropriate medical heath service and lack of proper education to the women were identified as a few major factors contributing maternal death in Australia. Notwithstanding, severe consequences of maternal death were identified, particularly on the family of the deceased woman as well as the economy of Australia. However, in order eradicate the problem of maternal death, the Australian government should take certain strategic measures such as effective health policies, awareness programs for women regarding maternal death as well as and setting health care facilities in remote areas of the country. References Amiri, A. & Gerdtham, U., 2013. Impact of Maternal and Child Health on Economic Growth: New Evidence Based Granger Causality and DEA Analysis. Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health, pp. 1-30. Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet, 2013. Mortality. Article. [Online] Available at: http://www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/health-facts/overviews/mortality [Accessed December 22, 2014]. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2014. Maternal Deaths in Australia. Maternal Death Series. [Online] Available at: http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=60129548375 [Accessed December 22, 2014]. National Centre for Biotechnology Information, 2012. Maternal Morbidity and Disability and Their Consequences: Neglected Agenda in Maternal Health. Article. [Online] Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3397324/ [Accessed December 22, 2014]. Public Health Association of Australia, 2008. Maternal Mortality, Social Determinants of Health, Millennium Development Goals in Asia Policy. Article [Online] Available at: http://www.phaa.net.au/documents/130201_Maternal%20Mortality,%20Social%20Determinants%20of%20Health,%20MDGs%20in%20Asia%20Policy%20FINAL.pdf [Accessed December 22, 2014]. Unsw Medicine, 2013. Maternal deaths in Australia 2006-2010. Report. [Online] Available at: https://npesu.unsw.edu.au/surveillance/maternal-deaths-australia-2006-2010 [Accessed December 22, 2014]. Appendix Mortality Death Rate in Australia Read More