These statistics raise another important question. How are other developed nations maternal mortality ratios’ as low as 3.8 (Finland) when the United States is reporting a maternal mortality ratio of 26.4 (Lancet 2016)? Furthermore, the United States is the only developed nation with an increasing mortality ratio rather than a decreasing mortality ratio.
In the United States, there is a view that emphasis is not on the mother during child birth. Surveying a general consensus of new mothers, it was noted that the mothers felt more prepared to treat issues that may arise with the child, rather than complications that may arise in themselves. Even during the delivery process, the focus is on the infant, and issues with the mother are simply overlooked. It is part of the culture in hospitals to place their attention on infants therefore not noticing the complications occurring with the mothers (NPR and ProRepublica). But the few occurrences where doctors may not catch a hidden pregnancy complication does not account for the irrationally high number of maternal mortalities for the minority or impoverished mothers. It has been argued that this disparity is attributable to health care access. The United States is one of the only developed nation without some form of universal healthcare. In countries with the lowest reported maternal morality ratios, health services are offered to all mothers equally (Stearmer). Access to healthcare, greater family planning autonomy, and widespread knowledge of reproduction has allowed other nations to keep their maternal morality rates low. Maybe the United States can take note and learn to do the same.
But there is still another question, how are other developed nations maternal mortality ratios’ as low as 3.8 (Finland) when the United States is reporting a maternal mortality ratio of 26.4 (Lancet 2016)? Additionally, the United States is the only developed nation where you find an increasing mortality ratio, as opposed to a decreasing mortality ratio.
In the United States, the emphasis is not on the mother during child birth. Surveying the general consensus of new mothers, it was noted that they felt more prepared to identify issues that may arise with the child, but unaware and unprepared on how to care for issues that may arise in themselves. Even during the delivery process, the focus is on the infant, and issues with the mother are simply overlooked because it is part of the culture in hospitals to place their attention on infants therefore not noticing the complications occurring with the mothers (NPR and ProRepublica). But the few occurrences were doctors may not catch a hidden pregnancy complication does not account for the irrationally high number of deaths for mothers who are minorities or impoverished. This can be attributed to health care access. The United States is one of the only developed nation without some form of universal healthcare. In countries with the lowest reported maternal morality ratios, health services are offered to all mothers equally (Stearmer). This access to healthcare and greater autonomy and knowledge on family planning has allowed other nations to keep their maternal morality rates low. Maybe the United States can take note and learn to do the same.
