Maternal mortality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Maternal mortality - Essay Example The excessive loss of blood causes the deficiency of both oxygen and nutrients to such vital organs of the body as the brain thus causing instantaneous deaths. Causes of the excessive bleeding include tearing of the uterus walls, poor contraction of the uterus and poor blood clotting. Postpartum infections on the other cause more than 10% of the reported maternal mortalities. Postpartum infections refer to any bacterial infections of the female reproductive tract after childbirth. Among the notorious risk factors of the infections are the cesarean section, prolonged labor, the presence of such bacteria as group B streptococcus in the reproductive organ and premature rupture of the membranes of the uterus among others. Complications arising from unsafe abortions cause more than 15% of the reported cases of maternal mortality. The complications are always as diverse as the techniques that people use to procure abortions. In most countries, abortion is an illegal practice a feature that compels pregnant women to seek the services of quacks especially in such developing countries as India. Most women die from excessive bleeding and infections among other complications arising from unsafe nature of the procedures. The prevalence of maternal mortalities in India represents the gap between the rich and the poor since most of the reported cases occur in the impoverished neighborhoods and are minimal among the rich. Furthermore, they portray the inequalities that exist in accessing high-quality health care services.