Safe motherhood and responsible parenthood

Safe motherhood

Safe motherhood is a concept or set of actions to ensure that women receive high-quality care to achieve optimal maternal and baby health. The Safe Motherhood Program’s purpose is to minimize maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality while also improving maternal and neonatal health through preventative and promotional efforts and addressing avoidable causes of death during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.

Responsible parent (RP)

The will and ability of a parent(s) to respond to the families and children’s needs and goals is known as responsible parenting. It is the responsibility of parents to attain the desired number and timing of their children based on their individual goals.

Maternal health-related risk factors

socio-cultural factors: Lack of literacy, early marriage, early childbirth, and harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation.

Maternal morbidity: Any deviation from a condition of physiological well-being of women caused by pregnancy, whether subjective or objective.

Economy: Women’s status is influenced by their socioeconomic standing, which influences their decision-making roles in the community, educational attainment, access to health care, prostitution, and other factors.

Inadequate healthcare coverage: More than 70% of pregnant women do not receive care, and more than 90% of deliveries are unattended. This is due to a lack of transportation, a long distance from health facilities, a limited number of health facilities, a lack of understanding of the value of health services, a lack of funds, or family support.

Gender-related barriers 

Malnourishment

In many nations, poor maternal nutrition is relatively common. Because of their low position, women are frequently provided less nutritious meals while their husbands and sons are fed better. Women who are overweight would be less likely to have a safe pregnancy.

Lack of knowledge and education

A lack of knowledge and information also harms women’s health. Positive maternal health outcomes are significantly linked to women’s education. In many regions of the world, high illiteracy rates and low rates of school attendance among women and girls contribute to high maternal mortality.

Gendered distribution

In most societies, the gendered distribution of family labor, which is based on social conventions and beliefs, means that women are responsible for most domestic, farming, and childcare responsibilities. During many women’s and girls’ pregnancies, this work duty continues and sometimes resumes immediately after birth. The mother’s health may suffer as a result of her intense workload.

Gender-based violence

Gender-based violence influences maternal mortality, which disproportionately affects girls and women. During pregnancy, some women are exposed to violence for the first time. During pregnancy, women subjected to intimate partner abuse are more likely to miscarry, which can lead to difficulties.

Lack of decision-making power

women lack decision-making power over the allocation of money and other resources. Women cannot always determine whether or not to spend money on their antenatal care or emergency obstetrical treatment and transportation to the hospital/health center. In many civilizations, her male husband or other family member is responsible. Because of a woman’s poor social position, family members may conclude that her health is not worth the investment.

Women do not always have a voice in how many children they want to have, how many children they want to space out, or whether or not to utilize contraception. Women who do not space their births risk harming their health.

Effects of responsible parenthood on safe motherhood 

Maintain family size

Maintaining the desired family size, spacing, and having the desired family size are important aspects of responsible parenting.

The decision is based on the patient’s health and social and financial factors. This will assist parents in handling situations responsibly and prepare them to meet challenges.

Prenatal Treatment (ANC)

A routine ANC examination is required to discover issues early and address them as quickly as feasible. It is also critical to supply vitamin supplements, iron tablets, and immunizations to pregnant women in order for them to have a healthy and vigorous pregnancy.

Newborn and Obstetric Care

Obstetric and neonatal care refers to all maternity and newborn care and healthcare activities to lower maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity. The knowledge, skills, and equipment needed to perform a clean and safe delivery should be available to birth attendants.

Postpartum Support (PNC)

It is critical to give postpartum care to both the mother and the infant. It entails advising parents on child care, exclusive breastfeeding, and other topics.

After-abortion Care

Abortion complications must be avoided at all costs. Post-abortion care aids in identifying/detecting abortion complications.

One of the most important aspects of post-abortion care is to provide parents with a family planning strategy.

National safe motherhood program

This National motherhood Scheme is committed to supporting rational and adaptable policy agenda to its local authority partners in ensuring superior maternal and newborn health facilities with transparency and honesty, guided by the Department of Health formula and the Universal Health Care Framework, using proven and innovative approaches.

Conclusion: Woman’s socioeconomic level

Women are routinely dishonored as human beings, despite being venerated as life bearers in all civilizations. Women’s status strongly influences maternal mortality.

In conclusion, because moms are women, they may be deemed to be at an elevated risk of maternal mortality and morbidity. The position of women is a substantial predictor of maternal mortality. Maternal mortality is exacerbated by women’s low social position compared to men. The poor status of women also adds to a lack of political will and priority given to removing the barriers that prevent safe motherhood.