Abstract
This paper explores the issue of maternal mortality through qualitative research. The matter is vital because women globally die during or right after childbirth due to preventable reasons. Various reputable organizations and scholars have considered maternal mortality crucial for global health, while others believe that the measurements influence the perception of the problem. However, academics tend to not focus on the first-hand experiences of females during and after pregnancy. Thus, a Skype interview with a woman who experienced childbirth revealed that maternal mortality is important enough to be considered by the public.
Introduction
This topic is particularly interesting to consider due to the ongoing danger of maternal mortality that is imposed on women all around the world. Although health care is continuously improving globally, maternal mortality has not been resolved, as it actively puts females from both developed and developing countries in danger. Thus, it is essential to ensure that women feel safe during such a critical period of their lifetime. Researching the causes, ongoing debates, and possible resolutions of maternal mortality through quantitative and qualitative research methods is especially beneficial. At this point, various scholars had developed their idea of whether the issue is vital or secondary and ways of its prevention. Thus, since the question remains a topic for discussion, additional analysis needs to be done on the subject.
Various credible scholars and organizations have participated in the ongoing debate about the importance of maternal mortality from a contemporary healthcare perspective. One of the well-recognized international bodies, the World Health Organization (WHO), has stated that maternal mortality should be prioritized by all medical professionals worldwide (WHO, 2019). Moreover, professors of biology and psychology conducted a study exploring the theme of maternal mortality. The statistics they discovered highlight “the historical failure of societies for neglecting women’s health and well-being” (Jagadeeshan et al., 2019, p. 450). Overall, two studies propose to improve the quality of public health and to prevent marriages of underage individuals.
On the other hand, some scholars have questioned the value of utilizing public health resources on the maternal mortality issue. Academics have found that the measurements applied to determine the number of maternal mortality cases has changed over the years. Thus, professors from the United Kingdom have stated that the public may not be fully aware that the high numbers of deaths are due to the recent change in measurements and not due to the actual emergency (Storeng & Béhague, 2017). Similarly, American academics conducted a study comparing maternal mortality rates after the measurement system adjustments were made (MacDorman et al., 2016). They discovered that the seemingly high number of deaths is connected to the measurement alterations.
The debate has been divided between two different groups; however, ultimately, maternal mortality remains actual as long as it prevails. The critical report composed by the World Bank journal states that although the overall mortality has declined, “the rate of reduction in many countries has been too slow to achieve Millennium Development Goals” (Black et al., 2016, p. 1). Therefore, the issue remains essential due to its ongoing presence all around the globe. The scholars have analyzed statistical data to understand the problem; however, individuals rarely examine the experiences of women giving birth. Still, women can bring valuable inputs into the discussion about maternal mortality based on their personal experiences. The research question is whether women that experienced giving birth regard the maternal mortality issue as vital. Overall, females that have gone through pregnancy and childbirth believe that maternal mortality is significant enough to be treated seriously.
Methods
In terms of the research methodology, the qualitative approach was implemented through an online interview. The subject of the study was my aunt Jasmine Price, she was chosen as a primary interviewee because she has experience with childbirth. Her expertise is crucial for understanding women’s thoughts about the problem connected inherently to their life. Moreover, she had an opportunity to conduct enormous personal research on the topic, as most females visit multiple medical specialists during pregnancy. Therefore, her background, individual examination, and first-hand experience can positively contribute to the analysis of the issue. The interview was conducted on the 21st of August via Skype. During the interview, the purpose of the study was thoroughly disclosed; thus, the subject is entirely aware of the research and gives full consent.
Results
The respondent was asked three primary open-ended questions to determine her attitudes towards maternal mortality based on the experience of childbirth. The first question was whether the interviewee believed that maternal mortality rates are high or low around the globe. The individual responded that overall the issue is not particularly significant and that the most dangerous situations are connected to women’s individual health conditions (J. Price, Skype interview, August 21, 2020). However, she believed that the situation in the United States needs improvement, as certain medical specialists might not be professional enough to ensure the mother’s safety (J. Price, Skype interview, August 21, 2020). Thus, the answer to the first question had covered the problem globally and domestically.
The second question was whether she felt threatened by the maternal mortality issue or it did not influence her experience. The interviewee stated that she felt confident and calm during childbirth, as she knew the doctors assisting her during the process (J. Price, Skype interview, August 21, 2020). The last question was whether she believes that the resources need to be spent on battling maternal mortality around the globe or that other problems require more urgent care. The respondent stated that “I think all health problems need to be equally considered by the medics” (J. Price, Skype interview, August 21, 2020). Thus, the three open questions were focused on her personal experience and subsequent opinions and beliefs about the matter.
Discussion
The research question of the paper was whether women with experience of childbirth feel that maternal mortality is fundamental and needs to be addressed. The qualitative research method helped to determine that women regard maternal mortality as significant enough to be seriously considered. The respondent stated that she does not think the issue is hugely prominent. However, she still believed that the healthcare system could be improved domestically (J. Price, Skype interview, August 21, 2020). Thus, the interviewee appeared to be concerned enough about the issue.
Furthermore, the subject stated that maternal mortality should be treated on a similar level as other global health problems. She noted that all issues are equally important, especially if they can be prevented (J. Price, Skype interview, August 21, 2020). Therefore, the woman who experienced childbirth claims that maternal mortality should be treated seriously by the public and the professionals, supporting the answer to a research question.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the paper contains various limitations that occurred due to the project’s insufficient time and resources. The study’s primary constraint is the number of participants, as for a broader qualitative research project, the number of sources should be increased. Lastly, the analysis can be carried out by interviewing a more extensive and diverse sample in the future. Thus, the experiences and opinions of mothers from different backgrounds, ages, and nationalities can bring more conclusive results. The question of whether maternal mortality is significantly more critical than other health-related development issues remains relevant, as the respondent did not have strong opinions about the matter.
References
Black, R., Laxminarayan, R., Temmerman, M., & Walker, N. (2016). Reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health. Disease Control Priorities, 2, 1-375.
Jagadeeshan, S., Gomes, A. K., & Singh, R. S. (2019). Mate choice and the persistence of maternal mortality. Reproductive Sciences, 26(4), 450–458.
MacDorman, M. F., Declercq, E., Cabral, H., & Morton, C. (2016). Recent increases in the U.S. maternal mortality rate: Disentangling trends from measurement issues. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 128(3), 447–455.
Storeng, K. T., & Béhague, D. P. (2017). “Guilty until proven innocent”: The contested use of maternal mortality indicators in global health. Critical Public Health, 27(2), 163–176.
WHO. (2019). Maternal mortality.