Losing a wife and mother to maternal death (the death of a woman, while pregnant) can leave a family devastated. According to the WHO, complications during pregnancy and childbirth are responsible for maternal deaths. In India, the ratio for Maternal Mortality Rate to live births has fallen and by 2015, India plans to reduce its MMR to 109.
What is maternal death?
According to the WHO, 'Maternal death is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes.'Besides maternal deaths, women can also experience maternal morbidity, which is obstetric fistula (or vaginal fistula). This is a medical condition in which a fistula (hole) develops between either the rectum and vagina or between the bladder and the vagina. But, this can be easily treated and does not lead to death. |
