This debate is now closed.
How can we make childbirth safer?
Health ministers are meeting in Addis Ababa to discuss how to combat high rates of maternal mortality worldwide. But are there things we can do in our everyday lives to reduce the risks?
Every minute of every day a woman dies in or just shortly after childbirth from haemorrhages, infections, high blood pressure and obstructed labour. Almost all these deaths are preventable, according to the WHO.
The majority of the countries with the highest rates of maternal mortality are in sub-Saharan Africa.
As a woman, what worries and concerns do you have about giving birth? As a man, do you know the things you can do to help? Do you know what signs to look out for? What question would you have for an expert on maternal mortality?
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Published:
Monday, 26 October, 2009, 12:58 GMT
12:58 UK
All comments as they come in
Added:
Tuesday, 27 October, 2009, 17:39 GMT
17:39 UK
South Africa population 1908 5.5 million.
South Africa population 2002 45.4 million
South Africa population estimated 2010 52.1 million
Unsustainable population trends are the key to most of the worlds problems.
So many populations are just unsustainable.
If Pakistan/India, most of Africa had population control & reduced populations to sustainable levels then most of todays health problems would vanish & healthcare & education etc more affordable & sustainable for remainder.
[SKYISBLUESOAMI], UN-SUSTAINABILITY THE EPITATH OF HUMANITY, United Kingdom
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Added:
Tuesday, 27 October, 2009, 17:07 GMT
17:07 UK
"Our species has been giving birth for 200,000 years and now its dangerous?" -Dominic Kearney
It has ALWAYS been dangerous. Until the 20th century, maternal mortality (death due to pregnancy/childbirth) was one of the leading, if not the number one cause of death for women across the world (estimated as 1 in 100 births prior to 1900.)
It is only in the last century that developed countries have been able to medically manage the risks to the point that it is now far less risky.
Ms Ann Thrope, Sheffield
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Added:
Tuesday, 27 October, 2009, 16:57 GMT
16:57 UK
Well it can't be that dangerous, we are all here.
[coolchristie1], colchester, United Kingdom
Maybe, but not everyone's mother is here!
heather, horsham
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Added:
Tuesday, 27 October, 2009, 16:52 GMT
16:52 UK
Planned pregnancies and far, far fewer of them than at present.
Nobody wants mothers dying in childbirth, of course, but we need to do something to control the plague of human beings which is destroying the planet in many ways, all much more tangible than climate change, such as deforestation, over-fishing and pollution.
Jack, London
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Added:
Tuesday, 27 October, 2009, 16:49 GMT
16:49 UK
[Our species has been giving birth for 200,000 years and now its dangerous? Dominic Kearney, Manchester, United Kingdom ]
No, it's always been dangerous. But it is more so in areas of the world where cleanliness, medication and qualified staff are in short supply.
Annia Valainistima, United Kingdom
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Added:
Tuesday, 27 October, 2009, 16:43 GMT
16:43 UK
Well in the name of the childrens human rights and wealfare in Africa it will be another excuse to send the West in there and totaly modernise the place, or a human right to have the mothers give birth in a western country...i think the west are gearing up to allow everyone to leave Africa and use the place a one great big farm to grow the worlds food..makes you think realy...it would make a great garden of eden, well it is the cradle of life after all, and the world is running out food ?..hmm
Knight OfStClaire, Free in my mind, United Kingdom
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Added:
Tuesday, 27 October, 2009, 16:22 GMT
16:22 UK
We can make child birth a lot more safer just by supplying portable water to hospitals.; SOMETHING AS BASIC AS THAT.
kOJO, ACCRA, Ghana
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Added:
Tuesday, 27 October, 2009, 16:03 GMT
16:03 UK
As a man i just think that women have to be well fed when they are pregnant.Because ,why is it only in poor areas that this occurs and not in developped countries .You know dear BBC , when you are poor ,you are oblige to eat what can make you save many for the coming day. And poor women have not enougth money to buy the medecines prescribe by nurses for their safety during the nine mounths.So i thing that free cares are to be given to pregnant women in poor areas if we really want to help them.
EHOUMAN PACOME, YAMOUSSOUKRO
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Added:
Tuesday, 27 October, 2009, 15:51 GMT
15:51 UK
Our species has been giving birth for 200,000 years and now its dangerous?
Dominic Kearney, Manchester, United Kingdom
Dominic, childbirth has been dangerous for well over 200 000 years, and continues to be so in large parts of the world. Of course, don't let facts or a sense of compassion get in the way of a flippant comment, the likes of which point not only to your callousness, but also your ignorance.
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Helen, Cambridge
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Added:
Tuesday, 27 October, 2009, 15:39 GMT
15:39 UK
Well I think most African governments are not doing enough to counter Maternal motality rate, which is preventable if proper medical facilities are in place, and governments should endeavour to make sub saharan Africa a save Heaven for child delivery, which should be a concern to all human as we all pass through this important route.
Ismaila Sawo, Lameen, the Gambia
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Added:
Tuesday, 27 October, 2009, 14:55 GMT
14:55 UK
"Well it can't be that dangerous, we are all here"
Plenty of mothers and babies die in childbirth, it is just thta in the west we are fortunate that childbirth is not horrendously dangerous. Small measures such as education which has already been discussed on this HYS will have big improvements.
Cassie s, Surrey, United Kingdom
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Added:
Tuesday, 27 October, 2009, 14:45 GMT
14:45 UK
I think that the first thing to make to ensure a good childbirth is to choose the right hospital. But hospitals aren't built by citizens, nor are midwives trained by the population. Everywhere in the world it's a State's concern, except in Africa! What part of our budgets is used to improve working conditions in hospitals? It's high time that things change. Save our mothers, Presidents!
frey Mongouo, Brazzaville
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Added:
Tuesday, 27 October, 2009, 14:36 GMT
14:36 UK
If we advise women to wait and have children until 21, they will be safe and childs life is safe aswell.
But now at 15 girls get pregnances, how can they be safe?
KWAME MVULA, BLANTYRE, MALAWI
Typical "African" thinking. In my extended family also called kindred here... 4 sisters-inlaw and 1 niece all between the ages of 22 and 30 lost their lives giving birth in the last 2 years. Euro and American teenagers are not dying emasse while giving birth. Blame poor healthcare
Ekene, Nigeria
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Added:
Tuesday, 27 October, 2009, 14:30 GMT
14:30 UK
I think the cause of maternal mortality in Africa is poverty and ignorance.Poverty because most pregnant women cannot afford proper health care and good diet,ignorance because most women tend to ignore doctor's advice and go about their own business.
Laura Golakeh, Monrovia
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Added:
Tuesday, 27 October, 2009, 14:25 GMT
14:25 UK
The only way to help women is by doing away with some of our traditional ways of early marriage, as well as taking a very good care of a pregnant women. The government should play a vital role but, unfurtunately, the government is what I blame most.
Ibraheem Hameed, Khartoum
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DEBATE STATUS
Total comments: 82
Published comments: 70
Rejected comments: 5
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