Anenatal Care: A Case Study

The medical industrial complex (MIC) holds many influences in the care of women, especially poor marginalized women. MIC is simply a platform of the network among corporations that supply health care services and products to make money. Oparah and Bonaparte explain how the individual’s ability to pay determines the quality of care they receive (Oparah & Bonaparte, 2015, pg. 4). In relations to birthing, hospitals aren’t a place for an intimate connection between a woman that’s about to give birth and their newborns. It’s more of a time efficiency center where doctors (mainly white men) would purposely perform cesarean deliveries to not only save time, but to make a

One important health disparity is the lack of prenatal care amongst women in socially disadvantaged populations. These predominately include women of minorities, women who have a low income, and the location these women live in. This health disparity is important to address because research has shown that women who receive prenatal care are more likely to conceive babies of a healthy birth weight and have low infant mortality rates than those women who do not receive this prenatal care ("Putting Women 's Health Disparities on the Map," 2009). Therefore, health disparities amongst women in need of prenatal care have lead to preventable infant mortalities amongst women in vulnerable populations. Three reasons why this health disparity is important to address include the following: health disparities in prenatal care lead to lack of access to prenatal care to women in vulnerable populations, there are increased adverse health outcomes for both the infant and mother, and there are excess medical expenses that could otherwise have been prevented. Because “prematurity is the leading cause of newborn death in the United States” (“Healthy Mothers and Healthy babies,” 2013), finding and developing a solution will be extremely beneficial and needs to begin with addressing prenatal care.

Major disparities continue to exist in spite of America’s “Affordable Care Act”, Although minorities suffer disease five times greater than the rest of the nation, minorities represent the majority of the disparity. Infant Mortality has always been America’s indicator as to the state of the countries health status. America is one of the wealthiest and most powerful nations in the world, However, America ranks number 24th in the world for infant mortality. Puerto Rican and Indian women rank highest among ethnic classes with low infant mortality rates. Some researchers have found lack of prenatal access as the key contributing factor to low mortality and birth weights among these two ethnic classes.

Within Victoria there are multiple models of maternity care available to women. An initial discussion with the woman’s treating GP during the early stages of her pregnancy is critical in her decision-making about which model of care she will choose and this key discussion is essential in allowing a woman to make the first of many informed decisions throughout her pregnancy. According to a survey conducted by Stevens et al. (2010) only 43% of women felt ‘they were not supported to maintain up-to-date knowledge on models of care, and most reported that model of care referrals were influenced by whether women had private health insurance coverage.’ Many elements of these models of care differ: from location of care, degree of caregiver continuity, rates of intervention and maternal and infant health, outcomes access to medical procedure, and philosophical orientation such as natural or medical (Stevens, Thompson, Kruske, Watson, & Miller, 2014). According to the World Health Organization (1985) and Commonwealth of Australia (2008) there is a recognition that ‘85% of pregnant women are capable of giving birth safely with minimal intervention with the remaining 15% at potential risk of medical complications’ (McIntyre & Francis, 2012).

How socio-economic disadvantaged moms, results in their inability to good communication and less support systems in their environment, therefore reducing access to prenatal health care. Low education levels creates a barrier to accessibility of prenatal information and education, therefore, hampering mother's knowledge for good prenatal care.

Health related policy (HRP) targets two of the fundamental causes, medical and health systems laws and policies, making it the primary solution for decreasing the maternal mortality rate (MMR). However, a wider discussion has emerged about the importance of social determinants of health, the second fundamental cause, at a global level. The Report of the World Health Organization 's Commission on Social Determinates of Health (CSDH) (2008) importantly acknowledged that poverty, exploitation, oppression, and injustice damage health (CSDH, 2008). This document expanded the discussion on the

Also, for reasons that are still being investigated in public health, poorer pregnant women are much more likely to be diagnosed with labor-inducing bacterial infections such as bacterial vaginosis or chorioamnionitis (inflammation of the fetal membrane) (Allsworth & Peipert, 2007; Dammann, Leviton, & Allred, 2000). In a study sample of over 3,700 women who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis was higher in pregnant women who were living at (34%) or below (37%) the federal poverty level compared to those who were living above it (24%) (Allsworth & Peipert, 2007). Additionally, pregnant women in lower SES communities have been found to suffer from more chronic healthcare care conditions such as hypertension and diabetes which are highly associated with preterm birth and small gestational size (Nagahawatte & Goldenberg,

Due to the loss of muscle mass, protein adequacy is also a problem in older adults because it is not advised to increase protein intake. Limited protein intake may result in vitamin A, C, D, calcium, iron, zinc, and other deficiencies (Grodner, 2012). Overall, Theresa’s small nutrient intake can result in many nutrient deficiencies.

Prenatal care in the United States was not the way is today, there have been some improvements in regards to prenatal care. The number of pregnant women who received prenatal care has increased over the past 75 years (Zolotor and Carlough, 2014). Today, medical providers deliver more integrated services, which includes evidence-based screening, counseling, medical care, and psychosocial support.

These women also have sometimes been victims of unfortunate circumstances and their impoverished state sometimes limits their access to contraceptives which are very expensive.

For example, poverty, lack of education, drug abuse, and domestic violence are the usual suspects of the problem (Olson, 2010). An individual’s social economic status (SES) is one of the most important predictors of health because it can influence the extent to which other factors may provide protection from health inequities. Individuals with a low SES are more likely to experience poor nutrition, lack of housing, and greater exposure to environmental hazards (Source). This suggests that the disparities in social economic status in American society is correlated to inadequate access to healthcare. In addition, researchers investigated the relationships between income and income inequality with neonatal and infant health outcomes in the United States. This study suggested that the current public programs designed to meet the health needs of the poorest infants in this nation does not adequately reach those who need it the most. As a result, this implied that health care access for everyone may not be sufficient (Braveman, 2008). It is necessary to focus on interventions that address the problem of poverty and decrease income inequality first that will lead to improvements in infant health outcomes in the United States.

Access to health care refers to the individual’s ability to obtain and use needed services (Ellis & Hartley, 2008). Access to health care affects a multitude of people. Uninsured, underinsured, elderly, lower socioeconomic class, minorities, and people that live in remote areas are at the highest risk for lack of access to health care. There are also economical and political roles that complicate access to health care. Access to health care is a multi-faceted concept involving geographic, economics, or sociocultural issues. With my extensive research on access to health care, I hope to provide influences regarding; who is affected by lack of access, geographic, economic, sociocultural access, and

In 2013, 289 000 women died during pregnancy and childbirth and it was estimated that everyday 800 women all over the world died from childbirth or childbirth-related problems (World Health Organization, 2014). Often, maternal mortality is found to occur more often in developing countries than developed countries. Maternal mortality refers women who died from the situation like during pregnancy, termination of pregnancy within 42 days, regardless of duration and place of pregnancy, from aggravation caused by the pregnancy or pregnancy management (Nwagha et al, 2010). Maternal mortality may be resulted from direct or indirect cause. Direct causes are from obstetric complications of pregnancy, labour, and puerperium, and interventions whereas indirect causes are from the worsening of current conditions by pregnancy or delivery (Givewell, 2009). This paper aims to examine the causes for maternal mortality in both developed and developing countries and will end with a proposal for government to ensure women are given reproductive health rights.

Quality of care for maternal and newborn health has been an agenda that has been neglected. Many women experience disrespectful, abusive, or neglectful treatment during child birth in facilities.Woman autonomy are being violated, leaving women without the choice to seek the proper maternal health care services.Quality care for women and newborns morality has been seeking less attention.issues with quality of care must improve deaths of mothers and newborns has became a issue. Stitches proves that more than a half a million women died during a pregnancy. Statistics also proves that 80% percent of deaths can have been prevented.we need to prioritize the framework of quality care and also reduce newborn mortality and morbidity. Focusing on time more towards childbirth and the period of the birth. 70 percent of maternal deaths has occurred because of the complications from pregnancies and childbirth. Hemorrhage, hypertensive disorder,sepsis,and abortions has complicated the pre term birth, is neonatal related death. More than 85% of newborns has fused with mortality issues that needs improving. Improving the well being of mothers and children impacts the public health goal for the united states with building a more healthier population. Their well being is something that determines the health of the next generation.Improving public health and strengthening healthcare ,a program made to improve prenatal, maternal

Worldwide, approximately 1.3 billion people do not have access to affordable and efficient healthcare and out of those who have access, almost 170 million are forced to spend around 40 % of their income on medical treatment (Asante et al,2016).In low and middle income countries (LMICs), the major constraint to the access of healthcare is financial burden, where out-of-pocket payments (OPP) contribute to approximately 50 % of total health expenditure (WHO, 2010). As a result, in these countries there is high probability of many households being pushed into poverty due to high medical expenses (McIntyre,2006).The matter of concern in LMICS is that poor and disadvantaged groups of population do not have access to adequate quality of healthcare.For instance, according to WHO (2010) up to 20 % of women in rich population are more likely to have a birth attended by skilled health worker than a poor woman. Therefore, taking an action to address health inequities faced in these countries would save up to 700,000 women.