Question

A community leader approaches you because many young mothers in her community are dying during and before childbirth. She mentions most girls in the community marry at the age of 16 and have their first child by the age of 18. The nearest hospital where most of these mothers go is 13 miles away and there is, on average, a 2-hour wait to see the nurse.

What three strategies would you suggest this community implement in order to address the problem of child and maternal mortality?

Why would you suggest those three strategies?

Answer 1

Answer-

Strategy 1-

Education of young girls on health and sex.

Reason: Through education, the tradition of early marriage can be reduced. Girls between the age group of 16-18 years are at high- risk during the childbirth. If the young girls are well educated, they would know about the risks of early marriage and childbirth.

Strategy 2-

To provide community-based small huts which can provide a safe and clean delivery place closer to home.

Reason: If the hospitals or healthcare facilities will be available closer to their home, they could avail the facilities without any delay.

Strategy 3-

To provide maternity waiting rooms in hospitals.

Reason: Maternity waiting rooms will provide better waiting places for pregnant women. While waiting for their turns to see the nurse, they could be taken care of in these rooms. Also emergency situations can be well- handled in these rooms.