This paper argues that the lack of a continuous, serious and robust government-driven and coordinated information dissemination program in Liberia on the importance of antenatal care among a highly illiterate population constitutes significant impediment to the overall goal to reducing maternal mortality and contributes to the high rate of maternal mortality.
The argument is founded on two fundamental observations. These observations include: the high illiteracy rate in Liberia and its contribution to maternal mortality and, the underutilization improved and expanded maternal health facilities and services. We see these two points as mutually reinforcing and that one will not fare well in the absence of the other. We conclude with five precursory recommendations and emphasize that if any policy to reduce maternal mortality in Liberia is to be successful, holding all other factors constant, such policy must include a deliberate program for increasing information dissemination for maternal education.
The author, Baba Sillah, is a post-graduate student at the Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan. He formerly served as Assistant Minister/Special Assistant to Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- An Overview of Maternal Mortality
- A Review of Liberia's very high Maternal Mortality
- A case for improving information dissemination for combating maternal mortality
- The high illiteracy rate in Liberia and its contribution to high maternal mortality
- The underutilization of relatively improved and expanded maternal health facilities and services
- Discussion
- Findings, conclusion and recommendations
- Bibliography
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the high rate of maternal mortality in Liberia, focusing on the role of information dissemination and literacy in addressing the issue. It argues that the lack of a comprehensive government-led information program about maternal care significantly hinders efforts to reduce maternal mortality, particularly in a country with high illiteracy rates.
- Maternal mortality in Liberia and its causes
- The impact of illiteracy on maternal health
- The importance of information dissemination for maternal education
- The underutilization of maternal health services in Liberia
- The need for government-driven information campaigns to promote maternal health
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This section introduces the topic of maternal mortality in Liberia and highlights the importance of information dissemination in addressing the issue. It also emphasizes the role of illiteracy in contributing to the high maternal mortality rate.
- An Overview of Maternal Mortality: This chapter provides a global perspective on maternal mortality, discussing its prevalence, risk factors, and the progress made in reducing it. It also highlights the disparities in maternal mortality rates between developed and developing countries.
- A Review of Liberia's very high Maternal Mortality: This section focuses on the specific situation in Liberia, presenting data on its high maternal mortality rate and discussing the factors contributing to it, such as low emergency obstetrics, high home deliveries by unskilled personnel, and a shortage of midwives. It also highlights the persistent trend of maternal mortality despite improvements in the health sector.
- A case for improving information dissemination for combating maternal mortality: This chapter presents the argument that the lack of information dissemination on the importance of antenatal care is a significant factor contributing to the high maternal mortality rate in Liberia. It discusses the role of literacy in maternal health outcomes and emphasizes the need for a concerted effort to improve information dissemination for maternal education.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and focus topics of this paper are maternal mortality, information dissemination, antenatal care, illiteracy, Liberia, and healthcare. It examines the impact of inadequate information dissemination and high illiteracy rates on the utilization of maternal health services and ultimately, on the maternal mortality rate in Liberia.
- Quote paper
- Baba Sillah (Author), 2017, Reducing Maternal Mortality in Liberia by Increasing the Information Dissemination for Maternal Education, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/382797
