Interventions to prevent maternal mortality (Epidemiology Class)
***ASSIGNMENT:
- 1. Describe your reasons for selecting the particular health indicator: Maternal Mortality Rate
- 2. if you had all possible resources, how would you explain this problem to the community and 3. how you would correct the problem?
***PLEASE FOLLOW ALL THESE MAIN POINTS BELOW TO WRITE THE PAPER. THERE SOME SENTENCES WRITTEN BY ME THAT I WANT YOU TO CHANGE IN A WAY TO MAKE IT SOUND BETTER AND IMPROVE CLARITY. KEEP IN MIND THAT MANY OF THE INFORMATION GIVEN BELOW COMES STRAIGHT FROM THE WEBSITE OR ARTICLE AND YOU NEED TO PARAPHRASE TO AVOID PLAGIARISM. I also wrote all the authors of the articles where the information was taken and articles will be uploaded.
**1.The reason for choosing Maternal Mortality Rate health indicator is because this NP was made aware of the death of two pregnant females in 2018. The clinic received death certificate for completion and the reasons stated was due to preeclampsia. Upon investigation, it was found that one of these females was referred to maternity care, but per family report, she never received maternity care till she got acutely sick and was brought to the ER. This nurse is always emphasizing to her patients the need for preconception and maternity care.
**2. As stated on previous assignment, approximately 700 women die each year in the United States as a result of pregnancy or delivery complications (CDC). The death of a woman during pregnancy, at delivery, or after delivery is a tragedy for her family and for society as a whole.
CDC initiated national surveillance of pregnancy-related deaths in 1986 because more clinical information was needed to fill data gaps about causes of maternal death. Surveillance of maternal mortality identifies ways to improve the health, health behaviors, and health care of women before, during, and after pregnancy. Surveillance also identifies gaps in the health care system, social services, health care access, and the quality of prenatal and postnatal care. CDC, 2019. Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System. https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternalinfanthealth/pregnancy-mortality-surveillance-system.htm?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Freproductivehealth%2Fmaternalinfanthealth%2Fpmss.html
Nowdays, there is a greater maternal mortality rate associated with heart disease and heart conditions than in previous years. Other chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes put a pregnant woman at higher risk of poor outcomes, and an increasing number of women in the U.S. have these conditions.
According to the CDC (2019), The highest percentages of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States during 2011–2014 was caused by Cardiovascular diseases, 15.2%.
CDC, 2019. Reproductive Health. https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternalinfanthealth/pregnancy-mortality-surveillance-system.htm?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Freproductivehealth%2Fmaternalinfanthealth%2Fpmss.html
Healthy People 2020 provides a comprehensive set of 10-year, national goals and objectives for improving the health of all Americans. Some of the objectives for healthy People 2020 includes to reduce the rate of maternal mortality, Increase the proportion of pregnant women who receive early and adequate prenatal care. CDC, 2019. Healthy People 2020 Focus Objectives: Women and Girl’s Health Issues. https://www.cdc.gov/women/healthypeople2020/index.htm
If resources are available, a nurse practitioner can communicate and explain the risks of maternal mortality through public awareness campaigns and through social media. Explaining the important of preconception and prenatal care in order to prevent complications and mortality during pregnancy. Awareness can be make by discussing issues with the community and also by preparing posters and pamphlets containing information regarding the planification of pregnancy, pre-conception lifestyle changes, and risks of maternal mortality and prevention. Printed materials are a commonly used public health intervention utilised to improve knowledge, attitudes and patient outcomes. Public awareness and health education campaigns should inform women about the harmful effects of consuming alcohol in pregnancy; through pamphlets, posters and text messaging interventions
community programes have demonstrated a significant impact on substance use, folic acid supplementation, diabetes optimization, and hyperphenylalaninemia (Shannon, 2014)
**3. As a nurse practitioner working in primary care, ways to address maternal mortality could be done through primary and secondary prevention. An ideal preconception visits entail risk screening, education, and intervention if indicated (Shannon, 2014). Opportunities for screening and education should be taken during general practice visits. It is estimated that between 50 and 80 % of women aged 18–44 years come into contact with primary healthcare annually. Education should be provided about knowledge and awareness regarding preconception health care. Preconception care is defined as the provision of healthcare to women of reproductive age and their partners prior to conception in order to optimise a woman’s physical, social and emotional wellbeing and to ensure optimal intra-uterine conditions for the developing fetus (Shannon, 2014)
It is imperative to provide health education and health promotion to women of reproductive age. Creating awareness of the importance of maintaining good health and getting prepare for pregnancy. Providing education about lifestyle changes (proper nutrition, exercise, avoiding smoking/alcohol/drugs) and receiving good prenatal care. Tobacco smoking before, during and after pregnancy remains one of the few preventable factors associated with poor health outcomes for mothers and their children (Schoenaker, 2017). Several potentially modifiable factors before pregnancy have been related to a lower risk of gestational diabetes. These modifiable factors include maintaining a healthy body weight, adapting a healthy diet, regular physical activity, and abstinence from cigarette smoking (Zhang, 2014).
For all pregnant females, it’s critical to screen for cardiovascular disorders such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia or diabetes that can threaten the life of the mother and baby. Assess and educate patients regarding increased risk (If any), and emphasize the need for a healthy lifestyle, including diet and exercise. Also, after the diagnosis of pregnancy, it is the responsibility of health care providers to start the pregnant woman on multivitamins with Folic acid and refer for maternity care. Studies have shown the low awareness among women or reproductive age about folic acid and the conditions (neural tube defects) that it can prevent (Stephenson, 2014).
Implementing preconception care effectively will impact preconception health, pregnancy outcomes and decrease maternal mortality rates.
