PERSPECTIVES ON GENDER, HEALTH, AND HUMAN RIGHTS
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contraceptives and complications

2/16/2020

6 Comments

 
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​​Respond to one of the video stories you watched about birth in America. Describe 3 factors that influence maternal mortality in America among women of color. Did you realize the U.S. had such a horrible maternal rate for a developing country? What are 2 things that could be done by our healthcare system to better support expectant mothers?  Be sure to credit your sources. 

In the “Birth in America” documentary, there were multiple factors that caused maternal mortality rate. Among those factors, we know that “while research into maternal health disparities seen among immigrant populations appears to be lacking, one disparity remains obvious: access to health care” (Howard, J. CNN. The stress pregnant immigrants face in America. 2018). Access to healthcare is one of the biggest issues that so many people face around the world, especially immigrants in America. This is one of the biggest influences of maternal mortality because they do not have the proper resources to get treatment or care during their pregnancy. They could live miles away from the nearest hospital and face childbirth complications. Some people just can’t afford healthcare. They don’t have insurance or money at all in some countries. Unprofessional procedures can cause serious health complications for the mother and the baby. With all the possible complications they could face, their stress levels increase and influence a lot of the more serious health disparities they come across. 

I was already aware that the United States had a horrible maternal mortality rate because of the lack of maternal care we provide. "All women should ideally have contact with a maternal care provider within the first 3 weeks postpartum. This initial assessment should be followed up with ongoing care as needed, concluding with a comprehensive postpartum visit no later than 12 weeks after birth” (MGH Center for Women's Mental Health.  2018). We fail to provide care for the one who just gave birth. There are many psychological factors that can impact a women’s life after giving birth and become more at risk for post-partum complications. In our healthcare system, since these kinds of complications aren’t normally monitored, let alone covered by insurance, we can start to educate mothers on how to cope with those psychological issues. There are resources that aim to help those mothers facing those issues. Another thing that we should do as a nation is expand the FMLA act by providing paid maternal leave. Right now, we offer a secure spot in our jobs for 12 works weeks of maternal leave. We found that “paid maternal leave brought in profits or had no effect at all” (CBSN. Why paid maternity leave is a smart business. 2016), so incorporating paid maternal leave would do more good for the company than bad.

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This week, we've examined infertility from a cultural relativist and universalist perspective. How is the issue of infertility seen in the culture and community in which you grew up?  How could one argue the right to have access to infertility care should be a human right?

In the community and culture that I grew up in, reproductive justice is not a common topic to discuss. It actually is one of those topics you don’t discuss at the dinner table. I was in vacation in the Philippines in December and remember having a talk with my little cousins about sexual education. They asked me about my experience with sexual education since it’s not talked about in school because everyone is expected to wait until marriage to avoid unwanted pregnancies. Philippines is a Christian-Catholic dominant country and I, myself, practice Catholicism. Religion plays a large role for the community and affects their accessibility to resources such as contraceptives. I asked them about the kinds of birth control they offer, and she couldn’t tell me what birth control was. Being an 18-year-old, uneducated but curious about sex and relationships was already a factor that influences unplanned pregnancies. The obvious, condoms, were the only thing that she knew about. She mentioned that the use of contraceptives can cause infertility and that’s why it’s not offered nor easily accessible for women. It’s NOT OKAY to be sexually educated because it goes against the concept of being holy. Having the right to access contraceptives and infertility care should be a human right especially in countries where it’s frowned upon because it prevents more than just unplanned pregnancies and birth complications. Having access to that care prevents it from happening through treatment, care and support. Young teens won’t know any better if they don’t know anything which is why education is so important. Different families can practice what they want, whether it be waiting for marriage or staying abstinent forever but knowing where to go without feeling like they’re going to hell for it can decrease the risk of psychological issues.

 
Jennyna Golveo
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Resources
CBSN. Why paid maternity leave is a smart business. 2016. Retrieved from https://www.cbsnews.com/video/why-paid-maternity-leave-is-a-smart-business-move/
Howard, J. CNN. The stress pregnant immigrants face in America. 2018. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/23/health/pregnant-immigrant-women-every-mother-counts/index.html
MGH Center for Women's Mental Health. Postpartum Care in the United States: Some Progress But Still So Far to Go. 2018. Retrieved from https://womensmentalhealth.org/posts/postpartum-care-progress-but-still-far-to-go/

6 Comments
Nhi My Ly
2/16/2020 09:06:02 pm

Hi Jennyna, thank you for sharing your culture/community’s view on reproductive justice and infertility. My family is Buddhist and sex is a topic that is rarely discussed in my household as well. I learned about sex education through school. My mother pretty much didn’t have an education, she never attended middle or high school in her home country and her parents passed away at an early age. My father felt the topic was too awkward and he didn’t know much about it too. When I asked them about contraception, they had no clue what an IUD is or how birth control works. When I explained, they believed those kind of things are harmful and should be avoided. Also, that we shouldn’t be thinking or having sex until we’re engaged. The right to access infertility care should be a human right because it is very neglected, especially in developing countries where women have little respect and control over their bodies. The idea of reproductive autonomy should be a widespread and more talked about subject since we are the ones who bear the children (therefore the future).

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Hannah Berg
2/16/2020 11:36:29 pm

Hi Jennyna!
Thank you for sharing your personal experience as it relates to sexual education and infertility resources. I think you made a great point in regards to unprofessional procedures as a factor that contribute to maternal mortality in this country. This is something that I briefly touched on as well and found it very interesting as it seems that providers would rather opt for "easier" procedures than do what is actually best for the individual patient. Not to say that the blame is solely on providers as the way our model of care runs, it does not make it easy on them either. Likewise, the aspect of paid maternity leave is surprisingly disputed and I like that you found that results have shown to be economically beneficial for companies. It is still very alarming to see how the United States falls short in nearly every aspect of maternal support.

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Karina
2/16/2020 11:49:51 pm

Hello Jennyna,
Thank you for sharing such an insightful post. Although the U.S is very advanced in terms of medicine I am still very confused as to why we rank so high in maternal mortality. You make a good point that the stress of finding affordable healthcare could be a big cause. We are one of the few progressive countries that still hasn't supported the plan of paid maternity leave. Mothers and children would benefit health wise if we were to implement this plan.

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Aliyah Sop
2/18/2020 03:06:50 pm

Hello Jennya,

Thank you for sharing your perspectives and personal experiences with the discussion of reproductive justice in your culture and household. We have pretty similar upbringings, in my culture, some topics just were not discussed, point blank. I think it is really important to have an open and welcoming safe space where heavy topics like this can be discussed. Thanks again for sharing, Jennya!

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Dezha S.
2/18/2020 08:10:05 pm

Jennyna,

Omg HI I did not know that you were in this class wow!

I am so glad that you recognize some of the important factors that impact positive health outcomes within maternal care. I agree that transportation and having nearby access to clinics, hospitals and different services is very important and can impact the kind care that mother receives which could often lead to complications not only with the baby but for the mother as well. People should also take note that unfortunately we do not have a fantastic system where health care is affordable for all so though you should not everyone considers how one may not have insurance due to having little or no income, if they are employed or where else their money is needed and even if they have insurance you have to ask questions like is it good insurance? Was does it cover? What kind of deductible are you paying? A lot of different factors impact maternal mortality. I also think that there needs to be more patient – provider one on one time so that they could actually get to know their patient and actually understand their symptoms so that we are not giving out incorrect diagnosis, prescriptions and performing unnecessary or incorrect procedures which goes into the conversation of needing more high risk doctors on sight and/or on call as well.

Overall this is a really great detailed post. Thank you for sharing your personal experience. Nice job!

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TJ Kapil
2/23/2020 11:16:28 am

Hi Jennyna,
I really liked reading you post. It's very shocking that the US ranks so low in maternal healthcare even when its the most richest country in the world. I agree with you that paid maternal leave is very important and should be implemented by all companies and employers. I'm sure a mother wound't be able to concentrate at work anyway after giving birth, so a maternal leave would help her but the company as well.

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