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INFANT

AND MATERNAL MORTALITY 1

Infant and Maternal Mortality in South Africa – A Research Topic Summary

Karen Poch

NUR4165

July 31, 2017


INFANT AND MATERNAL MORTALITY 2

The main topic addressed in both of my articles was infant and maternal mortality and

morbidity. Though both articles centered around research done in South Africa, it is still an issue

that affects the United States as well. The CDC (2016) defines the infant mortality rate as the

number of infant deaths that occur for every 1000 live births. The WHO defines maternal

mortality as the “death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of

pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or

aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes”

(WHO, 2016). Both of these sources also state that infant and maternal mortality are higher in

the United States than in comparable developed countries. The articles focused more on the

social factors leading to both mortalities. Poverty, and the circumstances that then arise from

poverty, is something that is addressed by the qualitative article as well as the World Health

Organization as a leading cause of infant and maternal death in South Africa, the United States,

and globally. Inadequate services are another cause of infant mortality, and provision of services

designed to lower both maternal and infant death rates was the aim of the quantitative study

found.

The quantitative article chosen was a retrospective design. The hypotheses of this study

were as follows; “1. There is no significant difference between maternal and child mortality rate.

2. There is no significant effect of MSS (Midwives Service Scheme) on antenatal care attendant

records. 3. There is no significant difference between the choice of family planning method

practised by women in the study area” (Adeyemo & Enuku, 2014, p. 30). The results of the

quantitative study showed that before the introduction of MSS, both child and mother mortality

were higher, before MSS was introduced, attendant record was lower than after, and the data
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showed that there was a significant difference in choice of family planning. The most popular

form of birth control in the sample was injections. All quantitative data showed significance.

The qualitative article chosen was a descriptive study. The purpose of the article was “to

trace, from the women’s perspective, the underlying conditions that expose women and their

neonates to the risk of ill-health and mortality in South African communities” (Mmusi-Phetoe,

2016). The results of the study were as follows. Four major themes that were identified as

important social factors in morbidity and mortality were apparent in the study; nutrition, neglect

by male partners, pregnancy itself, and abuse. Lack of adequate nutrition was the most

reoccurring and major of the themes. The second most important determinant of poor health

outcomes was neglect and abandonment by male partners. It was narrated as a deeply degrading

and humiliating experience that results in ill health. All participants mentioned being either

physically, emotionally, or financially abused. Pregnancy itself was also identified as a factor,

both before, during, and after giving birth. Poverty was another main underlying factor.

Both articles show many implications for future research. The Midwives Service Scheme

from the quantitative study proved to be a success intervention in reducing child and infant

mortality in South Africa. This is an intervention that could be implemented and studied in not

only other countries in Africa, but also other countries around the world. The qualitative study

recommended that maternal and infant health not be treated as disease-specific and should

instead focus on social factors. Future research could use the social factors identified in this

study (nutrition, neglect by male partners, pregnancy itself, abuse, and as an over arching theme,

poverty) as a basis for future research. As an issue that is still prevalent in the United States, as

well as many other countries around the world, research on infant and maternal mortality rates

and factors is integral to improving the health of current and future generations.
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References

Adeyemo, F. O., & Enuku, C. A. (2014). Effectiveness of midwives' service scheme in the

reduction of maternal and child mortality rate. West African Journal Of Nursing, 25(2),

27-36.

Infant mortality. (2016, September 28). Retrieved July 26, 2017, from

https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternalinfanthealth/infantmortality.htm

Maternal mortality. (2016, November). Retrieved July 26, 2017, from

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs348/en/

Mmusi-Phetoe, R. M. M. (2016). Social factors determining maternal and neonatal mortality in

South Africa: a qualitative study. Curationis Journal of the Democratic Nursing

Organisation of South Africa, 39(1). doi: 10.4102/curationis.v39i1.1571

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