Maternal Health : The Utilization Of Prenatal Care

One of the primary prevention methods in maternal health is the utilization of prenatal care. During the provision of prenatal care, a healthcare provider counsels and discusses information with the expecting mother. Conversations about smoking and alcohol use, what to expect during pregnancy, when to seek help, and limitations on activities are put in place (Kirkham, Harris, & Grzybowski, 2005). Discussions about possible complications and potential warning signs are also an important part of prenatal education. Providing supplements, such as, calcium (1,000 to 1,300 mg per day), folic acid (0.4 to 0.8 mg), and iron (30 mg per day) to an expecting mother is also an important part of primary prevention, as they aid in the fight against blood pressure disorders, anemias, and defects in the unborn child (Kirkham, Harris, & Grzybowski, 2005). Additionally, the vaccination of expecting mothers has been shown to keep mothers and the unborn child healthy during pregnancy. Certain vaccinations, such as Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) and inactivated influenza vaccinations, have been shown to be protective to the fetus, as the mother’s antibodies against the disease are transferred to the unborn child (Esposito et al., 2012).

2.2 Secondary Prevention

Prenatal care also includes many types of secondary prevention methods for expecting mothers. Keeping records of an expecting mother’s weight and blood pressure throughout pregnancy to make sure they are within the recommended range helps catch issues early. The expecting mother can have her blood tested to check for certain genetic markers that would detect certain diseases in the fetus to include, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, and tay-sachs disease (Kirkham, Harris, & ...

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...ther it is by telephone or some sort of computer based system.

Cost will be a barrier to many of the recommendations made. If the government is serious about lowering the maternal mortality rate and increasing maternal health status, they will have to allocate some funds to the cause. If the government creates regulatory and accreditation agencies to enforce new referral policies and transportation issues, they can then charge healthcare facilities fees for not abiding to the policies and generate income that way. If the facilities meet the new high standards set out by the government, they can then pay to become accredited, which will also generate income.

Non-governmental organizations should take an active role in the social marketing campaigns and educational strategies in local communities, as this will help ease some of the burden from the government.