Institutional delivery
Key thought: It is best to
be born in the safest possible place
Brief: “Every woman, every
newborn, everywhere has the right to good quality care…At the same time, poor
quality care that is too little, too late jeopardises the health of women and
their babies” says the Executive Summary of the Maternal Health Series of
Lancet, a well-known Medical Journal.
For quality care during birth,
the safest possible place is the best bet. Where then is the safest place?
The home? That is a tricky
question to answer. What if the mother begins bleeding which cannot be stopped?
What if, the baby is unable to cry and breathe properly after birth? What if,
the labour process is very long? What if, the baby’s birth process is not
normal? There are just too many “what ifs” for delivery at home to be qualified
as safe.
The hospital? Yes provided there
are qualified and well-trained people who can manage normal as well as
difficult cases of delivery. The same “what ifs” of above have to be answered
with satisfaction and confidence.
As the quality of care in public
hospitals and primary health centres begin to improve; with more trained nurses,
better equipment, sufficient medicines, necessary infrastructure and overall
better management; there better chances of mothers and newborns surviving from
potential complications. For the rural
poor who cannot afford private care, institutional delivery at public health
facilities with skilled delivery assistance is still the best bet. As referral
care of higher-level hospitals at subdivision and district levels become better,
having facilities for blood transfusion and operations if needed, there is a
further reassurance.
Perhaps this is the time to poise
our faith in the public health systems, but with the evidence that comes from
the stories of those who have given birth there and the statistics of lives
saved.
Points to ponder: How well
functional is the public health facility near you? What are the experiences of
women who have delivered there? Have the delivery rates improved in the
facility near you? Are there still home deliveries in your area? If yes, why?
Action: You could interact
with a few women who have recently given birth and learn of their stories. You
could visit the nearby Public Health facility to understand the level and quality
of care they provide.
Resources:
http://www.thealternative.in/society/the-case-of-institutional-deliveries/
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