Summary 6-8

In Chapter 6 the author talks about Maternal Morality. A case was followed of Mahabouba Muhammad, a tall woman who grew up in western Ethiopia. These days, she has no problem talking about her story. Before, pain would be eminent, and still to this day, pain shines in her eyes from time to time. Mahabouba was raised in a village near the town of Jimma. She started working as a maid with her sister. Mahabouba was sold to another "owner" and was beaten and raped. She only thought she would be cleaning for the man. Jiad, had purchased her to be his second wife. Jiad and his first wife would never let Mahabouba out of the house as they feared she would run. However, Mahabouba got pregnant and after being seven months pregnant, finally got away successfully. Mahabouba tried to give birth but her pelvis hadn't grown large enough to accomodate the baby's head, common in girls her age. Unfortunately, after seven days of the baby not being able to come out, it died and realized she had no control over her bladder or bowels. She couldn't walk or even stand, a consequence of nerve damage that is a frequent by-product of fistula. Mahabouba escaped to a missionary. Soon, the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital, where she was treated. 30,000-130,000 new cases of fistula develop each year in Africa alone. The WHO estimated 536,000 women perished in pregnancy or childbirth in 2005. 99% of which are from poor countries. MMR (maternal morality ratio) registers the number of maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births. The chapter also talked about Allan Rosenfield, a doctor who taveled from country to country, serving poor people who needed help.

In chapter 7, the author talks about the death of women during childbirth. Usually, eclampsia, hemorrhage, malaria, abortion complications, obstructed labor, or sepsis. The chapter talks about a women named Prudence Lemokouno. Prudence's cervix was blocked and the baby couldn't come out. After three days of labor, the birth attendant sat on Prudence's stomach and jumped up and down. That ruptured Prudence's uterus. However, when arriving at the hospital. The doctor wanted $100, they could only provide $20. After much time, the family paid up. Blood was needed for a transfusion and the videographer's both donated blood. The doctor finally operated after three days of waiting since she had gotten to the hospital. Three days after the surgery, Prudence died. This story, happens once in the world, every minute. Four major factors for a woman's death is biology, lack of schooling, lack of rural health systems, and disregard for women. Chapter 7 also speaks about Edna's hospital. Edna Aden built a maternal hospital. Everyone was shocked because it was a third world country.

In chapter 8, the author discusses family planning and the "God Gulf". Rose Wanjera, a 26 year old woman in Kenya showed up at a maternity clinic one afternoon. She was poor and couldn't afford care. She was unusual to this slum clinic because she attended college and spoke English. She was pregnant and an infection threatened her life and that of the baby. The doctor referred her to a same motherhood program. The issue that arose was that funds were cut for this program. All because Marie Stopes was helpoing to provide abortions in China. Instead of cutting a Chinese program, the givers cut funds to the Africa region. The USA withheld all $34 million dollars that had been allocated for the UNFPA.