Reflecting on the birth of my first child has caused me to think about what Joshua's Ethiopian mother and her country women might experience when birthing their children. I will give you a brief summary of some of the things I have learned. The only disclaimer I have is that statistics vary in every report that I read. Even those that were dated close to each other had varying statistics. I did my best to use the number "in the middle."
There are VERY few medical professionals in Ethiopia. Only 6% of births take place in medical facilities. In a report I found about the area in which Joshua G was born there were 50 total medical professionals registered. That included trained mid-wives. These professionals were supposed to assist the entire population of the area, all 361,313 people. (This report specific to Joshua's region is 5 years old, so hopefully improvements have been made.) A national statistic that I found dated March 15 2010 stated that there is one mid-wife and three doctors for every 100,000 citizens in Ethiopia, or 1 doctor to 32,000 people. In the US there is 1 doctor to 400 people.
According to this same report 25,000 women die every year giving birth. That means 1 in 14 births result in the mother's death. 300,000 babies die each year. I find statistics that vary from 77 per 1,000 infants die in the first 12 mo. of life to as high as 12o infant deaths in 1,000. Either way it is a sobering statistic., in the US 4 infants in 1,000 die.
I found a very interesting interview that one woman was able to attain with a group of village women in Ethiopia. They tell her about what childbirth is like in their village. Traditionally when labor starts the woman will go to the home of her mother. When she reaches her mother's village all men leave the family hut. The women of the village flock to the hut to give their support and encouragement. Children are also allowed to roam in and out of the hut. Boys are allowed in until the age of 7, after that he will remain OUT with the other men of the village.
Because childbirth is something that is not hidden and has been experienced many times before a woman gives birth herself, they have little fear of giving birth. (This statement startles me. If I had watched many births and realized that it often ends in a death I think I would be fearful.)
As labor progresses the women in the described village chant and pray to Miriam (their name for the Virgin Mary.) When the baby is born, the birth attendant will measure four fingers width of the umbilical cord, tie it with a string, and cut it with a razor blade.
The post partum period is lengthy. New mothers stay in bed for 40 days. The new mother is not left alone with her baby for 10 days. Ethiopians in this area believe a new mother is likely to become crazy and harm her baby during this time period.
If a mother dies during childbirth another member of her family will nurse her child. If there is no one in her family who is lactating, another woman for the village will volunteer to feed the baby.
The little picture on the top of the page is what homes look like in the region where Joshua was born. He was most likely born in a little, round, thatched hut. The interview that I referenced was not with women from the area that Joshua was born, so it may not reflect his birth completely - but it is interesting to imagine don't you think?
Many organizations are working to improve medical conditions and maternal health in Ethiopia.
