What is Maternal health?
{{globalise|date=February 2024}} '''Maternal health''' is the [[health]] of a [[woman]] during [[pregnancy]], childbirth and her postpartum periods. It includes [[family planning]], preconception, [[Prenatal diagnosis|prenatal]] and [[Postnatal care|postnatal]] caring.<ref>{{cite web|title=Maternal Health|publisher=The World Health Organization|url=http://www.who.int/topics/maternal_health/en|accessdate=June 21, 2014}}</ref> The risk of maternal death is higher in some areas, such as Sub-Saharan [[Africa]], than in others. Poverty is a problem in some countries, in particular, the developing countries. In addition to [[sub-Saharan Africa]], Black women in the [[United States|US]] and the [[United Kingdom|UK]] have higher maternal death rates. High rates of poverty, untreated illnesses, and a lack of access to health care, according to maternal health specialists, are to blame for higher maternal mortality rates. Other societal causes of maternal deaths include the absence of professionals, inadequate resources, early [[Marriage|marriages]], poverty in remote rural areas, and a lack of facilities and access. [[Pregnancy]] problems during and after delivery are caused by the high prevalence of [[Cardiovascular disease|cardiovascular]] disorders in pregnant black women. These ladies may experience potentially fatal complications depending on the severity of the condition (Howell,2018) Prenatal care is very vital when it comes to maternal health . According to the [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention|CDC]] Prenatal care can support both the mother and the unborn child's health. Infants born to mothers who receive prenatal care are five times less likely to die and three times more likely to have low birth weights than babies delivered to mothers who do not. There are a lot of reasons why females choose to not engage in proper prenatal care. Around 71% of low income women, according to a US study, had difficulty having access to prenatal care. [[Income]] is highly associated with prenatal health care.