Improving Maternal Health

Improving Maternal Health

Materials Class set of MDG Comic #5: Improving Maternal Health Access to computer/projector to show video (optional) Student computer access Outcomes and Indicators This lesson plan is designed to meet Outcome RW 6.1 of the Saskatchewan Grade 7 Social Studies curriculum specifically to: Examine and analyze factors that contribute to quality of life, including material and non-material factors. Indicators to which this lesson plan pertains include RW6.1e and RW6.1g, specifically: Teacher Background Explain factors that affect the quality of life of youth in Canada and a selection of countries bordering the Atlantic Ocean (e.g., labour practices, access to education and technology, shelter, food and water, health care, sport and recreation, inclusion, or marginalization). Compare and contrast the quality of life in Canada with the quality of life in a selection of countries bordering the Atlantic Ocean using various sources of data including a quality of life index, maps, graphs, and charts. In 2000, the countries of the United Nations passed the Millennium Declaration. That document contained a list of eight goals designed to address the key challenges facing the world at the dawn of a new millennium. Time sensitive targets were set; concrete measures to judge relative success or failure were put in place; development organizations ramped up their efforts. Ten years later, there have been successes, but more needs to be done to meet the targets. Please note: The United Nations has produced a series of videos on the Millennium Development Goals. These have all been placed the Internet. The five minute video on Maternal Mortality can be viewed at http://endpoverty2015.org/en/global/resource/unitednations-millennium-campaign-goal-5-maternal-health. As always, teachers should preview the video before using it in their classrooms. Procedure Brainstorm definitions for the term maternal mortality. Put these definitions on the board and lead students to the following definition: The phrase maternal mortality refers to the death of a woman during pregnancy or shortly after giving birth.

Explain that, when looking at maternal mortality statistics, the numbers are quoted as a ratio. This ratio, called the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), is given per 100,000 live births. This makes comparisons between different countries easier. Put the following example on the board and ask students to explain what it means: an MMR of 3.9 (approximately 3.9 women out of every 100,000 live births die because of pregnancy or complications of childbirth). The statistics for maternal mortality vary by country. Ask students to speculate what conditions might cause these statistics to vary. Post these on the board, but do not indicate if they are right or wrong. Students should be encouraged to discover which are correct through their coming research. Conditions include access to medical care including doctors and nurses, sanitation, poverty rates, nutrition, access to clean water, etc. Tell students they are about to engage in a four part research activity. Distribute Student Handout 1 (HO1) and review with students. Part 1 will deal with the rates of Maternal Mortality in various parts of the world. In Part 2, students will research the causes of Maternal Mortality. Part 3 asks students to develop a strategy to lower the levels of Maternal Mortality. In Part 4, students will put all their research together into a creative presentation. Distribute student evaluation sheet and go over with students.

Maternal Health Student Hand Out 1 You have learned that the phrase Maternal Mortality refers to the death of a woman during pregnancy or shortly after giving birth. You have also learned that Maternal Mortality is measured as a ratio (the Maternal Mortality Ratio) of the number of women who die while pregnant or during childbirth out of 100,000 live births. In this four part investigation, you will look at the different levels of Maternal Mortality in diverse geographic areas. You will also be examining the underlying causes of Maternal Mortality. Afterwards, you will investigate how Maternal Mortality rates can be lowered. Lastly, you will present your findings in a creative way. Part 1: What countries have high Maternal Mortality Ratios? Along with Canada, choose another six of the following countries. You may only choose two countries from the same general part of the world (i.e. only two countries from South America, only two countries from Africa, etc.). Research the Maternal Mortality ratio for each country. Use a graphic organizer such as a pictograph, bar graph, etc. to show your work. Be sure to record the source of your data and the date the data was generated. Bangladesh Honduras Granada Ghana Nicaragua Columbia Dominican Republic Haiti Gambia Sierra Leone Nigeria Iraq Iran India Malaysia Indonesia Singapore Venezuela Analyze your data: 1. What country or countries have the highest MMR? 2. What country or countries have the lowest MMR? 3. Where are these countries located? 4. Do you think their location has anything to do with their MMR? Why or why not? Part 2: Investigating the cause(s) of high Maternal Mortality Rates At the beginning of this lesson, you brainstormed reasons why some countries have a high MMR and why some countries have a low MMR. Focus only on the countries you identified as having a high MMR. Are any of the reasons for a high MMR identified previously present within your countries? Conduct research into the causes of high maternal mortality. Record your findings. As always, record the source of your information as well as the date of its publication.

Analyze your findings: Summarize the factors that cause a high Maternal Mortality Rate within individual countries. During your research, did you find reasons for high MMRs that were not previously identified? If you did, what are those factors? If you found other reasons, be sure to record them as well. Part 3: Working to lower Maternal Mortality Maternal mortality reduction is a complex task that can be tackled in a number of ways. Some groups are working to reduce poverty levels. Other groups are working toward providing better educational opportunities for women. Still others are working directly in health related areas. Choose a country you have found to have a high Maternal Mortality Ratio. Develop a plan that works to reduce poverty levels, improves education, and makes advancements in health care for women. You need to be specific (i.e. what are you going to do to raise education levels? What kinds of improvements to medical care will you make)? Your plan must show how improvements in these areas would affect the level of maternal mortality. Part 4: Bringing it all together The final step is to bring all your information together in one spot. Create a presentation that highlights all of your data. You may choose to make a PowerPoint, to design a television spot, make a poster, write a play, etc. etc. Check with your teacher before beginning whatever form of presentation you choose.

Multimedia Project Rubric Topic/Content Mechanics Cooperative Group Work Oral Presentation Skills Assignment: Maternal Mortality Presentation 1 point 2 Points 3 points 4 points Includes little essential information and one or two facts Includes more than 5 grammatical errors, misspellings, punctuation errors, etc. Cannot work with others in most situations. Cannot share decisions or responsibilities. Great difficulty communicating ideas. Poor voice projection. Little preparation or incomplete work. Includes some essential information with few citations and few facts. Includes 3-4 grammatical errors, misspellings, punctuation errors, etc. Works with others, but has difficulty sharing decisions and responsibilities. Some difficulty communicating ideas, due to voice projection, lack of preparation, or incomplete work Name Includes essential information with most sources properly cited. Includes enough elaboration to give readers an understanding of the topic. Includes 2-3 grammatical errors, misspellings, punctuation errors, etc. Works well with others. Takes part in most decisions and contributes fair share to group. Communicates ideas with proper voice projection. Adequate preparation and delivery. Covers topic completely and in depth. Includes properly cited sources and complete information. Encourages readers to know more. Grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization are correct. No errors in the text. Works well with others. Assumes a clear role and related responsibilities. Motivates others to do their best. Communicates ideas with enthusiasm, proper voice projection, appropriate language, and clear delivery. Total Points Self Evaluation Teacher Evaluation Adapted from http://www.ncsu.edu/midlink/rub.mmproj.htm