MAC Model United Nations

Committee: UN Women
Topic: Addressing maternal mortality
Report of the Chairs:
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I. Theme of the Conference

Mac Model United Nations (MACMUN) is a conference designed to encourage
stimulating and authentic debate upon various world crises among every delegate in each
committee. Model UN members are excited to share the theme of this conference: Change
is ceaselessly our global society. Chosen topics emphasize the crucial economic, political,
and social dilemmas that are collectively affecting the function of numerous countries in
all regions of the world. Delegates have the opportunity to present their original possible
solutions, along with the perspective of their assigned country. By collaborating with
fellow committee members to form concrete solutions, delegates will experience the power
to make real change for our collective future.

II. Rationale
Maternal mortality is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as
“the death of a women while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy,
irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any causes related to or
aggravated by the pregnancy”. Maternal mortality is highly found in the rural countries of
Africa; including, Sierra Leone, and Central African Republic, where maternal mortality
rates have become so lethal, 1 in 17 women will experience death. The lack of hospital
aid in these countries is one of the main impediments for keeping women healthy and
safe. Women in African countries, along with several southeastern Asian countries are
being equipped to give up not only their life, but as well as the life of a newborn baby.
This predicament needs to be addressed immediately because not only are
innocent women being subjected to inevitable death, but the consequences go beyond
that: Financial instability begins to appear in households, since the family is now relying
on one income. Economic trends regionally are severely affected, which halts the
development of the country, and increases unemployment. Delegates are encouraged to
accumulate information from various sources to come to a possible solution upon the global
issue, maternal mortality; while comprehending multiple perspectives, and communicating
developed ideas to other countries.
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III. Background of the Topic

Cases of maternal mortality have unfortunately been recorded since the 19 th-
century, identifying the Sub-Saharan region as the primary location; however, in
Asian and North African regions, numbers were only beginning to grow- between
the 1900’s and 2015, the global maternal mortality rate was scarcely declining at a
rate of 2.3% per year. In some regions of the world, it was recorded that a 5.5%
decline rate was being observed between 2000-2010. The number of women who
died each year due to childbearing complications declined from 532,000, in 1990,
to 303,000, in 2015. The substantial reduction of deaths from the 1900’s to the 20th
century is remarkable; although, still over 800 women are dying each day from
maternal complications. Each death, results in 20 other possible victims suffering
from traumatic injuries, infections, and disabilities.
According to “Maternal Mortality”, by Max Roser and Hannah Ritchie, the
“100- fold” decline of maternal mortality was due to contracting puerperal fever, or
(childbed fever). Puerperal fever had been studied, and showcased that unhygienic
medical staff and medical equipment was the cause of infection of the woman’s
genital tract. Although this is true, medical advancements such as antibiotics during
the 20th century have made it possible to treat puerperal fever; however, the goal of
this committee is to generate a long-term and rational solution(s) upon how to
effectively approach maternal mortality rates.

IV. Contemporary Evidence

High percentages of maternal mortality occur in environments that lack
access to health services, resulting in 99% of global mortality rates, residing in
developing countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a 15
year-old women living in a developing country, has a 1in 180 chance of surviving;
while in developed countries, the chance of death from maternal mortality is only 1
in 4900.
World Helth Organization 2015 studies have reported that globally, births in
the richest 20% of households were more than twice as likely to be attended by a
skilled health professional, compared to those living in the poorest 20% of
households- millions of births are not being assisted by a midwife, doctor, or
certified nurse. Apart from the lack of access to health care facilities, other
circumstances play a vital key to the skyrocketing percentages. The increase of
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poverty, and the absence of adequate services, along with the scarcity of information
are all contributing factors. According to the National Center of Biotechnology
information, researches have studied that more than 40% of pregnant women will
experience obstetric disorders that are immediately fatal. When women are exposed
to obstetric disorders, the higher the risk the child will die. A 1997 studied showed
that approximately 30-40% of infants could be averted to maternal interventions
alone. With this being stated, maternal mortality is preventable; although, there ae
multiple socioeconomic obstacles that prevent such from occurring.

V. References and Research

1. WHO (February 16th, 2018), “Maternal Mortality”- https://www.who.int/news-
room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality
2. Our World In Data, “Maternal Mortality- By: Max Roser and Hannah Ritchie”-
https://ourworldindata.org/maternal-mortality
3. On Health (May 6th, 2015)- “The economic and social impacts of maternal death”-
https://blogs.biomedcentral.com/on-health/2015/05/06/economic-social-impacts-
maternal-death/
4. NCIB-“Improving Birth Outcomes: Meeting the Challenge in the Developing
World” - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK222105/
5. UNICEF for every child, “Maternal Mortality”-
https://data.unicef.org/topic/maternal-health/maternal-mortality/
VI. Note to the Delegates
We hope everyone will have an amazing experience, and value this time today. We
thank you for attending this conference, and hope you all walk away with a newfound respect
for yourselves and the UN