Technology is a major part of life and, because of that, it’s advancing almost as quickly as it can be produced. For the most part, this is a good thing as it improves the lifestyle of millions of people. We have created robots that can find people lost beneath feet of rubble. And technology that communicates with people across the world, and people even out of the atmosphere. If we rewind time 100 years, none of this was possible. And, creators are coming up with new ideas every day for other ways that we can improve the quality of life. One of the most important things that technology has done is that it has drastically improved maternal health. Here are the main things that technology has changed about maternal health–and how it is going to continue to improve it.
1. It Has Become More Affordable
The biggest and one of the most impactful things that have changed with technology is that it has become more affordable across the globe. Every day, 830 women die from complications resulting from pregnancy or childbirth. Most of these deaths are preventable and happen in regions that lack access to basic resources like African countries, South and Southeast Asia, and parts of Latin America. The medical technology to prevent these deaths exists, but primarily in wealthier nations. Recent reports reflect that technological innovations are making life-changing technology available for women in poor countries. These innovations can help reduce deaths related to maternal health and, overall, improve women’s health in general. The procedures become more and more affordable to those who need it.
2. Availability and Access to Nurses
Another huge change in maternal health care is the availability of nurses and doctors. In the past, nurses and doctors were hard to come by in rural areas. Nurses have to go through a rigorous schooling program, and doctors are sent through a process that is even harder than thank. This restricts areas in Africa and Latin America because they don’t have access to colleges that could teach these types of skill. However, thanks to recent advances in technology, nurses have been able to get online degrees in rural areas. This allows them to learn the health procedures and tips that they need to help save lives even in areas that wouldn’t usually have access to medicine.
3. Advances in Maternal Technology
Another notable change in maternal health is the specific advance in technology that relates specifically to the health of the mother and the child. In the past, women were unable to know the extent of the health of their child until they gave birth. 100 years ago, doctors and nurses would often have to choose between the life of the mother and the life of the child. Now, they have to make that choice much less often. Let’s take the advances of the ultrasound for example. If a woman didn’t have access to a hospital, there was no other way to find out the health of the baby. Now, we have a portable ultrasound. It was created because the original price of ultrasounds was too expensive for rural outposts. It is an inexpensive, portable version that uses a laptop. Since its creation, technology has taken it a step further and make it so that it can connect to smartphones as well. This changed everything for people who aren’t near a hospital. Women now have access to technology where they can see their baby before he or she is born.
Conclusion
These changes have altered the lives of millions of women around the world. They have made it so that women who live in rural or poor areas can have access to the same programs and procedures. Lives are being saved every day thanks to technology. As more changes are made, we can expect more happy mothers who can see and raise their children with good health.
