Untold Story: Drivers of High Maternal Mortality Rates in The Gambia

Master's Thesis from the year 2021 in the subject Politics - Topic: Development Politics, grade: 61%, University of Manchester, course: International Development: Poverty, Inequality and Development - Maternal Mortality, language: English, abstract: The maternal mortality in The Gambia is currently at an unpleasant rate of 289 per 100,000 live births, well above the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target of 70 per 100,000 live births. This dissertation aims to explore the drivers of this high maternal mortality in The Gambia through exploration of the roles of socio-economic and cultural practices, health system factors and actions undertaken by the government. The study is based on secondary literature review of relevant published literatures and grey literatures. The causes of maternal mortality in The Gambia are multifaceted and intertwined. Rural-urban inequality in health, education and income are evidentMore political commitment needed to give priority to maternal and child health care, including maternal mortality.