Abstract
Maternal mortality is among the neglected problem in the District of Uzumba, Zimbabwe. This qualitative study therefore, explores the patriarchal hegemonies embedded in the socio-cultural harmful practices, traditions, beliefs, values and norms associated with maternal mortality in Uzumba district. These have been neglected in the reduction initiatives of maternal mortality. The originality of this study lies in the use of primary data through interviews and observation methods on the key informants and significant. Snowballing technique was employed in this study to select the key informants and significant others. The study have also benefited from the proliferation of secondary data on the social phenomena of maternal mortality across the globe. The results of the study showed that, despite the medical related causes of maternal mortality, the non-medical aspects such as patriarchal hegemonies in the socio-cultural practices, beliefs, traditions, norms, values and perceptions play a significant role in escalating maternal mortality especially in Uzumba district, Zimbabwe. The article therefore, recommends that maternal mortality reduction needs more of a holistic approach of medical and non-medical initiatives as it is still the major problem in Zimbabwe’s rural communities. Therefore, maternal mortality can be addressed and reduced within the socio-cultural context as shown in Uzumba district, Zimbabwe.
Highlights
In Zimbabwe, maternal mortality is among the top societal concern
There is more pros of concentrating on the non-medical issues in the reduction of maternal mortality. It is in this context this paper argues that for Zimbabwe to combat maternal mortality, there is need for responsible authorities, government, NGOs, gender activists, policy makers and academic circles to undertake a much more detailed study on maternal mortality within the social context of the patriarchal hegemonies embedded in the socio cultural practices, traditions, values, beliefs
Amai Marufu a 44 year old mother of 2, on the 3rd of November 2019 narrated that, “that most women are aware of those methods when it comes to the decision whether to utilize them or not, it is men who decide
Summary
In Zimbabwe, maternal mortality is among the top societal concern. Maternal mortality is one of the neglected problem in the District of Uzumba, Zimbabwe. From the studies by UN agencies such as the UN Women (2019), United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), maternal mortality is the most pressing issue in the Sub Saharan Africa especially in Zimbabwe. United Nations in Zimbabwe Periodic Publication Paper 1 (2013) and Odekunle (2016), defined maternal mortality as the death of a women while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy irrespective of the duration and site of pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes
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