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Women- Mother and Child Health

In 2000, the UN states adopted the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

MDG #5 set a target to reduce the maternal mortality ratio by three-quarters (to 5.5%) by 2015. However, this goal was not achieved worldwide.

In percentage terms, even the industrialized countries, or so-called first-world countries, have not achieved this goal. Numerically, however, there is an urgent need for action, especially in the so-called developing countries.
In 2010, for example, maternal mortality was highest in South Sudan, with 2054 deaths per 100,000 live births, while Estonia led the world with only 2/100,000. Germany ranked 164th out of 184 countries with 7/100,000, and Sierra Leone ranked fourth highest with 890/100,000.

Gestational diabetes

is a glucose tolerance disorder that occurs during pregnancy. The pathophysiology of gestational diabetes corresponds to a large extent to that of type 2 diabetes. Based on a genetic predisposition, obesity and the lifestyle (diet, exercise) of women play a major role.

Preeclampsia

and its forms HELLP syndrome and eclampsia are hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
Both types: Preeclampsia and gestational diabetes are associated with endothelial damage to the vessels – both the placenta and the maternal vessels.

It stands to reason, therefore, that EVFM is dedicated to these two pregnancy-associated diseases in particular and is committed to prevention programs.

Preeclampsia and gestational diabetes are serious health risks for both mother and child.

Due to complications such as: fetal macrosomia, obstetric arrest, retro-placental hematoma, disseminated intravascular coagulation, post partial hemorrhage, intra-uterine amniotic death, fetal growth retardation, and iatrogenic prematurity, these types of conditions collectively represent the leading causes of maternal mortality and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide.

Only through optimal prenatal care programs and high-tech medicine (laboratory medicine, sonography, Doppler examination, intensive care and neonatology) can the complications of these pregnancy diseases be kept at bay in Western countries. By guaranteeing this medicine in industrialized countries, the public perception of these serious diseases as a threat is receding into the background. Pregnancy is no longer perceived as a potentially life-threatening condition, but as a life event.

The fact is, however, that even here in Germany most pregnancy complications can be traced back to pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes. Prematurity alone, or the sectiorate are just two examples of this.

EFVM engages in a variety of flanking maternal and child health activities. Here, too, the focus is on so-called non-metropolitan regions in Germany, as well as low-resource settings in the sub-Saharan zone.

In collaboration with the Princess Christian Maternity Hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone, a study nurse program will establish a gestational diabetes registry and a preeclampsia registry. In addition, an exchange and training program for young residents in gynecology and obstetrics was established between Germany and Sierra Leone.