Helena Getachew

Data Collection
Research Question: Who/what is to blame for the problems that halt Ethiopias maternal and
newborn health progress, such as traditional practices and poverty, and what can we do to
improve it?
1) Success Factors for Womens and Childrens Health Evaluation
Summary:
To introduce the problem, this journal offers much contextual evidence to pinpoint where
Ethiopias maternal and newborn health issues stem from. This source describes Ethiopias
geographic scene and current economic state. To shed a more narrow light, the journal discusses
female employment rates, school enrollment, political presence, and, most importantly, health.
The nation has done much to combat the detriments of their lack of economic facilities and poor
economic conditions; however, there are more areas that need to be invested in. These areas
include malnutrition, lack of health workers, underdevelopment of technology and infrastructure,
and limited access to clean water. The journal provides insight on these issues, and how to reduce
the impact that they have on Ethiopias maternal and neonatal health, concluding with defining
the nations future priorities.

How This Ties Back to My Research Question

This source discusses the effectiveness of their efforts. Based off of this, the source
assesses what needs to be improved upon in order to meet the global health standards and
guarantee adequate care for the nations mothers and newborns, relating back to my question
which seeks information concerning what areas require improvement.

2) Can Innovative Ambulance Transport Avert Pregnancy-Related Deaths? One-Year

Operational Assessment in Ethiopia Evaluation
Summary:
Rather than investing in the construction of health care facilities, which should still be
heavily emphasized, the Ethiopian government considered the implementation of ambulances.
Government officials hypothesized the effects of ambulances on access to maternal and neonatal
care and death rates. To assess the impact, a study was conducted in which six of Ethiopias
districts implemented an ambulance system. Results demonstrated that, for every 19,179 live
births, 51 mothers died (Godefay). These statistics demonstrate a decline in maternal mortality
rate associated with the increase of ambulance utilization. For the future, they concluded that the
government should invest in projects that not only focus on increasing the number of healthcare
facilities but increasing the number of medical transportation outlets.

How This Ties Back to My Research Question:

This assessment refers to the what needs to be improved upon? aspect of my beautiful
question. This is a specific example that demonstrates the Ethiopian government investing in
improving maternal health and seeking a new and innovative approach to decreasing the
maternal mortality rate.

3) Yebeteseb Mela: Dedicated to Maternal Health, Volume 6, 2&3

Summary:
The Ethiopian government along with the help of missionaries, organizations, the
community etc. have invested much time and effort into tackling maternal health. To inform the
public of these efforts, the journal goes into explicit detail demonstrating the cost-effective ways

that have helped make care more accessible and efficient. For example, they inform women
about the use of contraceptives to introduce them to the idea that women have the power to
control when they want to conceive. Additionally, a woman recounts her experience with fistula
and the difficulties she faced when trying to access care and how organizational efforts were able
to save her.

How This Ties Back to My Research Question:

This source ultimately describes what the Ethiopian government is doing to tackle
Ethiopias maternal health (hence the title). This expands on the idea what needs to be improved
upon by exhibiting how these things are already being dealt with.

4) Cultural Barriers to Seeking Maternal Health Care in Ethiopia: A Review of the Literature
Summary:
Ethiopia being considered an underdeveloped country coupled with the fact that a good
portion of the nation has limited access to the schooling, cultural behaviors are not as progressive
as they should be. Some of these traditional practices act as barriers to the advancement of
Ethiopias maternal health care. These practices include many women's personal decision to
reject care or the cultural acceptance of at-home deliveries, which, without some sort of medical
attention, can be detrimental. With increased education (especially in those rural regions where
education is not as prioritized), these traditional practices that discourage the progression of
maternal health can be challenged to ultimately demonstrate improvements in womens health
across the nation.

How This Ties Back to My Research Question

This source identifies who/what is to blame for the poor maternal and neonatal health
conditions and how the Ethiopian government strives to combat these barriers, directly
answering my research question and providing me with insights on what really has influence on
the Ethiopias maternal and newborn health progress. In addition to this, it answers the question
what is not being done?, differing from the angles of many other journals Ive analyzed.

Where My Research is Headed:

With the data Ive collected, I can tie the information back to my beautiful question
(who/what is to blame for the problems that halt Ethiopias maternal and newborn health
progress, such as traditional practices and poverty, and what can we do to improve it?). I now
feel like I have generated new ways to answer my question and have received a better
understanding of what things really have made a significant impact on Ethiopias maternal and
newborn health status. I do feel like I have more questions that I want answered; however, that
would require personal interviews with my advisor, which I am more than willing to do in the
future. Overall, I feel like this data introduced me to more factors that I hadnt considered before,
and I know that I will be using these ideas in my final product.