Cultural Factors Contributing to Maternal Mortality Rate in Rural Villages of Limpopo, South Africa [Letter]

Dear Editor

I have carefully studied the results of a study recently published in this journal on the contribution of cultural factors to maternal mortality rate in the rural villages of Limpopo Province South Africa. The results of this study indicated that cultural factors that contributed to maternal mortality. They were perceived cultural factors, which included culture and knowledge to seek care, perceived beliefs, decision-making process, and culture expectations regarding bleeding, hypertension and HIV-AIDS.¹ The critical points explored in this study are limited to “cultural practices that are practiced for women during the childbirth period in Limpopo”.

Cultural practices focus more on value and meaning in the context of a way of life. Meanwhile, the cultural implications in society also have an analytical aspect of the reception that is individually constructed. Culture is one of the fundamental factors causing the high maternal mortality rate. Considering that the nature of culture is deeply rooted and influences a person’s behavior, so in exploring cultural factors that contribute to maternal mortality, it must be thorough, by looking for potential values from cultural aspects, which allow it to be followed up with appropriate interventions while still utilizing existing cultural values in society.²

Referring to relevant references, there are many cultural perspectives that need to be considered as the basis for determining actions such as ethnomedicine, medical ecology, self-concept, the meaning of women’s empowerment in a community perspective, and indigenous knowledge. All of which underlie how a woman and the support system make decisions and act on her health problems.³

Thus, to provide further information of value to the public regarding the problem of maternal mortality, researchers should conduct further studies to explore cultural factors in a broad sense. This is very important because solving the health problems of a society is necessary by adopting a culture and modifying the culture with health care services. Officers need to have cultural competence as well as cultural communication so that the health problems of a community can be handled appropriately.