Read and understand the case scenario and answer the followingquestions after.
Lata’s Story
Lata was 24 years old and lived with her husband and in-laws in aremote village. Her husband was a day laborer and the family’s solewage-earner. She had been married for three years, and had suffereda stillbirth one year earlier. She had become pregnant again, andher pregnancy was considered high-risk because she was physicallysmall and had anemia and pregnancy-induced hypertension. Lata hadregular antenatal check-ups at the primary health center. Becauseof her high risk status and her previous stillbirth, the healthofficer was worried about her, and he advised her to deliver at thedistrict hospital. Lata did not think her husband would pay forthis, however, and so she decided to deliver at home instead. Alocal private doctor attended her delivery, which was very painfuland resulted in another stillbirth. After the birth Lata developedprofuse bleeding, and she was brought to the primary health centerwith a retained placenta. The medical officer managed to remove theplacenta, but Lata had lost a dangerous amount of blood and was ina state of shock. Blood transfusion facilities were not availableat the health center. The nearest hospital was more than 40 kmaway, and there was no transportation available. Lata’s pulse andblood pressure dropped rapidly. The health officer tried very hardbut could not save her life.
Questions:
- What were some of the causes of Lata’s death?
- What should she have done differently?
- Since her husband was the family’s sole wage-earner, whatshould he have done to make sure that Lata could receive thetreatment she needed?
- What should her family have done
differently?
5. What should the health officials have done differently?
