| The Mongolian health system was adopted from the Soviet Union. This system was in part responsible for an initial decrease in maternal mortality levels. However, data reveal that during the past two decades little progress has been achieved. This evidence suggests that one of the reasons for this meager progress is the limited alliance between this health-care system and the traditional beliefs of the population. Traditional health practices, based on Buddhist-Tibetan traditions, were not properly assimilated or replaced by the adopted medical model.;The modern health system, with a nominal preventive component, has done very little to provide women with knowledge and sound practices regarding pregnancy and delivery. Therefore, women have had to rely only on traditional obstetric notions that are inconsistent with a sedentary lifestyle.;High maternal mortality is also a consequence of the economic and technical limitations of the health care system itself, as well as the limitations in improving the standard of living of the population. However, it is possible to conclude that a large number of maternal deaths are preventable, even with just the available resources. (Abstract shortened by UMI.). |
