Reducing Childbirth-Related Maternal Death in Haiti

Haiti’s 2015 maternal mortality ratio of 359 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births is the highest in the Western hemisphere. Most maternal deaths occur during childbirth, and of those, preeclampsia and eclampsia make up 37.5 percent. This poster series aims to raise awareness of maternal mortality in Haiti and promote sexual and reproductive health by providing information and addressing misconceptions. There are three sets of posters, each set targeting a different audience: Haitian women, Haitian men, and health care workers.

Artist

Una Choi (2019)

Artist Lens

I used the color red to tie posters together. The first poster shows a discrepancy: while surveyed women believed matrones, local birth attendants, would refer them to the hospital if necessary, only 2.4% of matrones actually did. Women should ask about their emergency plan, as hospitals are better equipped to handle childbirth-related complications like preeclampsia/eclampsia, which accounts for 37.5% of these deaths. The second poster includes preeclampsia warning signs. I drew a pregnant woman in a Quadrille, the traditional dress of Haiti. She is frowning, and the red box under “preeclampsia kills” emphasizes the severity. The third poster has the same woman, but I added a rosy overtone and made her smile to make it empowering. While surveyed woman believed God determined whether they survived childbirth, I wanted to make them realize that many of these dangerous conditions were reversible. The fourth poster combats another misconception: many women are unaware that the Haitian government provides free or heavily subsidized maternal and newborn care. The fifth encourages women to check blood pressure with a simple graphic from Harvard Health.

I designed two posters for Haitian men, as gender roles impact contraceptive use and maternal care. The first poster includes my drawing of a smiling man holding a newborn, as I wanted to encourage male involvement in pregnancy and birth. I included my drawing rather than a photo to add to the whimsical, cheerful mood. The second poster combats the misconception that condoms reduce pleasure, which contributes the low condom usage: only 5.3% of Haitian women aged 15-49 reported that their partner wore a male condom. I included an illustration rather than photos because premarital sex is stigmatized among women; graphic sexual details might prohibit the poster’s display in community centers. 

Finally, I designed two posters directed at healthcare workers. The first poster is the flip of the first men’s poster; surveyed women expressed their desire to have their male partner present, yet healthcare workers often barred these men from the room. The second poster details predictive factors for preeclampsia-associated adverse outcomes. The fullPIERS model has proven predictive value in low income countries. 

Media

Digital Illustration

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