Taiwan’s maternal mortality rate is higher than that of most Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, the National Alliance of Women and Children Organization said.
Although the number of maternal deaths in Taiwan decreased to 12 people in 2023, from 18 in 2022 and 22 in 2021, the maternal mortality rate remains higher than in most OECD countries, and several times higher than those of countries such as Norway, Australia and Japan, it said, citing Ministry of Health and Welfare data.
That indicated that the allocation of medical resources requires improvements, the alliance said, calling on the government to introduce case managers for pregnant women.
Photo: Chen Chia-yi, Taipei Times
This system, which should begin at the beginning of pregnancy, would offer support for women facing challenges such as unintended pregnancies or life difficulties, providing immediate assistance and preventing maternal deaths from the onset of pregnancy, it said.
Given the national shortages of nursing staff, other professionals such as midwives or public health workers could be mobilized to conduct case management for women during the early stages of pregnancy, the alliance added.
Meanwhile, despite years of sex education efforts, the rate of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among young girls in Taiwan has sharply increased, the alliance said.
Over the past decade, syphilis cases surged by 53 times, and gonorrhea cases increased ninefold among girls aged 10 to 19, the alliance said, citing data from the Action Alliance on Basic Education.
The increase in STD rates among young girls suggests that the government should adjust its sex education policies to emphasize condom use, especially as the ministry has been discussing lifting restrictions on purchases of morning-after pills without prescription, it said.
Many teenagers might substitute morning-after pills for condoms, overlooking the risks that such behavior poses to their health, the alliance added.
The government should safeguard women’s rights while promoting policies such as intrauterine insemination, gender-friendly restrooms and increasing female labor force participation, it said.
The use of hormones or medications in intrauterine insemination should be regulated to protect women’s health, as research showed that women receiving such treatment are at a higher risk of conditions such as pre-eclampsia, ovarian cancer and thyroid cancer, the added.
While women generally need more restroom space, as they take longer to use the toilet than men, the reconstruction of many women’s restrooms into all-gender facilities has worsened this issue, resulting in a shortage of adequate restroom space, which further inconveniences women, it said.
Overemphasizing women’s participation in the workplace could diminish the value of stay-at-home moms’ contribution to their families and society, which is not reflected in the labor force participation rate, the alliance said, calling for respect for women’s right to choose between focusing on their family or pursuing a career.
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