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Trinidad and Tobago is the southernmost country of the West Indies; as of 2013, its adjusted maternal mortality rate is 84 deaths per 100 000 women; the rate is adjusted for underreporting and misclassification by the World Health Organization.〔Trinidad and Tobago World Health Organization Statistical Profile〕 The contraceptive rate, that is the percentage of women in union aged 15-49 years currently using contraception, is 42.5%.〔Unicef, "Statistics at a Glance: Trinidad and Tobago" http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/trinidad_tobago_statistics.html〕 The fertility rate is 1.8 children per woman.〔 Fourteen weeks of maternity leave with allowances is provided by the government; women typically choose to take this leave after the birth rather than before, to spend time with the newborn.〔Janine Mendes-Franco, "Fathers in the Caribbean have to fight to see the birth of their kids" March 2014 http://globalvoices.org/2014/03/10/midwives-take-action-on-no-dads-allowed-rules-in-trinidad-tobago/〕 95.7% of pregnant women have at least 1 prenatal care visit.〔 These visits most commonly occur at the woman’s local clinic.〔Joan Rawlins & Bidyadhar Sa & Rachel Brathwaite, "Measuring medical students’ sense of preparedness for community visits to antenatal patients in the health centre setting in Trinidad" J Public Health (2013) 21:349–356〕 Diabetes and high blood pressure are two of the more serious conditions for pregnant women in Trinidad and Tobago. Often, if women do not have an antenatal visit early enough in their pregnancy, these conditions can be missed, leading to complications during birth. The biggest challenge for prenatal health is maintaining a healthy diet. Caribbean cuisine is mostly highly seasoned, with a high salt content, and, along with the common practice of frying and high saturated fat, this contributes to poor management of diabetes and increased risk of high blood pressure.〔Gaynor Harrison, "Health beliefs of black and minority ethnic groups and the implications for diabetes care," The Journal of Diabetes Nursing〕 For treatment of their diabetes and high blood pressure, during pregnancy or otherwise, Trinidadians and Tobagonians often view traditional Caribbean medicine as complementary to prescribed medicines.〔Chrystal Smith, "Living with sugar: influence of cultural beliefs on Type 2 diabetes self-management of English-speaking Afro-Caribbean women," Journal of Immigrant Minority Health, 2011, DOI 10.1007/s10903-011-9513-2〕 For example, one study found the following plants used among half of Caribbean respondents for diabetes: cerasse/noni/caraili/bitter melon (''Momordica charantia''), cinnamon bark and pills (''Cinnamomum verum''), mauby bark (''Colubrina arborescens''), aloe (''Aloe vera'', ''Aloe barbadensis''), bush tea (unspecified medicinal plants) and celery (''Apium graveolens''). Cucumber (''Cucumis sativus''), garlic (''Allium sativum''), and tamarind leaf (''Tamarindus indica'') were also used to control high blood pressure. These plants were crushed, liquefied, and consumed cold or steeped as a brewed tea. ''Momordica charantia'' was the most popular botanical that participants used to treat type 2 diabetes.〔 Traditional medicine is also used for childbirth and infertility. One study, which conducted interviews with Trinidadians over a four year period from 1996-2000, found the use of the following plants for childbirth and infertility: ''Mimosa pudica'', ''Ruta graveolens'', ''Abelmoschus moschatus'', ''Chamaesyce hirta'', ''Cola nitida'', ''Ambrosia cumanenesis'', ''Pilea microphylla'', ''Eryngium foetidum'', ''Aristolochia rugosa'', ''Aristolochia trilobata'', ''Coleus aromaticus'', ''Laportea aestuans'' and ''Vetiveria zizanioides''.〔Cheryl Lans, "Ethnomedicines used in Trinidad and Tobago for reproductive problems," Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine March 2007, 3:13 http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186%2F1746-4269-3-13〕 The adolescent fertility rate in Trinidad and Tobago, as of 2013, is 35.5 births per 1000 women aged 15-19 years.〔 In 2007, a representative sample of all 13- to 15-year-old students in Trinidad and Tobago was surveyed about sexual health: 26.0% of students had sexual intercourse during their life and 13.2% of students had sexual intercourse for the first time before age 13. Male students were significantly more likely than female students to have sexual intercourse (32.0% of all males versus 20.2% of all females) and also to have it for the first time before age 13 (19.9% of all males versus 6.3% of all females). In total, 17.6% of students had sexual intercourse with two or more partners during their life. Male students (23.9%) were significantly more likely than female students (11.4%) to have had multiple partners. Among students who had sexual intercourse during the past 12 months, 59.1% used a condom the last time they had sexual intercourse, but only 22.4% used a condom most of the time or always during the past 12 months.〔Pan American Health Organization and the Ministry of Health of Trinidad and Tobago, Global School Based Student Health Survey of Trinidad and Tobago, 2007. http://www.who.int/chp/gshs/2007_GSHS_Trinidad_and_Tobago_Report.pdf〕 Even though the above survey shows an early age of initiation of sexual activity and low utilization of contraceptive practices, a 2008 study of the twin island country showed both a decline in adolescent fertility rates as well as adolescent births over the past decade.〔Kameel Mungrue, "Has early initiation of sexual activity in adolescence had an impact on teenage childbearing in Trinidad and Tobago?," International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health (2008) 20(3):255-60〕 In Trinidad and Tobago the abortion rate is the same as the birth rate; that is there is approximately the same number of abortions per year as births, around 19,000.〔Cedriann J. Martin ''et al.'', "Knowledge and Perception of Abortion and the Abortion Law in Trinidad and Tobago," Reproductive Health Matters, 2007-05-01, Volume 15, Issue 29, Pages 97-107. https://www.clinicalkey.com/#!/content/playContent/1-s2.0-S0968808007293012〕 However, in Trinidad and Tobago, abortion is illegal in cases of incest, rape, social and economic reasons and only legal when the mother’s life is in danger. Annually between 3000-4000 women are treated in the public hospitals for the consequences of unsafe terminations; it is the leading cause of maternal morbidity.〔 Abortion is not openly discussed in Trinidad and Tobago.〔 There is an impression that Trinidadians are greatly opposed to abortion reform law, due in part to certain vocal religious groups; however, a careful survey of 918 citizens conducted in 2005 found that even though almost half of the participants had an unfavorable perception of abortion, more than half of them were in favor of broadening the legal grounds for accessing terminations. As for the prevalence rates for sexually transmitted infections: 1.7% of adults aged 15-49 in Trinidad and Tobago have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as of 2013.〔UN Aids: Trinidad and Tobago, http://www.unaids.org/en/regionscountries/countries/trinidadandtobago〕 ==Labour and birth== From the most recent study in 2012, 100% of births in Trinidad and Tobago are attended by a health professional.〔World Bank, http://data.worldbank.org/country/trinidad-and-tobago〕 97.4% of total births take place in an institution.〔 Of total births in Trinidad and Tobago, approximately 2% occur in the home, 83% in public hospitals, 14.7% in private hospitals, and 0.0025% at the Mamatoto Birth Centre.〔Debra Lewis, "Why Fathers Should be Present at Birth" TEDxTALK Port of Spain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmAyFYjtmok〕 Except for in the case of home births, once labour begins, mothers generally proceed to the hospitals or birth centre as directed by health personnel, usually by telephone. In the public hospitals, as the standard of care, midwives attend the delivery of babies. Only in the case of a complicated birth, for example one requiring Cesarean section or suturing, will the obstetrician on staff be called.〔Interviews with birth attendants and health personnel in Trinidad, conducted by University of Pennsylvania undergraduate, April 2015〕 Cesarean sections are not available on request and the rate in most public hospitals vary from 10-14%, with higher rates occurring in hospitals that receive more referrals. There tends to be a high rate of episiotomies in the public hospitals, as high as 50%.〔 There is limited availability of epidurals in these hospitals and for the most part, natural childbirth takes place. Continuous fetal monitoring technology is not used. The public hospitals tend to adhere to several outdated Western medical policies which are not based on current research or empirical evidence according to the Cochrane Library (a database of systematic reviews); for example, labouring women are kept lying down in bed and are not allowed to have a support person, or eat solid foods, and delivery occurs with the women’s legs in stirrups.〔Cochrane http://www.cochrane.org/CD003934/PREG_mothers-position-during-the-first-stage-of-labour; http://www.cochrane.org/CD002006/PREG_position-in-the-second-stage-of-labour-for-women-without-epidural-anaesthesia〕 Even when new policy is made, it is not necessarily practised, as is the case with Mount Hope Medical facility which does have more modern policy to align with the baby-friendly status, but it is not followed well.〔 In all public facilities, labouring women share the same space for the most part, in an open, non air-conditioned floor, with only screens separating them for privacy. Women are moved into a separate room for the delivery. One direct relative may be allowed for the delivery but this person often times has to meet a series of requirements specific to the hospital and can still be denied on the whim of the staff. For example, the San Fernando General Hospital (serving the southern end of the island) permits no relatives in the delivery room; the Sangre Grande Hospital (serving the east end) has a form with rules that must be signed and followed by the partner; and the Port of Spain General Hospital (serving the west end) requires proof of birth classes along with other requirements.〔 Doulas (trained emotional support persons) are not allowed to provide labour support. If the doula is a direct relative, she may accompany the mother for the delivery as the one allowed family member.〔 In the private hospitals, babies are delivered solely by obstetricians, and the expectant mothers are attended by nurses, midwives (who essentially act as labour and delivery nurses) and doulas, if specifically hired by the mothers. The total cost to have a vaginal delivery in the private sector is approximately $17,000-20,000 TTD (about $3000 USD) and double that price for a Cesarean section.〔West Shore Medical Private Hospital, "Maternity Guide" http://westshoreprivatehospital.com/sitedocs/westshore_maternity_guide.pdf〕 Certain employers do provide private insurance, but it does not cover a significant portion of this cost to make it an affordable option for most. The private hospitals have similar technology use, as in hospitals in the U.S., for fetal monitoring and pain management. Unlike the public hospitals, epidurals are guaranteed if wanted. Cesarean sections are performed in cases of medical indication and can also be performed on request, though that is rare.〔 The Cesarean section rate in most private facilities is about 30%. Labouring women in private facilities often have more flexibility in what they can do: whether it is eating during labour, moving around, or having numerous support persons with them. In general, labour takes place in a private air conditioned room with family members and a doula if previously arranged by the family. Planned births occurring in the home are attended by midwives. To qualify for a home birth, the midwife must approve the birth as low risk with no up front medical indication for need of services unavailable in the home context. As part of the training of midwives in Trinidad and Tobago, all midwifery students must attend at least three home births before their certification is considered complete.〔The T&T Association of Midwives http://www.ttwellnessconnect.com/the-tt-association-of-midwives-delivering-the-future/〕 At the Birth Centre, Mamatoto, the deliveries of babies are attended by midwives following the midwifery model of care. Mothers can labour in whatever position they feel most comfortable, and water, massages, acupressure and doulas are available at every birth for pain management. Over 90% of births are natural vaginal deliveries, requiring no interventions.〔Verdel Bishop, "Alternative Birthing Options at Mamatoto," The Trinidad and Tobago Newsday, 2011, http://www.newsday.co.tt/features/0,151042.html; http://mamatoto.net/our-story/our-doulas/〕 The center has about a 2% episiotomy rate and limited use of birth technology, though they are adequately prepared for emergencies, with an ambulance paid on retainer to transport mothers to the hospital if need be. Obstetricians and pediatricians are members of the Birth Centre’s board and while they are not usually present for births, they offer advice when required. The Centre attends about 50-70 births annually.〔 Births at Mamatoto cost about $14,000 TTD but there are reduced costs, based on family income, and pro bono services for unemployed or teenage women.〔 In general, if a mother has the means, she will choose to deliver her baby in a private facility instead of a public one.〔 In part, this is due to the poor reputation the public hospitals get because of the media’s scandalizing portrayals of maternal deaths.〔For example, see the following two articles from major Trinidadian newspapers http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2015-04-19/new-mom-dead-after-c-section-mt-hope; http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/-Mom-dies-26-days-after-C-section-301499491.html〕 Some mothers might even take out loans, "baby loans," so that they can deliver at private facilities instead of the public ones. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Childbirth in Trinidad and Tobago」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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