Mama: True Stories of Maternal Health in Malawi

by Caitlin Arlene

While working on an international development article as a summer student, author Caitlin Arlene was shocked to discover the desperate statistics surrounding global maternal health. Every day, approximately 830 women die due to preventable complications in pregnancy and childbirth. The same day will bear nearly 6,700 neonatal deaths-infants who do not make it past their first month.

In Mama: True Stories of Maternal Health in Malawi, Caitlin Arlene takes you alongside her journey to uncover the anonymity of the women and children behind these critical numbers. As an eye-opening compilation of true stories that simultaneously breaks and mends your heart, Mama is a compassionate narrative that highlights the plight of women, children, families, and healthcare practitioners in the center of the maternal health crisis. Highlighting the mountains to be climbed and the peaks that have been conquered, these stories explode with a sense of urgency and hope.

146 pages, Paperback

Published October 22, 2021

Reviews

[Amanda H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a small book. I could easily get through it in an afternoon however, the magnitude of the stories encapsulated in each chapter required reflection. I savoured reading each chapter and learning about the lives of Mamas in Malawi. I had anticipated a more scientific approach but I was pleasantly surprised to instead be reading about a crisis through the lens of inhuman compassion. I’d recommend this book to everyone who finds them self pregnant or planning a pregnancy, regardless of gender or family role.

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

An uplifting story of individuals and families from Malawi. It covers the difficult topics related to maternal health in an insightful and positive manner that is very relatable.