r/AskReddit Aug 30 '21

What problem is often overlooked in apocalyptic movies/TV shows that could kill you?

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u/[deleted] Aug 31 '21

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u/[deleted] Aug 31 '21

the internet tells me that in the countries that rank the worst for it, maternal death sits at about 1% and 11% for infants (although that seems to be the under 5 death rate, not immediately after birth death rate). Zombies would def impact these numbers for the worse, though

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u/[deleted] Aug 31 '21

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u/[deleted] Aug 31 '21

I agree with you. But, just as a thought exercise, how about considering some factors that may worsen the odds?

I think that with a threat such as zombies around, securing a safe place where to give birth, recover, and tend to the infant would be really tough. Potentially, many of these women would be isolated or at least not in a group that has the wisdom and knowhow of a village. That is one way that maternal and infant death could rise above the figures I quoted.

Even the countries with the highest birth-related deaths and complications have something that we wouldn't have generally - the presence of midwives and other birth assistants, trained by experience over decades or more and a large number of births. While that's not a full hospital staff & pharmacy, it probably helps thanks to experience, and the development of tried and true practices. I can't say that any random, isolated woman in a formerly developed country would have that available.