A symbolic representation of the challenges in accessing maternal healthcare in Latvia, featuring a pregnant woman navigating a maze.

Latvia's Maternal Healthcare: Unveiling the Barriers to Safe Motherhood

Beau Callahan in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"A deep dive into the challenges women face in accessing adequate maternal care in Latvia, and what reforms are needed for a healthier future."

Ensuring safe and accessible maternal care is a cornerstone of public health, yet significant disparities persist across different countries. In Latvia, a nation with a high maternal mortality ratio compared to its European counterparts, major inequities plague the system, hindering women's access to adequate care. Understanding the factors that contribute to these challenges is crucial for developing effective interventions and policies.

A comprehensive study was conducted to explore stakeholder perspectives on access to adequate maternal care in Latvia, aiming to identify barriers and areas of consensus. This mixed-method study combined an online survey of women who recently gave birth with in-depth interviews of healthcare providers and decision-makers, providing a multifaceted view of the maternal healthcare landscape.

Adequacy, in this context, refers to the extent to which maternal healthcare services are safe, effective, timely, efficient, equitable, and people-centered. By examining five key aspects of access—availability, adequacy, affordability, approachability, and acceptability—the study sheds light on the systemic issues that impact maternal health outcomes in Latvia.

What are the Key Obstacles to Maternal Care in Latvia?

A symbolic representation of the challenges in accessing maternal healthcare in Latvia, featuring a pregnant woman navigating a maze.

The study revealed significant barriers to accessing adequate maternal care in Latvia, stemming from issues of availability and appropriateness. Availability challenges include a shortage of human resources and geographical distance, particularly affecting women in rural areas. Appropriateness issues encompass inequalities in provider knowledge, care provision, and adherence to clinical guidelines.

Compounding these issues are challenges related to providers' approaches towards women, notably in communication, and to a lesser extent, maternal care acceptance by women due to health literacy. These findings underscore the multifaceted nature of the problem and the need for targeted interventions to address each aspect.

Resource Scarcity and Unequal Access: Insufficient human resources and inequalities in access are major impediments.
Guideline Non-Compliance: There is a troubling lack of adherence to clinical guidelines and standards of care.
Health Literacy Deficit: Insufficient health literacy across different population groups negatively impacts maternal health outcomes.

To illustrate the impact of these barriers, consider the following statistics: 35% of maternal death cases in Latvia involved women without antenatal care, while another 15% had limited access to maternal care. Additionally, socio-economic and lifestyle factors were identified in 75% of maternal death cases, highlighting the complex interplay of factors affecting maternal health.

Charting a Course for Improvement

The insights from this study provide a roadmap for future reforms in Latvia's maternal care system. Addressing the identified barriers—resource shortages, guideline compliance, health literacy, and communication—is essential for improving maternal health outcomes. By focusing on micro-level indicators and tailoring interventions to specific community needs, Latvia can move towards a more equitable and effective maternal healthcare system.

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This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2018.10.012, Alternate LINK

Title: Barriers To Accessing Adequate Maternal Care In Latvia: A Mixed-Method Study Among Women, Providers And Decision-Makers

Subject: Health Policy

Journal: Health Policy

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: Elina Miteniece, Milena Pavlova, Bernd Rechel, Dace Rezeberga, Liubovė Murauskienė, Wim Groot

Published: 2019-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What are the biggest problems impacting maternal care in Latvia?

In Latvia's maternal healthcare system, key obstacles include resource scarcity, where there are insufficient human resources and unequal access to care, especially affecting women in rural areas. There's also guideline non-compliance, which involves a lack of adherence to clinical guidelines and standards of care. Finally, a health literacy deficit impacts maternal health outcomes due to insufficient understanding across different population groups. The issues of availability and appropriateness are key factors impacting safe motherhood.

What does 'adequacy' mean when we talk about maternal healthcare, and why is it important?

Adequacy in maternal healthcare refers to whether services are safe, effective, timely, efficient, equitable, and people-centered. It's important because it's a comprehensive measure of how well the healthcare system meets the needs of pregnant women. If adequacy is lacking, maternal health outcomes can suffer, leading to increased risks during pregnancy and childbirth. By examining availability, affordability, approachability, and acceptability, a better understanding of systemic issues is achieved.

Why is it a problem that healthcare providers in Latvia don't always follow clinical guidelines?

The lack of adherence to clinical guidelines in Latvia's maternal care system has significant implications. It suggests inconsistencies in the quality of care provided, which can lead to poorer maternal health outcomes. Non-compliance can result in preventable complications during pregnancy and childbirth, impacting maternal mortality rates. This is compounded by inequalities in provider knowledge and care provision.

Why is understanding health information so important for pregnant women in Latvia?

Health literacy plays a crucial role in maternal health because it affects a woman's ability to understand and act on health information. When health literacy is low, women may not seek antenatal care early enough or follow medical advice properly, leading to adverse outcomes. This is compounded by socio-economic and lifestyle factors that affect maternal health. Deficits in health literacy exacerbate existing challenges.

How does the lack of resources affect the maternal care that women receive in Latvia?

Resource scarcity in Latvia's maternal healthcare system, specifically insufficient human resources and unequal access, affects the ability of women, particularly in rural areas, to receive adequate care. It can lead to delayed or missed appointments, overburdened healthcare providers, and a lower quality of care. The impact includes increased risks during pregnancy and childbirth. A shortage of human resources is a major impediment.