MATERNAL HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY

Erkek Z. Y., Kır E.

2ND INTERNATIONAL HEALTH SCIENCES CONGRESS, 14 - 17 May 2026, pp.1328-1339, (Full Text)

Abstract

This paper addresses the dynamic interaction between maternal health and sustainability within the

framework of global health policies, socio-economic development models, and clinical midwifery

interventions. At the theoretical core of the paper, maternal health is defined not merely as a medical

outcome but as one of the most fundamental development criteria shaping social welfare,

intergenerational justice, and economic productivity. In this context, the protection of maternal health holds strategic importance that directly aligns with global sustainable development goals while

strengthening gender equality and social justice.

The text highlights the healthcare sector's share in the global emission burden and the intensive resource

utilization in maternal health services, emphasizing the necessity for low-carbon care models. At the

practical level, strategic approaches such as technical interventions to reduce the environmental footprint

during childbirth, 'green surgery' protocols, and circularity in material management are detailed.

Furthermore, holistic solution proposals—ranging from digitalization to local supply chains, and from

waste management to parental education—that optimize midwifery care from ecological and social

perspectives are presented. In conclusion, the paper argues that a sustainable transformation in maternal

health services is only possible by blending evidence-based clinical protocols with an environmental

vision and institutionalizing them within midwifery practices under the leadership of midwives.