Moldova

Cultural Influences

Orthodox Christianity exists within a Latin culture in a secular state. Marriage and family mores are conservative. Traditional birth customs focus on the mother and the baby; pregnant women observe rules to protect the baby from evil spirits. The ceremony of the “first bath” is an important Moldovan ritual; only the women participate. The oldest woman related to the baby's father is in charge, and bestows upon the child wishes for moral, spiritual, and physical integrity. Fresh water is infused with [Page 784]flowers, money, honey, and milk, elements believed to purify the newborn and graft him into the family. The second important moment is the Christening and the naming of godparents.

A national program for family planning and reproductive health was implemented from 19992003. A United Nations Population Fund program increased access to education on reproductive health. While 68 percent of women in unions use birth control, 33 percent of pregnancies are unplanned. Abortions are associated with 30 percent of maternal deaths. Although 99 percent of pregnant women receive prenatal care and have skilled birth attendants, maternal mortality rates are almost double the European average. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Moldova's health systems have not kept up with international standards.

Moldova is the pilot country for the World Health Organization's Making Pregnancy Safer initiative in the European region. In order to improve maternal health outcomes, Moldova has set priorities that include promotion of maternal health care, supervision of pregnancy, and nutrition. All pregnant women are eligible for two free ultrasound examinations. The maternity center opened in 2007, PROfemina, focuses on preventing child abandonment and on social integration of mothers in difficulty.