Adrienne E. Strong, "Documenting Death: Maternal Mortality and the Ethics of Care in Tanzania" (U California Press, 2020)

Maternal mortality in Tanzania is explored through the lens of hospital practices and resource scarcity. Adrienne Strong, author of "Documenting Death, Maternal Mortality, and the Ethics of Care in Tanzania," discusses her shift from infectious disease to maternal health, prompted by witnessing a postmortem exam after a maternal death. The conversation highlights how scarcity of supplies, staff, and specialized expertise impacts the quality of care and forces ethical compromises. The discussion reveals the tension between global health guidelines and on-the-ground realities, using the example of the partograph to illustrate how documentation can overshadow actual care. Also examined is the concept of "fierce care," where violence during childbirth is sometimes rationalized as necessary for saving lives, alongside the stratification of care based on a patient's social standing and preparedness.