Beyond Biomedicine: A Cross-Regional Analysis of Maternal Mortality in The United States, Sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia

This paper examines the structural and sociocultural factors contributing to maternal mortality beyond biomedical causes across three regions, the United States, South Asia, and Sub- Saharan Africa. Despite similar biomedical causes of maternal death, outcomes differ dramatically across regions, suggesting that patriarchy, traditional values, and systemic racism shape women's autonomy and health-seeking behaviors in ways that clinical frameworks alone cannot capture. A systematic literature review was conducted using Google Scholar and the UNC library database. Articles were analyzed thematically and interpreted through Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory. Across all five systems, chronosystem, macrosystem, exosystem, mesosystem, and microsystem, a consistent pattern emerged. Structural and cultural forces limit women's autonomy regardless of geographic location, preventing access to and utilization of maternal care. Effective interventions must move beyond biomedical approaches to address the patriarchal and racist structures that determine whether women can access care at all. Community-focused, culturally responsive models show the most promise.