UNAIR NEWS (UNAIR) inaugurated six new professors on Thursday (April 24, 2025), including Prof. Dr. Esti Yunitasari, S.Kp., M.Kes., who was inaugurated as Professor of Maternal Nursing. In her inaugural oration, she presented a lecture titled Challenges and Solutions for Achieving Gender Equality to Reduce Maternal Mortality Rates in Indonesia Through Antenatal Care Nursing.
As a faculty member at the Faculty of Nursing, Prof. Yunitasari has paid close attention to Indonesias persistently high maternal mortality rate (MMR). Recent statistics show the countrys MMR at 189 deaths per 100,000 live births. To meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target of 70 deaths per 100,000 births, Indonesia must cut its MMR by more than half. To achieve this goal, Prof. Yunitasari advocated for expanding both the reach and quality of antenatal care (ANC) services.
Highlighting gender equality issues
Before promoting ANC as a primary solution, Prof. Yunitasari addressed the gender-related barriers that impede its success. Among the challenges she identified were limited healthcare access, child marriage, gender-based violence, social stigma, and inadequate infrastructure for women. She further highlighted cultural influences as significant contributors to gender inequality.
According to Transcultural Nursing Theory, cultural traditions often drive gender disparities. Thus, culturally sensitive nurses should not merely follow traditional practices but must also provide thoughtful education when those practices endanger maternal health. With an approach that respects local values while promoting equality, ANC services can become a powerful tool for empowering women without dismissing cultural heritage, Prof. Yunitasari said.
Strategic solutions
Persistent gender inequality and discrimination within healthcare systems continue to obstruct the delivery of quality maternal care. Prof. Yunitasari stressed the importance of womens empowerment. Strengthening womens access to education, healthcare, and reproductive rights is a fundamental step toward lowering maternal mortality. Just as crucial is cultivating a healthcare workforce that is aware of and sensitive to gender issues, ensuring they can serve as catalysts for change, she asserted.
Prof. Yunitasari concluded by emphasizing the need for a multi-stakeholder approach grounded in gender equality principles to address maternal mortality. She argued that gender equality is not just a womens issue but a collective responsibility. Reducing maternal mortality goes beyond medical interventionits about advancing social justice and gender equity. When women have equal access, control, participation, and support in reproductive health services, we can achieve significant reductions in maternal deaths, she said.
Author: Khumairok Nurisofwatin
Editor: Edwin Fatahuddin
