Recently I read in my newspaper about a charity that helps young mothers in Africa. They are 'married' to an older man at the age of 13 or 14. (In Muslim cultures, a man can have four wives, or so I read.) They give birth when far too young. I can't recall what part of Africa it was, but tradition decrees that she has to give birth all alone, in a hut. No medical care, no midwife, not even an older relative to comfort her.

The baby often dies. Often some part of the mother's body, such as bowel or bladder, is injured, and she can no longer control herself. She is shunned and despised as a dirty person.

The charity operates clinics that repair the damage. Too bad they can't change much else about these girl's lives.

This is not what's going on in 'Danger Waters,' but it gives some idea of what women can be up against when giving birth in a desperately poor country. The woman in the song, who's giving birth on a sofa, may be slightly better off. They may be someone in the house with her to get help if she's dying.