Obstetrics

Improving Maternal Mortality and Other Aspects of Women's Health,

Published by: 
Center For Strategic and International Studies(CSIS)

Over the past several decades, the world has witnessed some astonishing global health success stories—from the eradication of smallpox to the expanding control of other vaccine-preventable diseases to the widespread provision of effective treatment for HIV/AIDS to millions of people. Yet, for all these public health and medical advances, a startling number of women still die each year from causes linked to pregnancy and childbirth: 287,000, according to the most recent consensus estimates. Eighty-five percent of these deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Many if not most are thought to be avoidable given adequate maternal access to emergency obstetric care.

Building a Future for Women and Children: The 2012 Report

Published by: 
World Health Organization

Countdown launched its 2012 Report on June 14, 2012, at the Child Survival Call to Action, a two-day high-level meeting in Washington, D.C.  This conference, convened by the governments of the U.S., Ethiopia, and India in collaboration with UNICEF, charted a course toward the end of preventable child deaths around the world.

Trends in Maternal Mortality: 1990-2010

Published by: 
UNFPA

Globally, the total number of maternal deaths decreased by from 543 000 in 1990 to 287 000 in 2010. Likewise, the global maternal mortality ratio (MMR) declined from 400 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births in 1990 to 210 in 2010, representing an average annual decline of 3.1 per cent.

Urgent Delivery Maternal Death: The Avoidable Crisis

Published by: 
Medicins Sans Frontieres

Every day, approximately 1000 women die in childbirth or from a pregnancy-related complication.1 Maternal death can occur at any time in pregnancy, but delivery is by far the most dangerous time for both the mother and the baby. The vast majority of these deaths can be prevented if access to emergency obstetric care is ensured.

Experience shows us that at least 15 percent of all pregnant women worldwide encounter a life-threatening complication. In a conflict or a crisis, pregnant women are even more vulnerable because health services have collapsed, are inadequate or non-existent. But these women need access to quality emergency obstetric care whether they live in a conflict zone, in a refugee camp or under plastic sheeting after a devastating earthquake.

Essential Interventions, Commodities and Guidelines for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health

Published by: 
World Health Organization

A global review of the key interventions related to reproductive, maternal, newborn and child Health

Executive Summary

Why reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health?

Poor maternal, newborn and child health remains a significant problem in developing countries. Worldwide, 358 000 women die during pregnancy and childbirth every year and an estimated 7.6 million children die under the age of five. The majority of maternal deaths occur during or immediately after childbirth. The common medical causes for maternal death include bleeding, high blood pressure, prolonged and obstructed labour, infections and unsafe abortions.

Practices in adopting a human rights-based approach to eliminate preventable maternal mortality and human rights

Published by: 
United Nations

The present study, submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 15/17, contains an analytical compilation of good and effective practices in adopting a human rights-based approach to eliminate preventable
maternal mortality and morbidity. It identifies the common features of such practices, analyses how they embody a human rights-based approach, and showcases some good practices that have been effective in reducing maternal
mortality and morbidity.

Community Based Situational Analysis: Maternal and Neonatal Follow Up Care

Published by: 
Health Systems Trust
Reduction of mortality and morbidity of both the mother and the newborn have been identified as priority areas needing urgent attention by the Department of Health. The maternal mortality ratio for South Africa was estimated in the South African Demographic and Health Survey of 1998 to be 150/100 000 births. This rate is however, thought to be rising, as the estimate from the latest Saving Mothers Report places the estimate at 175-200/100 000 births. The extent of morbidity is not known but it is estimated that for every woman that dies of a pregnancy related complication, 20 more suffer from morbidity such as vesico-vaginal fistulae which may be severe and lead to long term disabilities.