The promotion of maternal health and mortality reduction is of worldwide importance, and constitutes a vital part of the UN Millennium Development Goals. The highest maternal mortality rates are in developing countries, where global and regional initiatives are needed to improve the systems and...

This chapter provides an overview of maternal and perinatal health in developing countries and presents a synopsis of the subsequent chapters in this book. Maternal deaths represent only a fraction of the burden of ill health and disability faced by millions of women and newborns as a consequence...

Three different definitions of maternal death should be distinguished: maternal deaths, pregnancy-related deaths and late maternal deaths. Four indicators are used to describe different aspects of the level of maternal mortality: maternal mortality ratio, maternal mortality rate, maternal...

The MDGs are a contract between the developed and the developing world to improve the quality of life in developing countries, laying out the responsibilities of both groups of countries in working towards achieving these goals. Developed countries are expected to provide 0.7% of GNP in official...

Medical conditions can have a major effect on the woman before, during and after pregnancy, some of which have particular importance to her offspring. The conditions are often exacerbated by pregnancy. Infectious conditions are common in developing country settings, with antenatal care providing an ...

The history of measuring maternal mortality reflects eflects the evolution of two broader strategic priorities: maternal health (safe motherhood) and health information systems. Three main periods can be distinguished: mid-1980s to 2000, 2000-2010, and 2010 to the present day, which broadly...

A functioning health system is crucial ucial for maternal health programmes to achieve their goals of improving maternal and perinatal health. The six essential building blocks of a health system are service delivery, health workforce, information, equipment and supplies, financing and leadership...

The cost of accessing maternity care in low and middle income countries falls heavily on users, contributing to the low uptake of key services such as deliveries in health facilities and limited access to emergency obstetric care. This is a particular challenge for poor households. Different...

To ensure adequate coverage of care for maternal and perinatal health goals, maternity services (of good quality) must be made available. The availability of maternity services is dependent upon the health system and cannot be planned in isolation. Clear policies which draw upon principles of the...

Poor access to emergency obstetric care is due to one of three delays: deciding to seek care, reaching a health facility and receiving appropriate treatment. Poor geographical access in itself is not the cause of the second delay, but the delay results from failure to bridge it with adequate...