10 facts on maternal health
Updated September 2010
About 358 000 women died in 2008 of complications during pregnancy or childbirth. Most of these deaths can be avoided as the necessary medical interventions exist and are well known. The key obstacle is pregnant women's lack of access to quality care before, during and after childbirth.
Millennium Development Goal 5 (MDG 5), improve maternal health, set the targets of reducing maternal mortality by 75% and achieving universal access to reproductive health by 2015. But, so far progress in reducing mortality in developing countries and providing family planning services has been too slow to meet the targets.
WHO is supporting countries in delivering integrated, evidence-based and cost-effective care for mothers and babies during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. Investing in health systems -- especially in training midwives and in making emergency obstetric care available round-the-clock -- is key to reducing maternal mortality.
Related links
Events
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The 8th Global Conference on Health Promotion
10–14 June 2013
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Sixty-sixth World Health Assembly
20–28 May 2013
Corporate resources
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The world health report
Report on global public health and key statistics -
World health statistics report
WHO's annual compilation of data from its Member States -
International travel and health
Publication on travel risks, precautions and vaccination requirements -
International Health Regulations (IHR)
Global rules to enhance national, regional and global public health security