Motherhood in developing countries
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The Challenge
The health of women during pregnancy and childbirth is a major concern in the developing world. In recent decades there has been a decrease in infant mortality rates across the world. However there has been no major reduction in maternal mortality over a similar period. It is estimated that approximately 180 to 200 million women become pregnant each year and of these an estimated 529 000 women die from pregnancy related causes (more than one maternal death a minute). The majority of these deaths, over ninety-nine percent of these deaths occur in the developing world. Further more, for every woman who dies in childbirth around twenty more suffer injury, infection of disease - approximately ten million women each year. The map below provides a snapshot of how inequitably the burden of maternal mortality is distributed across the globe.
 Image from http://www.safemotherhood.org/resources/facts/globaldata.html
Worldwide there are an estimated three million stillbirths and three million early neonatal deaths (death in the first week of life) each year. These deaths are largely due to inadequate or inappropriate care during pregnancy, childbirth and the first few critical hours after birth. Additionally, maternal death carries a high risk for the lives of existing children. Every year, an estimated one million young children die as a result of the death of their mothers.
However the impact of maternal death or illness extends beyond the immediate family. The WHO and World Bank both emphasise the importance of healthy mothers and of the family unit to long-term economic prosperity and development. As highlighted in the 2005 World Health Report:
"The survival and well-being of mothers and children are not only important in their own right, but are also central to solving much broader economic, social and developmental challenges. When mothers and children die or are sick, their families, communities and nations suffer as well. Improving the survival and well-being of mothers and children will not only increase the health of societies, it will also decrease inequity and poverty".
Click HERE to read about a mother's struggle.
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Liljestrand J. Reducing perinatal and maternal mortality in the world: the major challenges. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1999; 106:877-880.
Reduction of maternal mortality. A joint WHO/ UNFPA/UNICEF/World Bank Statement. WHO, Geneva 1999.
WHO (2003). The World Health Report 2003: Shaping the Future. Geneva, World Health Organization.
WHO (2005) The World Health Report 2005: Make Every Mother and Child Count. Geneva, WHO.
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