A Mother's Struggle

Currently women in the poorest countries in the world have a high chance of dying in pregnancy or childbirth. In some parts of Ethiopia this risk is as high as 1 in 7. A large number of maternal deaths could be avoided with improved access to care in labour. Many women are dying unnecessarily from haemorrhage, infection and fitting. Relatively inexpensive treatments can save these lives. Maternal mortality has a huge impact on families and communities. Millions of children are left motherless each year and globally an estimated 1 million babies die soon after the deaths of their mothers.
A Mother's Struggle

You are losing blood and are becoming at risk of infection.



























You were already weak because of poor nutrition and anaemia in your pregnancy...

You have two other young children to care for. Your only chance of surviving is to have emergency care from a skilled professional.

...But the nearest hospital is 200 miles away. You cannot afford to pay for transport or hospital fees even if you could get there.















There really is no hope.

Maternal Mortality: The facts*:

  • Every minute one woman dies during pregnancy or childbirth somewhere in the world.

  • More than 99% of these deaths occur in developing countries and affect hundreds of thousands of families and communities.

  • The great majority of these deaths could be avoided with improved access to obstetric care.

  • 62 million women (40% of all pregnant women) suffer an acute problem in pregnancy and childbirth each year, and 23 million pregnant women (9-15% of all pregnant women) experience a problem needing higher-level care.

    *World Health Organisation/ UNICEF, 1996, Revised 1990 estimates of Maternal Mortality. A new approach by WHO and UNICEF. WHO/FRH/MSM/96.11 Geneva.

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    INFORMATION AND RESOURCES

    Motherhood in Developing Countries

    Maternal Mortality Overview

    Causes of Maternal Mortality

    Safe Motherhood Initiative

    Millennium Development Goals

    Maternity Unit Resource Pack

    Obstetric Fistula

    Guidance


    SPONSOR A SAFE BIRTH!

    Working in Partnership with the "Making Pregnancy Safer Team", World Health Organisation (WHO) and The International Office of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG)
    contact: info@maternityworldwide.org
    Registered charity no. 1111504
    website by redrooster.tv
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