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HIGHLIGHTS
September, 1997 |
While still considered "a neglected tragedy" in many countries (230), maternal mortality has become a focus of international action in the past decade. In 1987 the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank, the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), the Population Council, and agencies from 37 countries launched the Safe Motherhood Initiative. This campaign aims to cut maternal mortality in half by the year 2000. More recently, statements from the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), held in Cairo in 1994, and the Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing in 1995, have reaffirmed the global importance of addressing women's health issues, including maternal mortality and morbidity. Today, more and more developing countries are recognizing the need to take action (96, 164, 171, 230, 235, 245, 258, 289). While debate continues about the best strategies to adopt, under the Safe Motherhood Initiative a variety of programs have been developed to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity (159, 164, 174, 181). Some programs emphasize prenatal care to identify women at high risk of pregnancy complications. Others emphasize training for traditional birth attendants, who in some countries assist with most births. Still others emphasize establishing or upgrading obstetric care to manage complications when they arise (96, 235). Family planning programs also have contributed to the Safe Motherhood Initiative by helping women use contraceptives to prevent unintended and high-risk pregnancies and to limit births (73, 164). In most developing countries, however, one major cause of maternal death and disability remains largely unaddressed. Few countries provide adequate emergency medical care to prevent maternal deaths and illness resulting from the complications of unsafe abortions (74, 274, 282, 292). |