Reducing Maternal Mortality: Learning From Bolivia, China, Egypt, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, And Zimbabwe (health, Nutrition, And Population Series)

The stimulus of this study was the question as to whether current program strategies can reduce maternal mortality quicker than in the historically successful countries for Malaysia and Sari Lanka. Through cases studies, research and analysis of extent data of safe motherhood programs in seven countries, the answer is yes: lessons learned concern six factors associated with recent success in reducing maternal mortality. This book provides a thorough analysis of factors reducing maternal mortality through three retrospective case studies in China, Honduras and Zimbabwe; and four research studies in Bolivia, Egypt, Indonesia, and Jamaica. Reduction of maternal mortality has now become an explicit focus of many programs. Where such is targeted, and strategies adapted to address the local barriers to move women into appropriate care for birth has resulted, this has impacted on the reported maternal mortality. "Of the 515,000 maternal deaths that occur every year around the world, 99 percent take place in developing countries. Women in the developing world have a 1 in 48 chance of dying from pregnancy-related causes; the ratio in industrial countries is 1 in 1,800. For every woman who dies, another 30-50 woman suffer injury, infection, or disease. In developing countries, pregnancy-related complications are among the leading causes of death and disability for women ages 15-49. Of all the human development indicators, the greatest discrepancy between industrial and developing countries is in maternal health." "To assist countries in their efforts to improve maternal health and reduce maternal mortality, the World Bank is publishing two volumes - Investing in Maternal Health: Learning from Malaysia and Sri Lanka and Reducing Maternal Mortality: Learning from Bolivia, China, Egypt, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, and Zimbabwe. These two books offer success stories and lessons learned in improving health and reducing maternal mortality in a range of developing countries. The first book is based on the experiences of Malaysia and Sri Lanka during the past five to six decades. The second book discusses the more recent experiences of Bolivia, China (Yunnan), Egypt, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, and Zimbabwe. These nine countries have made important strides in improving maternal health, and these two books outline what worked and what did not."--BOOK JACKET Nearly half of all maternal deaths in developing countries occur during labor or delivery, or in the immediate postpartum period.