Topic » Maternal Health
More than 350,000 women die every year in pregnancy or childbirth – the majority of them in developing countries. Pregnancy is the leading cause of death for women aged 15 to 19 worldwide, primarily due to complications of childbirth and unsafe abortion.
Universal access to family planning could prevent one-third of maternal deaths, while also allowing women to space or delay their pregnancies. Research shows mothers who wait three to five years before having another child have a lower risk of complications such as pre-eclampsia and hemorrhage and deliver healthier babies. PAI supports family planning as an effective strategy to improve maternal health, and advocates for increased access to life-saving reproductive and maternal health supplies.
FEATURED PUBLICATIONS
Why Population Matters to Maternal Health
Unintended pregnancies are an important cause of maternal deaths. Pregnancies that occur too early, too late or too frequently can lead to illness during pregnancy and complications at the time of birth. Lowering fertility rates by increasing the use of family planning helps to reduce pregnancy-related deaths and population growth. In many countries with high maternal mortality, fertility rates would be lower if women had the number of children they desire.
The Key to Achieving the MDGs
Fulfilling the global demand for family planning can significantly reduce the costs of achieving the U.N. targets, especially in maternal health and education. In Kenya alone, providing universal access to contraception could generate a $200 million net savings for the social sector in meeting the MDGs.
Report
What Works for Women and Girls: Evidence for HIV/AIDS Interventions
by Jill Gay, Karen Hardee, Melanie Croce-Galis, Shannon Kowalski, Chanelle Gutari, Claire Wingfield, Kimberly Rovin, Kristine Berzin With women now making up half of those living with HIV worldwide, there is increasing interest among governments and donors in addressing the … Continue reading
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Advocacy Guide
Empty Handed Advocacy Guide
Empty Handed tells the story of women’s lack of access to reproductive health supplies in sub-Saharan Africa, and its impact on their lives. Continue reading
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Report
Maternal Health Supplies in Uganda
Elizabeth Leahy Madsen, Jennifer Bergeson-Lockwood and Jessica Bernstein In Uganda, maternal mortality appears to have declined over the past decade, measured at 505 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2000/01 and 435 deaths in 2006, a ratio that is among … Continue reading
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Report
Maternal Health Supplies in Bangladesh
Jennifer Bergeson-Lockwood, Elizabeth Leahy Madsen and Jessica Bernstein In Bangladesh, maternal mortality appears to be declining; however, with at least 322 maternal deaths per 100,000 births, the country still has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios (MMR) in the … Continue reading
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Policy Brief
Maternal Health Supplies in Uganda and Bangladesh
For women living in many developing countries, having a child can be dangerous. Lack of financing, poor infrastructure, and broken supply chains mean that women are often unable to get basic supplies that ensure a healthy pregnancy and safe delivery—despite … Continue reading
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Newsletter
Global Fund to Emphasize Maternal and Child Health, Family Planning
The Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria is urging countries to invest in maternal and child health (MCH) programming as it prepares to launch its next Round of funding later this month. The Global Fund’s Board decided at its … Continue reading
Policy Brief
Funding Common Ground Report Summary
Suzanna Dennis and Clive Mutunga 2010 is a pivotal time to build financial support for international reproductive health, including family planning and maternal health. Despite a global financial crisis, donors are mobilizing around the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especially around … Continue reading
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Post
Whoa Canada
Originally published on the Huffington Post. Canada did its best this week to act like George W. Bush. The government excluded family planning from a new maternal health initiative for developing countries it planned to launch at the G8 meeting … Continue reading
Post
Motherhood, It’s Complicated
Originally posted on the Huffington Post A colleague on maternity leave recently sent an e-mail saying what an incredible experience pregnancy is and how she can’t help thinking of the millions of women who go through it without the support … Continue reading
Report
A Measure of the Future: Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Risk Index for the Pacific
Based on the original PAI report Measure of Survival: A Measure of Survival – Calculating Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Risk The last two decades have seen a significant improvement in the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of Pacific Island women. … Continue reading