| Abstract: | An official call for action was issued at the end of the conference on Safe Motherhood held in Nairobi, Kenya, in February 1987. The conference was organized to draw attention to the half million maternal deaths that occur each year. Women in developing countries run 50-100 times the risk of dying in pregnancy or childbirth than their counterparts in developed countries. There are only 2.9 maternal deaths/100,000 live births in developing countries compared to 300-1000 maternal deaths/100,000 live births in developing countries. Illegal abortion from unwanted pregnancies accounts for 25-50% of these deaths. The causes of maternal mortality are rooted in the adverse social, cultural, economic, and political environment women face in the Third World. These causes must be addressed if women's health and status are to be improved in the long term. On the other hand, there is an immediate need for low-cost, effective interventions that can have a major impact on reducing mortality and morbidity from obstructed labor, hemorrhage, toxemia, infection, and complications of abortion. A political commitment must be generated to reallocate resources so that maternal mortality can be reduced by 50% in 1 decade. Needed is an integrated approach to maternal health care that makes it a priority within the context of primary health care services and overall development policy. Women need to be involved in planning and implementing programs and policies to ensure that their needs and preferences are taken in account. In addition, family planning and family life education programs need to be expanded and made socially, culturally, financially, and geographically accessible. These activities need to involve both governments and take advantage of the flexibility, responsiveness, and creativity of nongovernmental organizations. |
