Maternal and Child Health Global Health

Hemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal death worldwide, accounting for approximately 25% of all maternal deaths.

Sierra Leone has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world, with an estimated 1,360 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.

Pneumonia is the leading cause of death among children under the age of 5 worldwide, accounting for approximately 15% of all deaths in this age group.

Somalia has the highest under-5 mortality rate in the world, with an estimated 142 deaths per 1,000 live births.

The MDG for maternal health is to reduce the maternal mortality ratio by 75% between 1990 and 2015.

The MDG for child health is to reduce the under-5 mortality rate by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015.

The Global Strategy for Women's and Children's Health is a global partnership to improve the health of women and children, with a set of targets for reducing maternal and child mortality and a framework for action to achieve the MDGs for maternal and child health.

The Every Woman Every Child movement is a global movement to end preventable maternal and child deaths, with a partnership of governments, UN agencies, civil society organizations, and the private sector, and a platform for sharing best practices and lessons learned in maternal and child health.

Midwives provide essential care to women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, can help to prevent maternal and child deaths, and can provide family planning services.

Community health workers can provide basic health care services to women and children, can help to promote healthy behaviors, and can help to link women and children to health care services.

Poverty, lack of access to health care services, and gender inequality are all key challenges to improving maternal and child health in low- and middle-income countries.

Skilled birth attendance, immunization, family planning, and nutrition interventions have all been shown to be effective in improving maternal and child health.

Data can help to identify the most pressing maternal and child health needs, track progress towards achieving maternal and child health goals, and evaluate the effectiveness of maternal and child health interventions.

Advocacy can help to raise awareness of maternal and child health issues, mobilize resources for maternal and child health, and hold governments accountable for their commitments to maternal and child health.

Research can help to identify new and more effective maternal and child health interventions, evaluate the effectiveness of existing maternal and child health interventions, and identify the most pressing maternal and child health needs.