SAFE MOTHERHOOD &

MATERNAL MORTALITY

MD5 HKMU
Date: 7.3.2017
 SAFE MOTHERHOOD Initiative

• Launched in 1987 (Nairobi, Kenya) as a

global initiative to reduce maternal mortality
by ¾ and child mortality by 2/3 by 2015 -
Milleneum Development Goals (MDGs) 4&5
• Was led by WHO, partnership of
government agencies, non-gov agencies,
international agencies, and others
• Safe Motherhood a HUMAN RIGHTS issue
 The four pillars of Safe Motherhood
• Family planning
• Antenatal care
• Clean/safe delivery
• Essential obstetric care

The above four strategic interventions must be

delivered through primary health care and
rest on a foundation of greater equity for
women
 Maternal Mortality

Maternal Death – definition:

death of a woman while pregnant or
within 42 days of pregnancy
termination, irrespective of duration and
site of pregnancy, from any cause related
to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its
management but not from accidental or
incidental causes
 Maternal Mortality
• 40% of all pregnant women experience
pregnancy-related health problems
• 15% suffer long-term or life-threatening
complications
• About half a million women die annually
of pregnancy related causes, many
more suffer severe disability
• 99% of the deaths occur in developing
countries; majority are preventable
Bixby Program at UC Berkeley SPH /
Venture Strategies for Health and
5
Development
 Causes of Maternal Deaths Worldwide
(percent distribution)

indirect causes
20% Hemorrhage
25%

other direct causes

7%

sepsis
unsafe abortion 15%
13%

obstructed labor eclampsia

8% 12%
Bixby Program at UC Berkeley SPH /
Venture Strategies for Health and
6
Development
Causes of Maternal Deaths in Africa

Bixby Program at UC Berkeley SPH /

Venture Strategies for Health and
7
Development
 Maternal Mortality in Tanzania

• Milleneum Development Goal (MDG) number 5:

was to reduce Maternal Mortality Rate by 75%
by the year 2015 (baseline 1990)
• This commitment was not reached by many
countries, including Tanzania

• MMRatio for Tanzania 432/100,000 live births-

national census 2012

Bixby Program at UC Berkeley SPH /

Venture Strategies for Health and
8
Development
 UN Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs)

In September 2015 countries adopted a set

of GOALS to end poverty, protect the
planet and ensure prosperity for all as part
of a new sustainable development agenda.

Each goal has specific TARGETS to be

achieved over the next 15 years, i.e. by
2030
Bixby Program at UC Berkeley SPH /
Venture Strategies for Health and
10
Development
 17 SDGs to transform the world
Among them they include:

Goal 1: No poverty
Goal 2: Zero hunger
Goal 3: Good health and well-being
Goal 4: Quality Education
Goal 5: Gender Equality
Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation
.
.
.Goal 17:……….
 Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and
promote well-being for all
Goal 3: TARGETS
1.Maternal health
2.Child health
3.HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases
 Target: maternal health
REDUCTION OF MATERNAL MORTALITY
through improved coverage and quality:
•Antenatal Care
•Contraceptive use
•Emergency Obstetric Care
•Adolescent Health
•and others
Thank you