Post by Erica Chan on Apr 19, 2010 17:48:13 GMT -5
The global maternal mortality rate is going down!
Put simply, the rate of maternal mortality, which is defined as the death of women during pregnancy, childbirth, or in the 42 days after delivery, has gone down to an estimated 342 900 (uncertainty interval 302 100—394 300) maternal deaths worldwide in 2008, from 526 300 (446 400—629 600) in 1980. The global MMR decreased from 422 (358—505) in 1980 to 320 (272—388) in 1990, and was 251 (221—289) per 100 000 livebirths in 2008.
Although statisticians often get things wrong and it's pretty difficult to measure maternal mortality, the general disparity between the numbers is I think cause to celebrate! Especially when the verdict is that "Substantial, albeit varied, progress has been made towards MDG 5. Although only 23 countries are on track to achieve a 75% decrease in MMR by 2015, countries such as Egypt, China, Ecuador, and Bolivia have been achieving accelerated progress."
Read the whole, long, and scientific-y article by Lancet here. Maternal Mortality for 181 countries, 1980-2008: a Systematic analysis of progress towards Millennium Development Goal 5
Here is also the Pathfinder International response to the Lancet study:
Pathfinder Applauds Decline in Maternal Mortality—Looks Forward to More Analysis
WATERTOWN, MA, April 15, 2010
This week, The Lancet released a new study on maternal mortality. Pathfinder applauds the new findings, which show a significant drop worldwide in the number of women dying each year from pregnancy and childbirth, from 526,300 in 1980 to 342,900 in 2008. Pathfinder is particularly pleased that the study highlights the importance of family planning in preventing maternal death. The researchers identified four powerful drivers that are decreasing maternal mortality, including the global drop in total fertility rate.
“The Lancet study shows that we’re on the right track focusing on family planning—that what we’ve been dedicated to for more than 50 years is having a positive effect,” Pathfinder President, Dan Pellegrom, said. “We look forward to seeing deeper analysis of the results; at first glance this looks very encouraging.”
Although the findings indicate a positive trend, the overall number of women who die during pregnancy and childbirth is still far too high. And thousands of women are still suffering from disabilities caused by complications from pregnancy and childbirth, such as fistula.
“Clearly there is still more to be done, particularly in the areas where there is the most dire need,” President Pellegrom said. “That is why we will continue our efforts to support family planning and reproductive health initiatives in the 25 countries where we work, motivated and energized by these results.”
Pathfinder is leading the way to save lives and improve the futures of women and their communities by ensuring all women and their families have access to a range of reproductive health services.
In more than 25 countries, Pathfinder provides women, men, and adolescents with a range of quality health services—from contraception and maternal care to HIV prevention and AIDS care and treatment. Pathfinder strives to strengthen access to family planning, ensure availability of safe abortion services, advocate for sound reproductive health policies, and, through all of our work, improve the rights and lives of the people we serve.
Original Article
Put simply, the rate of maternal mortality, which is defined as the death of women during pregnancy, childbirth, or in the 42 days after delivery, has gone down to an estimated 342 900 (uncertainty interval 302 100—394 300) maternal deaths worldwide in 2008, from 526 300 (446 400—629 600) in 1980. The global MMR decreased from 422 (358—505) in 1980 to 320 (272—388) in 1990, and was 251 (221—289) per 100 000 livebirths in 2008.
Although statisticians often get things wrong and it's pretty difficult to measure maternal mortality, the general disparity between the numbers is I think cause to celebrate! Especially when the verdict is that "Substantial, albeit varied, progress has been made towards MDG 5. Although only 23 countries are on track to achieve a 75% decrease in MMR by 2015, countries such as Egypt, China, Ecuador, and Bolivia have been achieving accelerated progress."
Read the whole, long, and scientific-y article by Lancet here. Maternal Mortality for 181 countries, 1980-2008: a Systematic analysis of progress towards Millennium Development Goal 5
Here is also the Pathfinder International response to the Lancet study:
Pathfinder Applauds Decline in Maternal Mortality—Looks Forward to More Analysis
WATERTOWN, MA, April 15, 2010
This week, The Lancet released a new study on maternal mortality. Pathfinder applauds the new findings, which show a significant drop worldwide in the number of women dying each year from pregnancy and childbirth, from 526,300 in 1980 to 342,900 in 2008. Pathfinder is particularly pleased that the study highlights the importance of family planning in preventing maternal death. The researchers identified four powerful drivers that are decreasing maternal mortality, including the global drop in total fertility rate.
“The Lancet study shows that we’re on the right track focusing on family planning—that what we’ve been dedicated to for more than 50 years is having a positive effect,” Pathfinder President, Dan Pellegrom, said. “We look forward to seeing deeper analysis of the results; at first glance this looks very encouraging.”
Although the findings indicate a positive trend, the overall number of women who die during pregnancy and childbirth is still far too high. And thousands of women are still suffering from disabilities caused by complications from pregnancy and childbirth, such as fistula.
“Clearly there is still more to be done, particularly in the areas where there is the most dire need,” President Pellegrom said. “That is why we will continue our efforts to support family planning and reproductive health initiatives in the 25 countries where we work, motivated and energized by these results.”
Pathfinder is leading the way to save lives and improve the futures of women and their communities by ensuring all women and their families have access to a range of reproductive health services.
In more than 25 countries, Pathfinder provides women, men, and adolescents with a range of quality health services—from contraception and maternal care to HIV prevention and AIDS care and treatment. Pathfinder strives to strengthen access to family planning, ensure availability of safe abortion services, advocate for sound reproductive health policies, and, through all of our work, improve the rights and lives of the people we serve.
Original Article