We can confidently say the world knows how to reduce the carnage of avoidable maternal death. Clare Short agrees. Without better access to improved basic obstetric care for those who need it, women will continue to die in pregnancy and childbirth. These are not principally a matter of science. They are matters of political and moral choice and will.
Every pregnant woman faces health risks.
Yet while two thirds of women in developing countries receive one or more antenatal visit, less than 50 per cent give birth with a skilled health care worker present. Lack of communication and transport prevent many women calling for help when they need it and reaching a health facility in time. Over 20 per cent of all maternal deaths result from unsafe abortion, usually carried out where abortion is illegal or unavailable. Access to family planning has an important role to play in saving lives by preventing unwanted pregnancies, particularly among young girls. Health planners believe that an integrated approach will work best in reducing the threats to women's health.