RTI led strategic planning exercises and prepared presentations for policymakers such as the prime minister, members of the cabinet, and members of the parliament, to examine the current state of family planning programs and how their goals can be achieved. The situation in Bangladesh is particularly disturbing. As a result, an estimated 500 women die for every 100,000 live births. One of the challenges in encouraging maternal health policy is that this type of care is more expensive than family planning. RTI is working with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and NGOs in Bangladesh to help policymakers realize the costs and benefits of such a policy.
Studies also show that a child's health status severely declines when a mother dies.
Using such data, we can demonstrate to policymakers that providing good maternal services has many socioeconomic as well as health benefits and that expenditures in maternal health are a very good investment. Another challenge is determining how to allocate resources optimally, given the costs and efficacy of alternative interventions. Improving Postabortion Care One public health problem in the developing world that has been largely ignored by both national health care systems and the donor community is unsafe abortion. In Africa, 3.7 million unsafe abortions occur each year and 1 out of every 160 results in death. RTI is working with health managers and policymakers to explore options for expanding PAC services to lower-level health care facilities.