WORLDWIDE CONTACT US ABOUT US PRODUCTS RESEARCH LICENSING NEWSROOM CAREERS INVESTORS Home MERCK FOR MOTHERS AT TEDWOMEN About Us Corporate Responsibility Reimbursement Support and Patient Assistance Programs Leadership Board of Directors Executive Committee Our Work How We Operate Code of Conduct Compliance Privacy Transparency and Privacy Internet Privacy Policy Cookie Privacy Commitment Cross Border Policy Employment Privacy & Data Protection Diversity Employee Diversity Supplier Diversity Views and Positions Access and Affordability Access to Investigational Medicines Innovation Quality and Safety Sales and Marketing Responsible Public Policy and Advocacy Our History Our People Featured Stories “It’s unacceptable that in this day and age, 800 women around the world die every day from preventable complications of pregnancy and childbirth.” – Merck for Mothers Executive Director Dr. Priya Agrawal Merck for Mothers, a $500 million initiative working in more than 30 countries around the world, recently helped raise awareness about the growing problem of maternal mortality in the U.S.at the TEDWomen conference in California, a three-day event focusing on the power of women and girls to be creators and change-makers. While many people may be aware that maternal mortality exists in the developing world, they are shocked to learn that the rate of women who die from complications of pregnancy and childbirth in the U.S. has actually doubled over the past 20 years. Through a new video, Building MOMentum to #EndMaternalMortality, and in-person conversations, Merck for Mothers ambassadors stressed the importance of both learning about the problem and making sure that pregnant loved ones are talking with their healthcare professionals about potential pregnancy complications. We can make a difference “Maternal mortality here in the U.S. and also around the world is such an important issue – and we can make a difference,” said Dr. Agrawal. “We hope to inspire a new audience of influential social change-makers and this TED audience, which includes a motivated group of individuals who are leveraging mobile technology, robots, music, virtual reality and other innovative solutions to create change in the world, is an important step in continuing to raise awareness of this issue.” Factors contributing to maternal mortality While there are a range of factors contributing to this troubling trend of maternal mortality in the U.S., the reality is that more women are entering pregnancy with chronic conditions than ever before, and many lack access to comprehensive quality care before, during and after pregnancy. To help women get the care they need, Merck for Mothers is collaborating with physicians, nurses, community leaders and governments on initiatives that have the potential to improve the health of millions of women across the U.S. In an effort to help start the conversation, Merck for Mothers introduced a simple way we can all make a difference: encourage expectant families to have a PEP Talk. Maternal mortality around the world See our merck.com series about our efforts to help reduce maternal mortality in other parts of the world In the U.S., every year hundreds of women die and every 10 minutes a woman nearly dies from complications due to pregnancy and childbirth. Learn more In sub-Saharan Africa, challenging terrain, remote communities, poor transportation, and lack of both medical supplies and health providers are just some of the reasons for the large number of women dying during pregnancy or childbirth. Learn more In India, nearly 1 in 2 births are not attended by a skilled health worker. Learn more SHARE: LEARN MORE ABOUT MERCK FOR MOTHERS Visit the website, Facebook, Twitter WHY YOU SHOULD HAVE A PEP TALK Learn more Copyright © 2009-2016 Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. All rights reserved. Forward-Looking Statement Privacy Terms of Use Site Map