Strategies to reduce maternal mortality worldwide

The challenge of reducing maternal mortality is increasingly being addressed by area-based efforts to improve access to care of obstetric emergencies. Improving coverage and quality of skilled attendance at birth is also being increasingly emphasized. Post-abortion care, better reproductive health services for adolescents, and improved family planning care are important ingredients in maternal mortality reduction, New developments in malaria, nutrition. violence and HIV/AIDS in relation to maternal health are highlighted, as well as measurement issues. Maternal mortality reduction is also being promoted today by using a human rights approach. (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.