What health system strategies have low and middle income countries used to improve their maternal outcom
Center for Rapid Evidence Synthesis (ACRES)DRRES-21
This Rapid Response should be cited as
ACRES (2011) What health system strategies have low and middle income countries used to improve their maternal outcomes; A Rapid Response Brief. Kampala: The Center for Rapid Evidence Synthesis
Summary
Background: Maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide is a major public health problem. The maternal mortality ratio for sub-Saharan Africa is estimated at almost 600 per 100,000 live births. In 2006, Uganda's maternal mortality ratio was 435 deaths per 100,000 live births. Findings: Strategies that other countries have used to lower maternal mortality include: policies promoting facility-based deliveries, skilled birth attendants, and quality and accessibility of Emergency Obstetric Care services for rural and poor populations. Conclusion: Several strategies that other countries have employed to lower maternal mortality are presented. The evidence acts as guidance as strategies are quite context sensitive.