Women in the world's least developed countries are 300 times more likely to die in childbirth or from pregnancy-related complications than women in developed countries, according to UNICEF's latest State of the World's Children report.
The report shows that while progress is being made in improving the survival of children under five in general, the risks faced by infants in the first 28 days remain at unacceptably high levels in many countries - a child born in a developing country is almost 14 times more likely to die during the first month of life than a child born in a developed one.
The report also highlights that the health and survival of mothers and their newborns are linked, and many of the interventions that save new mothers' lives also benefit their infants. Both mothers and infants are vulnerable in the days and weeks after birth – a critical time for life-saving interventions, such as post-natal visits, proper hygiene, and counseling about the danger signs of maternal and newborn health
The report finds that health services are most effective in an environment supportive of women's empowerment, protection, and education. It recommends that essential services be provided through health systems that integrate a continuum of home, community, outreach and facility-based care. This continuum of care concept, alongside the empowerment of women through a process of community mobilisation is integral to Women and Children First's work in improving the wellbeing of women and newborns.
To read the report in full and find out more please click here.
