Perinatal problems in developing countries: lessons learned and future challenges
-
Asim Kurjak
Abstract
Every year, approximately 600 000 women die of pregnancy-related causes – 98% of these deaths occur in developing countries. Complications of pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death and disability among women of reproductive age in developing countries. Of all human development indicators, the maternal mortality ratio shows the greatest discrepancy between developed and developing countries. In fact, maternal mortality itself contributes to underdevelopment, because of its severe impact on the lives of young children, the family and society in general. Furthermore, in addition to more than half a million maternal deaths each year 7 million perinatal deaths are recorded and 8 million infants die during the first year of life.
Maternal morbidity and mortality as well as perinatal mortality can be reduced through the synergistic effect of combined interventions, without first attaining high levels of economic development. These include: education for all; universal access to basic health services and nutrition before, during and after childbirth; access to family planning services; attendance at birth by professional health workers and access to good quality care in case of complications; and policies that raise women's social and economic status, and their access to property, as well as the labor force.
Copyright © 2001 by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG
Articles in the same Issue
- Perinatal Medicine in Developing Countries
- TUZLA STATEMENT
- Perinatal problems in developing countries: lessons learned and future challenges
- Antenatal care in developing countries. What should be done?
- A simple, efficient and inexpensive program for preventing prematurity
- The use of first trimester ultrasound in routine practice
- Antepartal assessment of IUGR fetuses
- Genetic components of perinatal morbidity and mortality
- Eclampsia: a leading cause of maternal mortality
- Hemostatic problems before, during and after delivery
- Perinatal mortality in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Management trend and safety of vaginal delivery for term breech fetuses in a tertiary care hospital of Karachi, Pakistan
- Post-partum hysterectomies: revisited
- Sex ratio imbalance and Down’s syndrome newborns
- Congress Calendar
Articles in the same Issue
- Perinatal Medicine in Developing Countries
- TUZLA STATEMENT
- Perinatal problems in developing countries: lessons learned and future challenges
- Antenatal care in developing countries. What should be done?
- A simple, efficient and inexpensive program for preventing prematurity
- The use of first trimester ultrasound in routine practice
- Antepartal assessment of IUGR fetuses
- Genetic components of perinatal morbidity and mortality
- Eclampsia: a leading cause of maternal mortality
- Hemostatic problems before, during and after delivery
- Perinatal mortality in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Management trend and safety of vaginal delivery for term breech fetuses in a tertiary care hospital of Karachi, Pakistan
- Post-partum hysterectomies: revisited
- Sex ratio imbalance and Down’s syndrome newborns
- Congress Calendar
