The Issue
Invest in Women - it pays!
Too many women and newborns are dying worldwide during pregnancy and childbirth.
- Every year, approximately 350,000 girls and women die from pregnancy-related causes. Almost all of these deaths (99%) occur in the developing world.
- Ten million women are lost in every generation.
- Four million newborn babies die every year, also from causes that are mainly preventable and typically linked to the mother's health.
- Huge disparities exist between rich and poor countries, and between the rich and poor in all countries.
- One in eleven Afghan women will die from complications of pregnancy and childbirth, and one in sixteen in Niger.
- One in 2,100 women will die of these causes in the United States, and one in 11,400 in Sweden.
Source: Lifetime Chance of Dying from Maternal Causes (2008 UN; 2011, PRB)
The reason? Lack of political will and inadequate financial investment. But it doesn’t have to be this way. We know what to do to save these lives.
- Why Women Die? Learn about the five causes that account for ¾ of maternal deaths.
- How to Prevent These Deaths? Learn about the three core strategies for improving maternal and newborn health.
- What Does it Cost? Learn about the global price tag to save women.
