World’s Mothers Report 2008
Among the developing regions, sub-Saharan Africa had the highest MMR (at 900) in 2005, followed by South Asia (490), Oceania (430), South-Eastern Asia (300), Western Asia (160), Northern Africa (160), Latin America and the Caribbean (130), and Eastern Asia(50).
A total of 14 countries had MMRs of at least 1000 of which 13 (excluding Afghanistan) were in the sub Saharan African region. These countries are (listed in descending order): Sierra Leone (2100), Niger (1800), Afghanistan (1800), Chad (1500), Somalia (1400), Angola (1400), Rwanda (1300), Liberia (1200), Guinea Bissau (1100), Burundi (1100), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1100), Nigeria (1100), Malawi (1100), and Cameroon (1000). By contrast, Ireland had an MMR of 1.
The adult lifetime risk of maternal death (the probability that a 15-year-old female will die eventually from a maternal cause) is highest in Africa (at 1 in 26), followed by Oceania (1 in 62) and Asia (1 in 120), while the developed regions had the smallest lifetime risk (1 in 7300). Of all 171 countries and territories for which estimates were made, Niger had the highest estimated lifetime risk of 1 in 7, in stark contrast to Ireland, which had the lowest lifetime risk of 1 in 48 000.
India is ranked a dismal 66th among 71 “less developed countries” – only slightly better than Pakistan, Swaziland, Papua new guinea and Nigeria. China occupies the 15th position. Over 53% of births in India were not attended by skilled health personnel.
More Links
Maternal mortality measurement
Maternal Mortality in 2005 Estimates developed by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and The World Bank
UNICEF State of the worlds children 2009
Reducing maternal mortality devloping countries
