Maternal health
WHO/Yoshi Shimizu
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Maternal health

Maternal health in the Western Pacific

Every mother and newborn child has the right to a positive and safe birthing experience. 

Maternal health can be promoted by:

  • Developing evidence-based policies and strategies;

  • Improving access to the full range of affordable, equitable and high-quality family planning and reproductive health services to increase the contraceptive use rate and reduce unwanted pregnancies; and

  • Improving the health and nutrition status of women of all ages, especially pregnant and nursing women.

Technical links

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94%

About 94% of all maternal deaths occur in low-resource settings

 

WHO/Yoshi Shimizu
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25% of maternal deaths

Around 25% of maternal deaths could be averted if all women wishing to avoid pregnancy could use modern methods of contraception

 

WHO/Yoshi Shimizu
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3 million babies and women

could be saved each year through investing in quality care around the time of birth and special care for sick and small newborns

 

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