ABOUT THE POPULATION COUNCIL
Millennium Development Goals

5. Improve Maternal Health

• Reduce by three-quarters the maternal mortality ratio

Pregnancy-related conditions are the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age in many developing countries, with an estimated 585,000 women dying from pregnancy-related conditions each year. Much of the Population Council’s work is aimed at understanding the medical and social causes of maternal mortality, improving the health of pregnant women to assure safe pregnancies and childbirths, and enhancing essential and emergency obstetric care in settings where medical care is scarce or quality of care problematic. The Council also seeks to prevent postpartum hemorrhage and infection, reduce violence against women during pregnancy, and ensure that women can manage their own fertility.

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Selected Projects

• Bangladesh: Community-based Kangaroo Mother Care to Prevent Neonatal and Infant Mortality (2004–2007)

• Egypt: Enhancing Correct Use of Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM) and Postabortion Use of Family Planning in Egypt (2007)

• Ghana: Ghana Essential Medicines Initiative (2006–2009)

• Ghana: Reducing Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Through Increased Access to Comprehensive Abortion Care and Family Planning Services in Ghana (2007–2008)

• Mexico: Using a Non-pneumatic Anti-shock Garment (NASG) to Prevent Maternal Mortality in Rural Mexico (2004–2006)

• Pakistan: Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN) (2004–2009)

• Pakistan: Safe Motherhood Applied Research and Training Project in Pakistan (2002–2006)

• South Africa: Testing the Effectiveness of Community-based Strategies in Reducing Gender-based Violence and in Promoting Positive Male Involvement in Reproductive Health Activities (2004–2006)

See Also

• Safe Motherhood/Postpartum Care

• "The place of the urban poor in the Cairo Programme of Action and the Millennium Development Goals," summary paper (PDF)