According to a recent report released by the UNICEF, pregnancy is 300 times deadlier for women in developing countries compared with the situation of mothers in the developed ones.

 

The UNICEF annual report estimates that infants born in developing nations have a 14-fold higher chance of dying during their first month of life compared to newborns in developed countries. About 99% of the 500,000 maternal deaths in 2005 occurred outside industrialised nations, according to the report. Africa remains one of the most critical areas.

 

In countries like Niger, Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Chad a mother faces a one-in-seven chance of maternal death. According to statistics, Niger is the country with the world’s highest maternal mortality. The situation is critical, as a newborn baby has less chance of surviving if his mother dies after birth. Liberia had the highest rate of neonatal mortality, with 66 deaths per 1,000 live births.

 

According to the report, every year, 70,000 women between the ages of 15 and 19 die in childbirth or from pregnancy complications.

On the other hand there was some good news in the report, concerning the fact that progress has been made in reducing deaths in under-fives. Progress has also been made in combating HIV and AIDS among women and children. The number of children receiving anti-retroviral treatment has almost tripled in two years, from 75,000 in 2005 to 200,000 in 2007.

 

“Progress has been made in reducing child mortality, but much more must be done especially in addressing maternal and newborn health,” Ann Veneman, Unicef's executive director, was quoted as saying. “Saving the lives of mothers and their newborns requires more than just medical intervention,” she added.