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Maternal health

Woman holding baby

Maternal health refers to the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. While motherhood is often a positive and fulfilling experience, for too many women it is associated with suffering, ill-health and even death.

The major direct causes of maternal morbidity and mortality include haemorrhage, infection, high blood pressure, unsafe abortion, and obstructed labour.


GENERAL INFORMATION

Q&A: why do so many women still die in pregnancy or childbirth?

News on maternal health

MULTIMEDIA

Great expectations

Lives at risk: malaria in pregnancy

WHO PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES

Making Pregnancy Safer

African Region
Region of the Americas–PAHO
South-East Asia Region
European Region
Eastern Mediterranean Region
Western Pacific Region

PARTNERS

Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Maternal mortality

Millennium Development Goal 5

- More on maternal health

PUBLICATIONS

Key steps for maternal and newborn health in humanitarian crisis

Midwifery education modules

- More publications

STATISTICS

Reproductive health indicators database

RELATED TOPICS

World Health Day 2005: make every mother and child count
Nursing and midwifery
Maternal and newborn health
Reproductive health
Malaria and pregnancy


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