Document Actions


Safe Motherhood

 
Timing Births
Safe Motherhood
Child Development and Early Learning
Breastfeeding
Nutrition and Growth
Immunization
Diarrhoea
Coughs, Colds and More Illnesses
Hygiene
Malaria
HIV/AIDS
Injury Prevention
Disasters and Emergencies
Summary

Why it is important to share and act on information about Safe  Motherhood

Some 1,400 women die every day from problems related to pregnancy and childbirth. Tens of thousands more experience complications during pregnancy, many of which are life-threatening for the women and their children — or leave them with severe
disabilities.

The dangers of childbearing can be greatly reduced if a woman is healthy and well nourished before becoming pregnant, if she has a health check-up by a trained health worker at least four times during every pregnancy, and if the birth is assisted by a skilled
birth attendant such as a doctor, nurse or midwife. The woman should also be checked during the 12 hours after delivery and six weeks after giving birth.

Governments have a particular responsibility to make prenatal and postnatal services available, to train health workers to assist at childbirth, and to provide special care and referral services for women who have serious problems during pregnancy and
childbirth.

Most governments have ratified an international agreement, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, that includes a legally binding commitment to provide the services pregnant women need.

Key Messages:

What every family and community has a right to know about SAFE MOTHERHOOD

1. It is important for all families to be able to recognize the warning signs of problems during pregnancy and childbirth and to have plans and resources for getting immediate skilled help if problems arise.

2.  A skilled birth attendant, such as a doctor, nurse or trained midwife, should check the woman at least four times during every pregnancy and assist at every birth.

3. All pregnant women need particularly nutritious meals and more rest than usual throughout the pregnancy.

4. Smoking, alcohol, drugs, poisons and pollutants are especially harmful to pregnant women and young children.

5. Physical abuse of women and children is a serious public health problem in many communities. Abuse during pregnancy is dangerous both to the woman and the foetus.

6. Girls who are educated, healthy and have a good diet during their childhood and teenage years will have fewer problems in pregnancy and childbirth.

7. Every woman has the right to health care, especially during pregnancy and childbirth. Health care providers should be technically competent and should treat women with respect.


Supporting information for key messages:
1   2   3   4   5   6  7
  << Back   Next >>
Powered by Plone CMS, the Open Source Content Management System

This site conforms to the following standards: