Maternal Mortality in 1995

The document opens by summarizing the complexity involved in measuring maternal mortality and the reasons why such measurement is subject to uncertainty, particularly when it comes to monitoring progress. Subsequently, the rationale for the development of 1995 estimates of maternal mortality is presented along with a description of the process through which this was accomplished. This is followed by an analysis and interpretation of the results, comparing them to the 1990 estimates developed by WHO and UNICEF and describing some of the difficulties that such comparisons involve.

The final parts of the document present a review of progress in maternal mortality reduction accomplished over the past few years followed by a summary of the kind of information needed to build a fuller understanding of both the levels and trends in maternal mortality and the interventions needed to achieve sustained reductions in the coming few years.