Summary of Week 3

We have now reached the end of Week 3. We have learnt that by 2030 the Sustainable Development Goal target is to reduce maternal mortality to less than 70/100,000 live births and that to reach this goal there need to be marked acceleration in progress. We have also gained an understanding of the wide range of outcomes in maternal health, from death to complete wellbeing, and that the greatest burden of maternal morbidity and mortality is in low income countries and for marginalised women.

Reaching the Sustainable Development Goal target will require strategic approaches addressing supply and demand while protecting women from over intervention. Maternal health is more than a medical issue and therefore requires a multi-sectoral approach. It is a global responsibility which necessitates an awareness of its scope, drivers, and consequences. We hope this week has contributed to increasing this awareness.

In Week 4 we will be examining a topic intimately related to maternal health: stillbirths and newborn health.