The issue of maternal mortality can be approached from a number of perspectives, notably ahealth/welfare rationale or a rights-based rationale. Recent international conferences such as Cairo and Beijing have emphasised the importance of women’s reproductive and sexual rights, as well as the complex economic, social, political and cultural factors underlying women’s health. Focusing on maternal mortality in isolation overlooks the major problems associated with maternal morbidity, which affect the quality of life of a far larger number of women; it also runs the risk of only addressing women as mothers and not acknowledging their non-reproductive health needs.
Authors: Zol Oxaal and Sally Baden
Institutional Sponsor: Bridge Gender-Development