Achieving the Millennium Development Goal of Improving Maternal Health: Determinants, Interventions and Challenges

This paper summarizes the importance of improving maternal and reproductive health, the progress made to date and lessons learned, and the major challenges confronting programs today. The paper highlights the progress that some countries, including very poor ones, have made in reducing maternal mortality, but cautions that progress in many countries remains slow. Relying on evidence from the most recent research and survey information, the paper also analyzes the key determinants and evidence on effective interventions for attaining the maternal health MDG. [from abstract]


Section 3 discusses health sector interventions, and section 4 covers topics such as building capacity and addressesing human resource shortages, improving service quality and strengthening partnerships.