Afghanistan has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world,87% of which are considered preventable. Two years after the demise of the Taliban regime there is hardly any improvement.
Every year more than half a million women die from complications of pregnancy and childbirth. The World Health Organization, WHO, estimates that 15% of all pregnant women will develop direct obstetric complications. The target of reducing maternal mortality by 75% by 2015 is a key UN Millennium Development Goal.
Anke van der Kwaak, co-auteur van het rapport 'Strategieën ter voorkoming van besnijdenis bij meisjes' (2003) pleit ervoor meisjesbesnijdenis te behandelen als een bijzondere vorm van kindermishandeling. Ook benadrukt van der Kwaak dat voorlichting en preventie beter werken dan criminalisering.
Maternal mortality rates in Guatemala are among the highes in Latin America and highest among indigenous women. The maternal mortality ratio for indigenous women is three times higher than for the non indigenous group.