Why International?

According to the World Health Organization, current data on maternal mortality clearly demonstrates an imbalance between the quality of health care in developed and developing countries, with 99% of the maternal deaths occurring each year happening in developing countries.  But even within developing countries, enormous gaps in female health outcomes are found to be critically affected by social and economic factors which are exacerbated by under resourced rural populations.  Because of this, Women's World Health Initiative sees an imperative need to focus our efforts in developing, rural areas.

Senegal has a maternal mortality rate 300 times larger than the United States.  Including its major city, Dakar, there are an estimated 350 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in Senegal.  In contrast, however, women outside the urban areas of Senegal, face a devastating 800 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. The mothers in rural areas have little to no access to antenatal or postpartum care and increased rates of malnutrition, malaria and young age pregnancies, all of which contribute to increased risk during childbirth.  Economic determinants (e.g. lack of infrastructure) also adversely affect these mothers' abilities to survive childbirth and pregnancy. Although there is a doctor and nurses that work in a central clinic, it cannot easily be accessed during rainy season leaving women alone to deliver their babies in their villages.

Consequently, in order to decrease this disparity, trained attendants with access to supplies and emergency obstetrical interventions must be from and located directly in these rural villages.  Women's World Health Initiative will make this happen.

Click here to learn how.