UNICEF: Extreme risks for pregnant women and newborns in developing countries

UNICEF: Extreme risks for pregnant women and newborns in developing countries

Women in the world's least-developed countries are 300 times more likely to die in childbirth or from pregnancy-related complications than women in developed countries, according to UNICEF's latest The State of the World's Children report, released January 15, 2009.

As well, a child born in a developing country is almost 14 times more likely to die during the first month of life than a child born in a developed one.

The health and survival of mothers and their newborns are linked, and many of the interventions that save new mothers' lives also benefit their infants. The 2009 edition of UNICEF's flagship publication, State of the World's Children, highlights the link between maternal and neonatal survival, and suggests opportunities to close the gap between rich and poor countries.

To read more about the study, including which countries scored poorest and what can be done, please visit the UNICEF website, www.unicefusa.org, or read the complete news release in the newsroom, www.unicefusa.org/news/releases/unicef-extreme-risks-for.html.