Maternal Health Task Force
The Maternal Health Task Force strives to create a strong, well-informed and collaborative community of individuals focused on ending preventable maternal mortality and morbidity worldwide.
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Boston, MA 02115
Blog
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World Health Day 2018: Maternal Health Care and Universal Health Coverage
This Saturday, 7 April is World Health Day, and this year’s theme is universal health coverage (UHC). Accessible maternal health care is a critical component of UHC that affects women, their families, communities and nations at large. We have rounded up resources exploring maternal health care and UHC…read more
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Upcoming Webinar: A Global Survey of Skilled Birth Attendants
Please join the Fistula Community of Practice on 10 April 2018 at 9:00 am Eastern Daylight Time for a webinar sharing findings from a global survey of skilled-birth attendants (SBAs) in low- and middle-income countries. The survey examined SBAs’ training, knowledge, practices and facility environment as they relate to intrapartum and postpartum bladder care and management of prolonged/obstructed labor…read more
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Importance of Weight Management in Women of Childbearing Age
Developing effective strategies to prevent excessive weight gain in women of childbearing age before, during and after pregnancy is critical to preventing obesity-related maternal and newborn health complications…read more
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Linking Maternal Height and Poor Birth Outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa
A paper recently published in PLOS ONE examines the association between maternal height and cesarean section as well as maternal height and neonatal mortality in 34 sub-Saharan African countries, a region facing numerous maternal and neonatal health challenges along with the smallest gains—even losses—in average adult height during the last century…read more
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Insight Into Non-Communicable Diseases and Maternal Health Around the Globe
Recent research published in PLOS ONE focuses on non-communicable illness during pregnancy and its impact on women and their children. Read highlights from the latest collection in partnership with the Maternal Health Task Force, “Non-Communicable Diseases and Maternal Health Around the Globe”……read more
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New Resources Online from Global Alliance for Maternal Mental Health
Earlier this month, the Global Alliance for Maternal Mental Health—comprising 13 international agencies—launched a new website related to improving the mental health of women during pregnancy and the postnatal period. This new online platform is full of resources, including videos of women sharing their real-life stories in their own words…read more
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Improving Health Facility Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) for Enhanced Delivery of Quality Maternal and Newborn Health Services in Kenya
World Water Day is an opportunity to reflect on the availability—or lack—of clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities in places providing maternal health care around the world. A 2015 World Health Organization rapid assessment of WASH coverage in health care facilities in 54 low- and middle-income countries found that 38% of these facilities lacked access to an improved water source, or one that is likely to be protected from outside contamination. Learn how Kenya has improved WASH conditions in select health facilities in high-burden districts…read more
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Strengthening Health Systems Improves Health Care for Women, Children and Youth
“We cannot achieve our goals of ending maternal and child deaths without addressing critical health system barriers around the world,” said Grace Chee of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s flagship Maternal and Child Survival Program at a recent Wilson Center event. To improve the lives of mothers and children, health workers must address the underlying causes of poor health outcomes, including systemic weaknesses in health care governance, financing and human resources…read more
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New Report Explores Why Preventable Maternal Deaths Continue to Occur in the United States
The new Report from Nine Maternal Mortality Review Committees provides critical data on maternal mortality in the United States, confirming that the majority of pregnancy-related deaths in the country are preventable. It includes in-depth insight into causes of death and racial disparities and highlights actionable prevention recommendations made by the Nine Committees…read more
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To Address Noncommunicable Diseases and Maternal Health in Low-Resource Settings, Integrate Data at the Primary Care Level
High quality maternal health care requires a health workforce and health systems that adequately respond to local needs and can meet emerging challenges, such as those at the intersection of maternal health and noncommunicable diseases. Guyana’s health system structure has serious potential to evaluate and respond to these complex health issues, but decisions concerning resources and strategies require evidence-based support…read more