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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Blog
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The Current State of Maternal Health in Nepal
In November 2017, the most recent Nepal Demographic and Health Survey was published with national data from 2016. Overall, Nepal has made substantial progress in improving maternal health care access and utilization. However, disparities remain according to women’s socioeconomic status, education level and place of residence…read more
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Improving Quality of Care is the Most Powerful Means to End Preventable Maternal Deaths
In recent years, considerable efforts to improve the quality of institutional care during the antenatal, delivery and postpartum periods have favored public health care facilities, largely excluding private ones. This has been the case despite the fact that private providers in India account for up to 30% of institutional deliveries in rural areas and up to 52.5% of institutional deliveries in urban areas…read more
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From the Archives | Maintaining the Focus on Maternal, Newborn and Child Health With Innovation and the SDGs
As we reflect on the work that we’ve accomplished through the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and plan for the next set of global commitments (the Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs), it’s important to talk about the inextricable link between mothers and their children. This link is both biological and social and has critical implications for health systems…read more
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Year in Review: Top 10 Highlights in Global Maternal Health From 2017
2017 was an exciting year for the global maternal health community. In reflecting back on this past year, the Maternal Health Task Force compiled a list of 10 important milestones and developments in the global maternal health field…read more
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Barriers to Misoprostol Use in Developing Countries
Where oxytocin is not readily available for post-abortion care and postpartum hemorrhage prevention, misoprostol is the recommended alternative. Nevertheless, many countries have not been able to ensure access to safe misoprostol use to prevent maternal deaths due to several barriers…read more
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Thirty Years of the Safe Motherhood Initiative: Celebrating Progress and Charting the Way Forward
On 8 December, experts in reproductive and maternal health gathered at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. as part of the Advancing Dialogue on Maternal Health Series for two panel discussions celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Safe Motherhood Initiative and reflecting on progress and future directions in the field…read more
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Tackling Noncommunicable Diseases and Maternal Mortality: A Conversation With Katja Iversen
On 2 November 2017, Katja Iversen joined the Maternal Health Task Force (MHTF) for a panel discussion about noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and maternal health. Later, she sat down with the MHTF’s Sarah Hodin to talk more about the issues she raised during the event…read more
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Towards a Global Discourse on Vaginal Birth After Cesarean
Over the past few decades, cesarean section rates have increased dramatically in virtually every part of the world—including in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). As global cesarean rates rise, more and more women in LMICs will be faced with a dilemma: “Do I attempt a VBAC or choose a repeat cesarean?” Weighing the risks and benefits of these choices becomes even more complicated in health facilities that do not meet basic requirements for safe surgery…read more
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Collaboration and Creative Communication: How the WOMAN Trial Findings Translated Into Maternal Health Policy Change
Six months after results from the WOMAN trial were published, the World Health Organization updated its guidelines to include the use of tranexamic acid for prevention of postpartum hemorrhage .Haleema Shakur-Still shares strategies that have helped the WOMAN trial results lead to better maternal health outcomes and more effective policies…read more
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The Single Best Intervention: Thirty Years of Safe Motherhood
To help celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Safe Motherhood Initiative, Dot Mom asked leaders in the field to reflect on the most impactful intervention of last 30 years. Join us at the Wilson Center on Friday, 8 December, 1-5 pm ET to discuss these interventions—and those to come in the next 30 years…read more
