Countries: Sierra Leone
Variables: MMR-PRACTICE-1

"Medical care for pregnant women and babies is mostly free now in Sierra Leone, as is contraception" (para 5). "More than 90 percent of pregnant women in Sierra Leone now get prenatal care, and the great majority are assisted during delivery by a trained midwife, nurse or doctor. After delivery, nurses put babies to the breast right away and counsel moms on exclusive breastfeeding practices, reducing infant mortality" (para 9).

Countries: Sierra Leone
Variables: MMR-PRACTICE-1, RISW-PRACTICE-1

“Sierra Leone made history when the president signed into law the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2024. For a country with one of the highest rates of child marriage, teenage pregnancy and maternal mortality in the world, it is a crucial step forward, and a hard-won achievement for campaigners in west Africa” (1).

Countries: Gabon
Variables: MMR-PRACTICE-1

"The measures taken to reduce the maternal mortality rate include: The adoption of the 2003-2015 National Policy on Reproductive Health, [t]he promotion, or advocacy, of family planning, under the third strategic pillar (improvement of maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health) of the operational health plan" (17).

Countries: Central African Rep
Variables: MMR-PRACTICE-1

"An operational plan to accelerate the reduction of maternal and neonatal mortality has been adopted for the period 2004–2015" (13). "[The] national health development plan (2006–2015) and the health sector transition plan (2015–2017) [have] several actions to support women... [These actions include r]educing maternal mortality, and providing free emergency obstetric care... Women with obstetric fistula have been cured thanks to a partnership between the Government and other health actors" (37).

Countries: Angola
Variables: MMR-PRACTICE-1

"The persistently high rate of maternal mortality, may be attributed to, inter alia, unsafe abortion, the fact that 22.8 per cent of deliveries occur at home and the high incidence of malaria, which is reportedly the cause of 25 per cent of maternal deaths" (12).

Countries: Bulgaria
Variables: MMR-PRACTICE-1

"[There is a] National programme to improve maternal and child health for the period 2014–2020" (2).

Countries: Azerbaijan
Variables: MMR-PRACTICE-1

"In order to prevent maternal and neonatal mortality cases, it is imperative to enable women to see a doctor, but also ensure the early registration (until 12 weeks) of pregnant women, maintain intergenetic interval in using family planning methods, raise motivation of pregnant women and families and conduct protocol based early registration of pregnant women. The constant work is underway in this area. The seminars on the application of the Methodology of Studying the Mortality Free Pregnancy Complications and Gynecology Consequences aimed at increasing maternal and children’s health and decreasing their mortality are organized at the Public Health and Reforms Center of the Ministry of Health with the support of...more

Countries: Nicaragua
Variables: MMR-PRACTICE-1

"Standards and protocols for handling obstetric complications have been established to reduce maternal deaths through timely clinical management. The national sexual and reproductive health strategy emphasizes family planning to prevent unwanted and risky pregnancies." (11). "The national health system in Nicaragua, which has public and private components, is organized in 19 local comprehensive health-care systems. They promote and provide preventive care, treatment and rehabilitation to individuals, families and communities and monitor their living conditions. They also carry out programmes on early childhood (Programa Amor), for persons with disabilities (Todos Con Voz), on the reduction of maternal and infant mortality, and for fee -free surgery (Operación Milagro)." (22). "In 2006, 9,205...more

Countries: Morocco
Variables: MMR-PRACTICE-1

"The protest on International Safe Abortion Day came weeks after a teenage girl, Meriem, died in a village in the centre of the country following a clandestine termination" (Para.2). "Abortion is illegal in Morocco and is punishable by up to five years in prison, except in cases when the woman's health is in danger" (Para.3).

Countries: Tanzania
Variables: MMR-PRACTICE-1

"Girls who marry early are also more likely to experience domestic violence, sexual violence, and complications or death during childbirth" (3). "I witnessed and helped another woman of my age delivering her 12th child, in danger of losing her life, because her 80-year-old husband was against the use of contraception when the doctors advised her to" (15).

Countries: Ethiopia
Variables: MMR-PRACTICE-1

"The Ministry developed the national Reproductive Health Strategy to be implemented from 2016–2020 in order to reduce maternal mortality and promote reproductive health" (17). "Fistula is a major problem emanating from child marriage, early pregnancies, and prolonged labour. The Government has collaborated with the major Fistula Hospital in the country to expand the medical treatment centres to nine Regional states" (18). Fistula leads to maternal mortality (MV-coder comment). "Traditional norms and attitudes; low level of education among women; and the resulting constrained decision-making power of women are among the factors that contributes for maternal death" (18). "Expansion in road access facilitated women’s access to markets, health facilities as well as...more

Countries: Nepal
Variables: MMR-PRACTICE-1

""The GoN is implementing Multi-sector Nutritional Plan 2013-2017 (MSNP) which targets teenaged girls, pregnant women and breast feeding mothers of low income groups. This plan is being implemented and has had positive impacts so far in increasing life expectancy, decreasing maternal mortality and improving the basic health of girl children."(17). "With the objective to help decrease the infant, child and maternal mortality rate and to increase the average life expectancy, the GoN in the current FY has allocated Nrs. 33.52 billion for the overall improvement of health indicators. Nepal has achieved most of the health related MDGs. Nepal was awarded the MDG Achievement Award in 2011 for its achievement in...more

Countries: Philippines
Variables: MMR-PRACTICE-1

"Anna stabilised and continued dialysis for months at home, she stopped treatment prematurely. She became progressively ill over the next seven months. She tried to restart treatment but her family could not afford the fees, her aunt said. She died in July 2021.Her aunt still faces 600,000 pesos (£9,000) in medical bills" (Para.15-16). "Across the Philippines, many women face the same decisions as Anna, feeling they have no choice but to risk their lives seeking illegal terminations. The latest estimate, from 2008, suggested that as many as 1,000 women died each year from complications related to unsafe abortions. It is feared that this has increased to more than 2,000 –...more

Countries: Namibia
Variables: MMR-PRACTICE-1

"The Annual Rate of Reduction in maternal mortality ratio accelerated to 3.9% in the reporting period." (19).

Countries: Nicaragua
Variables: MMR-PRACTICE-1

"The Maternal Homes program, that covers women from rural areas or with high-risk pregnancies, ensures accommodation, food, and prenatal training for pregnant women. In 2015, 51,189 pregnant women were housed in 174 Maternal Homes and in 2018, 61,648 pregnant women were housed in 178 Maternal Homes. According to the Nicaraguan Ministry for Health, these types of programs have contributed to the 60 percent reduction of maternal mortality rates, going from 78.2 deaths in 2007 to 47 deaths per 100,000 live births registered in 2018" (para 35).