MDG 5: Improve Maternal Health

The fifth MDG deals with the reproductive health status of women and aims to create a reduction in maternal deaths and provide universal access to reproductive health.

Originally this goal only had the target of reducing maternal mortality, however in 2005, it was recognized that maternal health is a subset of reproductive health and women needed a more comprehensive approach for their reproductive health needs.

After much lobbying by non-governmental organization, target 5b: Universal access to reproductive health was added.

The basic targets and indicators within MDG 5 are:

1.    Maternal mortality ratio

2.    Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel

3.    Contraceptive prevalence rate:

4.    Adolescent birth rate

5.    Antenatal care coverage (at least one visit and at least four visits)

a.    At least once:

b.    At least four times:

However, in order to effectively reduce maternal mortality, other critical strategies also need to be employed by governments such as provision of emergency obstetric care and post-natal care and institutionalization of vital registration systems backed up by maternal death audits and confidential enquiries into maternal deaths.

Within indicators around access to contraception it is also important to look at the range of contraception methods available to women and provision of counseling to enable informed decision-making.

Within adolescent/ teenage pregnancies it is also important to look at provision of information and services to adolescents and young people with regards to sexual and reproductive health.

There is also a need to look more holistically at the fundamental concepts of reproductive health and maternal health.