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The Countdown 2008 Report is based primarily on data drawn from national surveys and global databases. It measures coverage of basic health services proven to reduce maternal and child mortality. It also assesses the strength of health systems, the status of policies related to maternal, newborn and child health and how equitably health services are distributed. KEY MESSAGES FROM THE 2008 REPORT *Many countries have made rapid progress in preventing childhood illness, but vital clinical care for women and children lags behind. *A functioning continuum of care can ensure no one falls through the cracks. *Investment in life-saving services during the period before pregnancy and through two years of age is critical to maternal, newborn and child survival. *Governments and partners must urgently address undernutrition. *To reduce inequalities, health services must be targeted to the poorest. *Investment and political commitment translate directly into lives saved. *If maternal, newborn, and child survival is the destination, we need reliable data to guide our action.

Abstract: 'Each year, more than half a million women die from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, and nearly 4 million newborns die within 28 days of birth. Millions more suffer from disability, disease, infection and injury. Cost-effective solutions are available that could bring rapid improvements, but urgency and commitment are required to implement them and to meet the Millennium Development Goals related to maternal and child health. The first chapter of The State of the World's Children 2009 examines trends and levels of maternal and neonatal health in each of the major regions, using mortality ratios as benchmark indicators. It briefly explores the main proximal and underlying causes of maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity, and outlines a framework for accelerating progress.'

This briefing introduces the contribution of the right to the highest attainable standard of health to reducing maternal mortality. This briefing indicates key contributions that the right to health can make in the context of policy making and through the human rights community's traditional techniques, such as letter writing campaigns, taking court cases and advocacy. It also indicates key actions that may be required by policy makers and the human rights community.

This document celebrates success stories from countries with high maternal, newborn and child mortality, and shows specific actions taken towards achieving Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 on maternal, newborn and child health.

Bringing Rights to Bear: Preventing Maternal Mortality and Ensuring Safe Pregnancy

The aim of this paper is to provide a systematic review of the estimation of the cost of illness (COI) related to maternal- newborn ill-health (MNIH). The methodology used for the review includes a systematic search on electronic databases for published literature and manual searches for the identification of grey (unpublished) literature.The published study estimates most of the cost components associated with a particular complication of MNIH - emergency obstetric care (EmOC) - and reports a total average cost per user of EmOC in the range of US$ 177-369 in Bangladesh. The unpublished studies based on the REDUCE model illustrate the MNIH issue more directly and elaborately; however, they estimate merely the productivity cost for four African countries. The model estimates a huge amount of productivity losses associated with MNIH: an annual total of about US$ 95 million for Ethiopia and about US$ 85 million for Uganda.

'Anemia afflicts an estimated two billion people worldwide, mostly due to iron deficiency. It primarily affects women. Yet among adolescents, prevalence rates of anemia are closer for males and females in some parts of the world. The prevalence of anemia is disproportionately high in developing countries, due to poverty, inadequate diet, certain diseases, pregnancy and lactation, and poor access to health services. Young people are particularly susceptible because of their rapid growth and associated high iron requirements. Anemia is a critical health concern because it affects growth and energy levels. In pregnancy it is associated with premature births, low birth weight, and perinatal and maternal mortality. Adolescence is an opportune time for interventions to address anemia. In addition to growth needs, girls need to improve iron status before pregnancy. And both boys and girls are more accessible to information about anemia through schools, recreational activities, and via the mass media than they will be later in their lives.'