Advanced Techniques for Modelling Maternal and Child Health in Africa

Abstract

More than ten million women die or experience adverse consequences during pregnancy and childbirth each year (WHO 2005). Furthermore, nearly nine million children under the ages of 5 years die each year, largely from preventable and treatable diseases (UNICEF 2010). The hardest hit countries in poor maternal health (defined as the health of mothers during pregnancy, childbirth, and in the postpartum period) and child health (defined as the health of children from birth through adolescence) are in the developing world. For example, the global estimates of maternal and child mortality rates in 2008 were at 260 per 100,000 and 60 per 1,000 live births, respectively. The rates ranged from 21 to 620 and 13 to 127 respectively, with the African region at the top of both ranges (WHO 2011)