Rights-Based Maternity Services

The Dominican Republic has high rates of maternal mortality, yet almost all women technically have skilled attendants at birth – an indicator many use to measure a country’s ability to reduce maternal deaths. Clearly, skilled attendants are not enough: assessments have found that maternal mortality is due to public hospitals’ failure to provide quality services that respect human rights. Maternity wards commonly are overcrowded and dirty, and the staff lack professionalism.

In contrast, International Planned Parenthood Federation member association Profamilia provides a model maternity hospital in Santiago. CHANGE researchers found the hospital to be clean and professional, with patients thanking providers for the good care they received. The hospital and attached clinic offer surgery, CD4 counts, counseling, community outreach, and education. All of Profamilia’s services integrate gender-based violence awareness.

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Source15%Worldwide, nearly 15% of adult women's deaths occur during maternity.

Source356,000Each year, in developing countries, 356,000 women die from pregnancy-related causes.