Republic of Yemen

Goal Five: Improve maternal health

Target One: Reduce by three quarters the maternal mortality rate by 2015

Will this target be reached by 2015?

Despite improvements in several areas relating to reproductive health, Yemen is still grappling with major health issues. According to official statistics in 1997 the maternal mortality rate was 351 deaths per 100,000 births, while a family health survey indicated that the rate remained high (365) in 2003. Although this is in part represents a poor capacity to monitor maternal health in Yemen, it nevertheless indicates that Yemen has a long way to go before maternal mortality rates decline to a point envisaged by the MDGs.

Many factors contribute to the high maternal mortality rate in Yemen including:

• Early marriage and pregnancy;
• Malnutrition;
• Poor quality health services;
• The large number of women who are anaemic during pregnancy; and
• Poor distribution of health services.

Last Modified on 15/03/2011 01:03 am