Maternal and Child Health : The World Bank Group's Response to Sustainable Development Goal 3—Target 3.1 and 3.2
The aim of this paper is to explore the advances made in maternal and child health (MCH) over the past 25 years, analyzing World Bank Group (WBG) operational investments in MCH, as countries shift their focus to the sustainable development goals (S...
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| Language: | English |
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World Bank, Washington, DC
2017
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| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/996461511255244233/Target-3-1-and-3-2 http://hdl.handle.net/10986/28964 |
| Summary: | The aim of this paper is to explore the
advances made in maternal and child health (MCH) over the
past 25 years, analyzing World Bank Group (WBG) operational
investments in MCH, as countries shift their focus to the
sustainable development goals (SDGs). Maternal mortality
decreased by 44 percent over the past 25 years with an
annual rate of reduction of 2.4 percent, yet to reach SDG
target 3.1, the global maternal mortality ratio (MMR) must
decrease by 7.5 percent per year by 2030. Maternal mortality
has negative consequences as it leads to greater family
financial instability, loss of education, and increased
child mortality. Evidence shows that skilled birth
attendance and maternal education reduces the likelihood of
maternal mortality (UNESCO, 2013). When comparing primary
school net enrolment and primary school completion with
maternal mortality, it appears that national MMR averages
are influenced by education. Also, MMR is influenced by the
delivery of health care and socioeconomic indicators, which
may lead to inequities at the national and subnational
levels.While significant progress has been made in reducing
the under-five mortality rate (U5MR), neonatal mortality
rate (NMR) reduction has lagged. The WBG has 86 active
projects that include activities that improve women and
children’s health. Many projects focus on antenatal care and
delivery services, followed by children under 5 years, and
family planning. As part of the operationalization of the
Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s, and Adolescents’
Health (2016-2030), the WBG could develop an inclusive
Women’s, Children’s, and Adolescents’ Health Action Plan.
The new, inclusive Action Plan would comprehensively build
on the existing platforms and elements of the WBG, including
the Global Financing Facility; Civil Registration and Vital
Statistics; the World Bank Group Gender Strategy
(2016-2023): Gender equality, poverty reduction and
inclusive growth; fragility, conflict and violence; and the
International Development Association (IDA18) commitments
and all WBG client countries, supporting them across varying
levels of need and income, targeting the poorest and most vulnerable. |
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