Why We Work

Image Credit: OWUROOLA ADEWALE on Unsplash.com

The health of pregnant and delivering mothers — and their infants — continues at significant risk worldwide. Recent global statistics show that, every day, approximately 800 women still die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Globally, approximately 6,500 newborns also die every day. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that maternal and newborn mortality should be prioritized on the global agenda.

Thus, the improvement of maternal/newborn health remains one of humanity's key priorities — focused on addressing inequalities regarding the access to and quality of maternal, newborn and child health services, as well as on challenges related to socio-economic status, gender and race inequities, culture, environmental destruction, climate change, and human conflict.
 
Notably, higher maternal and newborn death rates continue in low-resourced and marginalized communities in Africa as well as in the Canadian north. In Africa, the problem becomes even bigger in countries facing violent conflict situations and natural calamities. In Canada, the highest concentration of adverse birth outcomes and related maternal risk factors occur in rural areas with low socio-economic status. Women in these rural areas are more vulnerable to social and material deprivation where access to perinatal and other health-care resources is limited. Higher rates of maternal risk factors are also linked to stress from material deprivation and structural factors such as racism and discrimination.