STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR SAFE MOTHERHOOD

In Latin America and the Caribbean, maternal mortality has stagnated at approximately 190 per 100,000 live births with inter and intra-country disparities.  This occurs in an environment where an average 75%-80% of deliveries are attended by a skilled person implying poor access to or ineffective care (26^th Pan American Sanitary Conference, 2002; Regional Interagency Task Force for the Reduction of Maternal Mortality).  Cost-effective interventions for the reduction of the incidence and severity of complications associated with pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period are known.  Research and experience in maternal health for more than a decade have demonstrated this and that the interventions are feasible even in poor countries. Such interventions are a supportive policy environment, basic and comprehensive Essential Obstetric Care (EOC), skilled attendance at birth, improved access to high quality maternal health services, safe motherhood health promotion, the monitoring and evaluation of progress and establishment of multi-sectoral linkages (26^th Pan American Sanitary Conference, 2002).