Introduction to maternal and reproductive health

Pregnancy and childbirth have a huge impact on the physical, mental, emotional, and socioeconomic health of women and their families. Poor maternal health remains a significant problem both in developed and developing countries. While motherhood offers a rewarding experience, for too many women it is associated with suffering, ill health, and even death. Many women, including adolescents, die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Maternal deaths are classified as direct or indirect. Direct causes are those related to obstetric complications of pregnancy, labour, delivery, and the postnatal period, while indirect causes are those relating to pre-existing medical conditions that may be aggravated by the physiological demands of pregnancy. Opportunities to prevent and control diseases occur at multiple stages of life. Identifying which groups of women experience poorer physical and mental health, and understanding risk factors, will enable midwives and other health professionals to better support women before, during, and after pregnancy and childbirth.