Reproductive Health

Reproductive health is critical to the health and well-being of women and children in the developing world. Each year, over 500,000 women die of pregnancy-related causes, and millions more suffer life-long disability. Sadly, 98 percent of these deaths occur in the developing world, and most are preventable. The links to child survival are striking. A child whose mother dies in childbirth is 3-10 times more likely to die before his or her second birthday than a child whose mother survives. Pregnancies that occur among younger women, women who have had many pregnancies, or those who have had pregnancies that are too close together, face higher rates of maternal and infant death. Despite these well-known risks and benefits, most women in developing countries lack access to basic pregnancy-related care, as well as access to information and services that couples need to delay or prevent pregnancy.

Program Goals

Save the Children’s reproductive health programs seek to prevent this needless death and disability by improving the availability, quality, and use of reproductive services – especially among those who are under-served. We seek to ensure that women and men have access to accurate and culturally-appropriate information, easy access to essential services and are empowered to make healthy decisions related to their sexual health, birth planning and family size. In order to make a positive and lasting difference in the life of a child, we begin with a healthy mother in a family and community that supports and welcomes both her and her newborn. We are committed to working with partner organizations at the global, national and local levels to increase understanding and awareness of the critical relationship of a woman’s health to the well being of her child. Save the Children works hard to build local capacity to put in place high quality and long-lasting reproductive health programs and activities. We do not provide nor promote abortion, but recognize the importance of appropriate medical care for women who experience the loss of a pregnancy.

Our reproductive health programs and activities promote:

• Community participation in the provision and improvement of health information and services including reducing social and physical barriers to care.
• Access to high-quality, voluntary family planning information and services for men and women.
• Access to adequate pregnancy-related care, including pre- and post-natal care, delivery and emergency obstetric care.
• Improved maternal nutrition and micronutrient supplementation.
• Newborn survival through appropriate newborn care and early and successful initiation of breastfeeding.
• Information and services designed for and by youth to address their sexual and reproductive health needs, while helping parents and other involved adults to better encourage youth in their development.
• Risk-reduction measures to help prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, with linkages to services for those who need care.
• Advocacy to enhance understanding of the reproductive health situation, and the critical links between reproductive health and health and survival of women and children.