2 Million Die Annually Because Of Lack Of Professional Care At Birth

New York, NY, United States (AHN) – About 2 million lives are lost every year because babies are delivered without the aid of a person trained in natal care, according to a new report.

The report, “Countdown to 2015 Decade Report (2000-2010),” states that almost half of women in 68 countries the researchers tracked give birth without the help of a trained midwife, nurse or doctor. Only 10 of these countries have increased their rates of skilled care by at least 10 percent since 1990, according to the report.

Most of these countries are in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Dr. Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, co-chair of the Countdown to 2015, said in a statement that skilled care at birth is essential for the health and survival of both the mother and child.

The report was written by a group, created in 2005, of academics, governments, United Nations agencies, foundations, health care associations and non-governmental organizations.

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