Notice to Readers
World Health Day -- April 7, 1998
"Invest in the Future: Support Safe Motherhood" is the theme
in the United States for World Health Day, April 7, 1998. In the
United States, this day will focus on the continued importance of
maternal health and opportunities to improve this aspect of women's
health. Although the risk for women dying from pregnancy has
decreased substantially during the past 50 years, the maternal
mortality ratio for the nation has not decreased since 1982 (1).
Approximately 50% of pregnancy-related deaths remain preventable
(2), and the extent of morbidity associated with pregnancy is often
unrecognized.
Safe motherhood begins before pregnancy with healthy
lifestyles that include good nutrition, physical activity,
preconception care, and avoidance of harmful substances. Safe
motherhood continues with planned pregnancies; early, quality
prenatal care; knowledge of warning signs of problems; and the
delivery of a healthy, full-term baby with the minimum of necessary
interventions. Postpartum support for women and their families in
a positive, nurturing environment also is important.
In 1998, in the United States, women can plan, carry, and
deliver a pregnancy more safely than in the past. However,
additional efforts need to be taken to make safe motherhood a
reality for all women. Improved public health surveillance,
prevention research, and prevention programs are needed to continue
improving the health of women before, during, and after pregnancy
and delivery. Examples include new surveillance methods to monitor
and understand pregnancy complications; prevention research on the
essential content of prenatal care; and prevention programs to
ensure the adequate intake of folic acid by women of reproductive
age to prevent neural tube defects (3).
The World Health Day Advisory Committee of the American
Association for World Health coordinates World Health Day
activities in the United States. Additional information about
special events and resource materials about World Health Day 1998
are available from the American Association for World Health, 1825
K Street, N.W., Suite 1208, Washington, DC 20006; e-mail:
AAWHstaff@aol.com; or from the World-Wide Web site:
http://www.aawhworldhealth.org.
References
CDC. Differences in maternal mortality among black and white
women -- United States, 1990. MMWR 1995;44:6-7,13-4.
Mertz KJ, Parker AL, Halpin GJ. Pregnancy-related mortality in
New Jersey, 1975 to 1989. Am J Public Health 1992;82:1085-8.
CDC. Recommendations for the use of folic acid to reduce the
number of cases of spina bifida and other neural tube defects.
MMWR
1992;41(no. RR-14).
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