In the developing world, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, progress in reducing maternal and newborn deaths has been slow. One reason for the persistently high maternal and newborn mortality rates is the lack of access to family planning for those women who want to delay or prevent pregnancy. Family planning through eliminating unintended pregnancies reduces maternal and newborn mortality rates and improves the health and well-being of women and their existing children.

Some 15 per cent of pregnant women worldwide face potential life-threatening complications during pregnancy, delivery or afterwards. Despite this, 35 percent of new mothers in developing countries will give birth either alone or without skilled care during what is one of the most dangerous passages a woman will undergo in her entire lifetime.For a country to prevent women and newborn babies from dying during childbirth, one of the most important investments it can make is in human resources to ensure skilled birth attendance during pregnancy and delivery.