Women are at much greater risk in childbirth in developing countries than in developed countries. This report explores why maternal mortality continues to be so high in developing countries, and why emergency obstetric services are little utilized, through research carried out in poor areas in...

Health data at the national level do not reveal the inequalities associated with poverty within a country; therefore national progress toward health goals can be made without much improvement in the health status of the poor. Poverty quintile analysis is useful here: it disaggregates data on...