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...

This note discusses different ways for setting targets for indicators commonly used in World Bank Health, Nutrition and Population (HNP) projects. It shows how targets can be set, using information about historical progress, for a selection of HNP indicators. Targets are defined as explicit...

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...

Immunization against childhood diseases such as diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio and measles is one of the most important means of preventing childhood morbidity and mortality. Despite the low cost of basic childhood immunizations, nearly 3 million children still die each year from...