Abstract
Unfortunately, high maternal mortality (MM) was a “neglected” public health issue for a long time, due to women’s lower political and social priority within our society. Assessment of MM was a controversial issue, and evidence-based interventions to decrease MM remained disputed.
In September 2000, however, reducing MM was selected as one of the world’s top eight priority targets in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The study aimed to analyze why MM reduction was selected in the MDGs, from historical and social perspectives. Analysis using the related documents and information identified that three dimensions might have led to including MM reduction in the MDGs.
First, in a policy dimension, a reproductive health strategy that merged women’s health with the world population issue penetrated the field of health in 2000. Second, in a technical dimension, scientific intervention through safe motherhood initiatives promoted substantial MM reduction. Lastly, as a social dimension, improvement of women’s rights and status reinforced the adoption of policies aiming to reduce MM.
Entering upon the year 2015, the targeted year of the MDGs, we refocus on the meaning of the MM reduction and hope that our recommitment contributes to accelerating MDGs progress beyond 2015.
