Global Population Report

This booklet presents current policies on reproductive health and family planning, drawing on statistics from the World Population Policies Database: The 2015 Revision.

The Programme of Action of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) defines reproductive health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. Reproductive health care includes access to relevant, high-quality information and services.

According to the World Health Organization (2016), nearly 830 women die each day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Although maternal mortality has declined in recent decades, it remains a concern, particularly in less developed regions. Sub-Saharan Africa records the highest maternal mortality ratio—546 deaths per 100,000 live births—compared with 12 per 100,000 live births in more developed regions. The Sustainable Development Goals therefore call on governments to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to below 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.

Worldwide, more than 70 per cent of governments have expanded basic postnatal care (72 per cent), comprehensive antenatal care (71 per cent), obstetric care (71 per cent), or access to family planning methods. In addition, 62 per cent have adopted policies to expand the recruitment and training of skilled midwives.

The report describes measures taken by several countries, including the State of Qatar (pp. 20–21), to reduce neonatal mortality and support maternal health by expanding universal antenatal care coverage. This includes expanded obstetric care, essential postnatal and newborn care, and family planning.