In Uganda, maternal mortality appears to have declined over the past decade, measured at 505 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2000/01 and 435 deaths in 2006, a ratio that is among the lowest in the Eastern Africa region. However, maternal mortality would need to decline to 131 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2015 to meet the Millennium Development Goal for maternal health.

This report tracks four maternal health supplies: oxytocin, misoprostol, magnesium sulfate and manual vacuum aspirators (MVAs). These supplies address three of the most common direct causes of maternal mortality in Africa. This study assesses the factors that inhibit access to maternal health supplies in Uganda and the importance of overcoming shortages of these supplies to achieve improved maternal, reproductive, newborn and child health.

In Bangladesh, maternal mortality appears to be declining; however, with at least 322 maternal deaths per 100,000 births, the country still has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios (MMR) in the world, and the highest in South Asia. Bangladesh is unlikely to achieve domestic and international targets on the reduction of maternal mortality.

This report tracks four maternal health supplies: oxytocin, misoprostol, magnesium sulfate and manual vacuum aspirators (MVAs). These supplies address three of the most common direct causes of maternal mortality in Asia. This study assesses the factors that inhibit access to maternal health supplies in Bangladesh and the importance of overcoming shortages of these supplies to achieve improved maternal, reproductive, newborn and child health.