Child and Maternal Mortality
in Islamic Countries
1
Executive Summary
There is a high burden of preventable maternal and child deaths in low resource settings. The
global maternal mortality ratio (MMR) reduced about 44% and the number of maternal deaths
reduced about 43% globally between 1990 and 2015. The progress of maternal mortality
reduction, however, was much slower in Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries, where maternal
deaths declined about 29% during the period. Similarly, the reduction of under-5 deaths was
also slower in OIC countries. Almost half of the world’s under-5 child deaths occur in OIC
countries.
Although proven and cost-effective interventions are available to prevent maternal, newborn
and child deaths, there is low utilization of effective maternal and child survival and health
interventions in high-need areas. Both supply related health system factors and demand related
socioeconomic and cultural factors exist as barriers for the utilization of obstetrical and child
care services.
This report focuses on the progress and prospects of achieving the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDG-3.1 and SDG 3.2) for maternal and child mortality reduction, respectively,
specifically by the 38 OIC member countries who are registered in the COMCEC Poverty
AlleviationWorking Group. SDG-3.1 targets to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less
than 70 per 100 000 live births by 2030, and SDG 3.2 aims to end preventable deaths of
newborns and children under 5 years of age: all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality
to at least as low as 12 per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per
1,000 live births by 2030.
Because the study has been prepared for the COMCEC Poverty Alleviation Working Group, we
have focused on the factors that are relevance to poverty alleviation programs or targets for
reducing health inequity. So, we have emphasized on three key factors: socioeconomic status,
which is commonly assessed by wealth quintile (lowest/poorest; second/poor; middle;
fourth/rich, and highest/richest) based on household assets and resources; educational level of
women; and urban-rural residence. Based on desk reviews, literature reviews, and secondary
analyses of national survey data of the targeted OIC countries for the poverty alleviation
programs and in-depth interviews of stakeholders in four case-study OIC countries, we have
examined the trends in maternal mortality ratios and child mortality rates, process indicators
for maternal and child health care, and inequity in these outcomes of interests.
The United Nations Human Rights Council recognizes maternal and child mortality not just the
issues of development but the matters of human rights that assure every women and children
access to high quality of care. In order to understand the basic premise of human rights in
assuring availability, accessibility, acceptability, and equity in health care, we have used the
World Health Organization (WHO)’s framework to examine health systems challenges and
deficiencies in delivering MNCH services. We have examined six core components of the health
systems: service delivery, health workforce, health information systems, access to essential
medicines, financing, and leadership/governance.
Our data analyses and reviews suggest that many OIC countries will be not able to achieve the
MDG-3.1 goal of reducing maternal mortality at the current rate of progress. However, many of
these countries are progressing well towards achieving the MDG-3.2 goal of child mortality
reduction. Majority of these countries have high inequity in maternal and child health care