Child and Maternal Mortality
in Islamic Countries
6
decline to reach the SDG goal of reducing neonatal and under-5 mortality to 12 per 1,000 live
births and 25 per 1,000 live births, respectively, in all countries. An accelerated pace of
reductions in maternal and neonatal deaths will be needed if these SDG-3 targets are to be
achieved.20 Improving timeliness and quality of routine and emergency obstetrical and neonatal
care and ensuring access to such services for all women and newborns will be key for achieving
success.
1.2. Study objectives and methodology
In response to the COMCEC’s TOR for the study on child and maternal mortality in OIC countries,
this study has the following objectives:
1. To conduct a desk review and literature review on the progress in maternal and child
mortality globally and in OIC countries
2. Develop a conceptual and analytical framework that links the key determinants of child
and maternal mortality, and supply and demand aspects of health care utilization
3. To conduct in-depth analyses of four selected case-study countries to better understand
the country contexts that affected its progress in mortality reduction positively or
negatively
4. To develop a set of actionable recommendations to accelerate child and maternal
mortality reduction
1.2.1 Methods
We have conducted desk and literature reviews, secondary analyses of data from OIC countries,
and in-depth interviews of key stakeholders in case-study countries for addressing the study
objectives.
We have examined the following documents for desk review and literature review activities:
● In-country MOH documents on health policy, MNH strategies, 5-year health planning
reports, and female education policy
● National legislations on women, child and maternal issues, including legal status of
abortion and post-abortion care
● Published papers in peer-reviewed journals
● Unpublished reports
● Evaluation reports of health interventions by international agencies, donors, and
local NGOs
● Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) and Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS)
reports
● Current social protection and health insurance or user-fee subsidy program situation
in the country
● In country routine management information system (MIS)/health information
system (HIS) reports
● Any other grey literature