Brasília - The high rate of maternal mortality in Brazil is of concern to the World Health Organization. At the moment, for every 100,000 births in the country, a total of 74 women die. Among the causes for such deaths are hypertension, bleeding during birth, infections and abortions. In Brazil prenatal care is now considered good, but the quality of medical services leaves much to be desired.

According to Maria Jose Araujo at the Ministry of Health, the goal is to reduce the maternal mortality rate by 15% between now and 2007. That will require investments at the state and local levels in training of personnel.

Agência Brasil
Reporter:Keite Camacho
Translator: Allen Bennett
10/29/2004