Maternal Health

The Wilson Center and Maternal Health

Afghanistan Beyond the Headlines: Women, Youth, and the War

June 24, 2013 // 12:00pm — 5:00pm
News coverage of Afghanistan has focused almost entirely on the war, leaving much of the country’s population—particularly women and girls—out of the headlines. The news isn’t good: Afghanistan has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world; girls on their way to school risk being assaulted; and youth face persistent low-level violence in cities and the countryside. Bringing together experts from a diversity of disciplines and policy areas, this half-day conference will examine how women and youth have fared during a decade of conflict, and the challenges and opportunities that they face in Afghanistan's uncertain future. more
Webcast

Vision, Innovation, and Action to Address Child Marriage

June 17, 2013 // 2:00pm — 4:30pm
Over the past decade, nearly 58 million girls were married before the age of 18. Child marriage is a truly global problem: In Africa, 42 percent of girls are married before turning 18, but it is also prevalent in parts of Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean (in South Asia, for instance, 46 percent of girls are married). Child brides often start childbearing early, leading to complications and producing high rates of maternal morbidity and mortality among girls in developing countries. Married girls are often forced to leave school, negatively affecting their ability to work and provide for their families. The panelists will describe current policies and programs working to support young women and delay marriage whenever possible. more
Webcast

Woman-Centered Maternity Care, Family Planning, and HIV: Principles for Rights-Based Integration

June 11, 2013 // 3:00pm — 5:00pm
Increasingly, family planning and HIV programs are seeking to expand their services to include maternal health care. The movement to integrate health services provides an important opportunity to share lessons learned across the different communities on their experiences with rights-based care. Join us for a discussion with experts in rights-based maternity care and its intersection with family planning and HIV. more
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Roger-Mark De Souza Named Director of Population, Environmental Change, and Security

Apr 22, 2013
Noted population-environment expert Roger-Mark De Souza joins the Wilson Center as Director of Population, Environmental Change, and Security. De Souza will lead programs on reproductive and maternal health, environmental security, and livelihoods, including the Center’s Environmental Change and Security Program and the Global Health Initiative.

Africa UP Close

Dec 04, 2012
The Africa Program and the Project on Leadership and Building State Capacity launch new blog - join the discussion today!

The Year Ahead in Political Demography

Jun 11, 2012
The Arab Spring was anticipated by few, but for a handful of political demographers it was a watershed of sorts. Although such game-changers are rarely predictable, the year ahead promises to be eventful as well, with new demographic research and major policy initiatives on the horizon.

Latin America: Emerging Trends in Environmental, Economic Growth

Oct 05, 2010
As Latin American nations work to combat poverty and underdevelopment, issues of environmental importance—from demographics to climate change—will come into play. Panelists discuss those trends and challenges.
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Afghanistan Beyond the Headlines: Women, Youth, and the War

June 24, 2013 // 12:00pm — 5:00pm
News coverage of Afghanistan has focused almost entirely on the war, leaving much of the country’s population—particularly women and girls—out of the headlines. The news isn’t good: Afghanistan has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world; girls on their way to school risk being assaulted; and youth face persistent low-level violence in cities and the countryside. Bringing together experts from a diversity of disciplines and policy areas, this half-day conference will examine how women and youth have fared during a decade of conflict, and the challenges and opportunities that they face in Afghanistan's uncertain future.
Webcast

Vision, Innovation, and Action to Address Child Marriage

June 17, 2013 // 2:00pm — 4:30pm
Over the past decade, nearly 58 million girls were married before the age of 18. Child marriage is a truly global problem: In Africa, 42 percent of girls are married before turning 18, but it is also prevalent in parts of Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean (in South Asia, for instance, 46 percent of girls are married). Child brides often start childbearing early, leading to complications and producing high rates of maternal morbidity and mortality among girls in developing countries. Married girls are often forced to leave school, negatively affecting their ability to work and provide for their families. The panelists will describe current policies and programs working to support young women and delay marriage whenever possible.
Webcast

Woman-Centered Maternity Care, Family Planning, and HIV: Principles for Rights-Based Integration

June 11, 2013 // 3:00pm — 5:00pm
Increasingly, family planning and HIV programs are seeking to expand their services to include maternal health care. The movement to integrate health services provides an important opportunity to share lessons learned across the different communities on their experiences with rights-based care. Join us for a discussion with experts in rights-based maternity care and its intersection with family planning and HIV.
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Delivering Solutions to Improve Maternal Health and Increase Access to Family Planning

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 800 women die daily from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Almost all of these deaths occur in developing countries, with higher rates for women living in rural areas and among poorer communities.

Seven Ways 7 Billion People Affect the Environment and Security

Today’s population of 7 billion people has a significant impact on the planet’s natural resources and on global security. Seven critical challenges—security, climate change, water scarcity, food insecurity, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and future population growth—are affected by population dynamics in complex ways that demand holistic solutions. One effective and relatively inexpensive way to meet these challenges is to empower women by improving their access to education and health care, including family planning.

Africa on the Move!: The Role of Political Will and Community in Improving Access to Family Planning in Africa

This paper presents a compelling study that examines factors which have propelled the change in attitudes of political leaders to champion family planning in Africa.
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Healthy People, Healthy Environment: Integrated Development in Tanzania

Sean Peoples and Michael Miller discuss their new short feature documentary entitled Healthy People, Healthy Environment: Integrated Development in Tanzania, which premieres this month at the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital.
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Ann Blanc

Vice President, Poverty, Gender, and Youth Program, Population Council
Ann Blanc joined the Population Council in 2011 as vice president and director of the Poverty, Gender, and Youth program.Prior to joining the Council, Blanc was director of the Maternal Health Task Force at EngenderHealth. The Task Force was an $11 million, three-year project funded by the Bill...

Calyn M. Ostrowski

Calyn Ostrowski serves as program consultant for the Woodrow Wilson Center's Global Health Initiative (GHI), which addresses maternal health, health financing, and health in post-conflict and post-disaster settings. In this capacity, she identifies and analyzes effective programs and policies th...

Celia Pett

Medical Associate, Fistula Care, EngenderHealth
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