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Maternal Health Initiative

MHI Update - September 2022

Greetings from the Maternal Health Initiative! We hope you have all had a fruitful summer. At MHI, we had an eventful few months. We hosted high level dialogues on masculinities and peacekeeping, midwifery in humanitarian settings, sustainable partnerships for improved maternal and newborn health outcomes, and the U.S. launch of the 2022 UNFPA State of World Population Report. We also released two policy briefs: one on declining fertility rates globally and the role of infertility and the second, in partnership with our colleagues at the Environmental Change and Security Program, on demographic trends, gender inequality, and security challenges in the Sahel. You can find links to these works, as well as our numerous articles published to the Dot-Mom column, below.

In June, MHI recognized Pride Month, when communities around the world honor the struggle that LGBTQ+ people face in the fight for equality and we followed the less celebratory U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and remove the constitutional right to abortion in the United States. Our mission at MHI is to better the lives of women and birthing people globally through research, high-level convenings, and actionable solutions. We are paying close attention to what this decision means for U.S. foreign policy on abortion and the ripple effects of restricting bodily autonomy and rights on the world’s women, girls, and birthing people.

This fall, stay tuned for our upcoming work on the impacts of climate change on maternal and newborn health and population dynamics, migration and care work, and the lasting mental health challenges offset by the COVID-19 pandemic by subscribing to our email list.

MHI also just launched our own LinkedIn account, where we will share our work and the work of others on topics related to our work. Details are below—please follow us and stay connected.

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Recent publications

Global Health & Gender Policy Brief

Global Fertility Rates and the Role of Infertility

New Security Brief

Converging Risks: Demographic Trends, Gender Inequity, and Security Challenges in the Sahel

Follow Us on LinkedIn

It’s official! We’re on LinkedIn. Through our research and scholarship, unique convening power, global outreach networks, and cutting-edge communication tools, MHI is advancing dialogue on neglected and critical women’s and girls’ health and gender equity issues and their connections to U.S. foreign policy. Follow us to keep up with the latest analysis, research, events, and more from the Wilson Center’s Maternal Health Initiative.

Recent Events

Reproductive Health

Seeing the Unseen: U.S. Virtual Launch of the 2022 UNFPA State of World Population Report

The Wilson Center’s Maternal Health Initiative, in collaboration with UNFPA, held the U.S. launch of the 2022 UNFPA State of World Population (SWOP) report, titled Seeing the Unseen: The case for action in the neglected crisis of unintended pregnancy. This year’s report details the steep costs associated with unintended pregnancy – including the cost to a person’s health, education, and future; as well as costs to health systems, workforces, and societies. Panelists will discuss the SWOP report and its findings, the importance of addressing and working to reduce unintended pregnancy globally, and key policies and recommendations to mitigate the many costs of unintended pregnancy.

International Development

Midwives in Crises: Securing Maternal & Newborn Health in Humanitarian Settings

The Wilson Center’s Maternal Health Initiative and UNFPA, in collaboration with the Inter-Agency Working Group on Reproductive Health in Crises (IAWG) and White Ribbon Alliance, held a panel discussion on maternal and newborn health in humanitarian settings and the important role of midwives in these contexts. Panelists will share strategies to strengthen midwifery-led health care through targeted investment, training, and improved collaboration and referral pathways within the larger health in humanitarian settings context.

International Security

The Role of Masculinities in International Security and Peacekeeping

The Wilson Center’s Maternal Health Initiative, in collaboration with the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues (S/GWI), held a panel discussion on the role of masculinities in international security issues. Panelists will examine how ideas about masculinities define peacekeeping operations and more generally peace processes and mediation efforts; and develop policy recommendations for national and international actors.

Maternal Health

The Power of Partnerships: Country Perspectives for Sustainable Global Health and Family Planning Programs

The Wilson Center’s Maternal Health Initiative, in collaboration with USAID’s MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership, held a panel discussion on country perspectives on partnerships for sustainable health care, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Panelists will discuss lessons and insights on building equitable and empowering partnerships, deploying participatory and sustainable capacity development approaches, and fostering inclusive processes that support accountability.

Chaos Continues: The Impact of the Revocation of the Global Gag Rule

Many researchers have documented the impact of the Global Gag Rule (GGR) around the world—and what happens when the policy is in place. “But we don’t know enough about what happens when the policy is revoked,” said Bergen Cooper, Director of Policy Research at Fòs Feminista at the launch of the organization’s new report, Chaos Continues: The 2021 Revocation of the Global Gag Rule and The Need for Permanent Repeal

Maternal Health during Conflict

Cascading Impacts of the War in Ukraine: Mental, Maternal, and Newborn Health

Ukraine and its people will feel the effects of the Russian invasion for years to come. More than 6 million refugees have left Ukraine, another 8 million Ukrainians are internally displaced. Among those most impacted are Ukraine’s women and girls, who have a greater chance of experiencing gender-based violence, exploitation, and trafficking. They also face escalated maternal and newborn mortality rates stemming from lack of services and diminished care, as well as injuries and trauma due to the ongoing conflict. Less visibly, Ukrainians are confronting severe emotional distress and trauma.

Digital Health Solutions

The Safe Delivery App Puts Better Maternal and Newborn Outcomes in the Palms of Health Workers’ Hands

Reducing maternal mortality is key to promoting population health. It is also a main priority of the UN General Assembly’s Sustainable Development Goals. And the reasons for concern are clear. Globally, 800 women and 6,500 infants die during pregnancy and birth every day. More than 94 percent of these deaths occur in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs).

Sustainable Development

Turning Power on its Head: A Meaningful Shift Toward Localization

Of COVID-19’s many lessons, one is most critical to our collective next steps: Business as usual in global health is no longer possible. The pandemic exposed weaknesses in health systems across the world, and particularly in the delivery of equitable, high-quality reproductive, maternal, newborn, adolescent, and child health (RMNCAH) services. It also reinforced that effectively addressing these challenges requires rapid, responsive approaches driven and owned by countries and local institutions.