Maternal and newborn health in Malawi

Malawi has one of the poorest indicators of health in developing countries. The maternal mortality ratio is one of the highest in Africa. It almost doubled by 80% from 620/ 100 000 to 1120/ 100 000 live births in 2000 and the fertility rate is also high at 6.3 children per woman (National Statistical Office and ORC Macro 2001). Currently the maternal mortality ratio has dropped to 984/ 100 000 live births while the fertility rate is at 6 children according to the Malawi Demographic Survey of 2004 (National Statistical Office 2005). The neonatal mortality was equally high at 42/ 1000 live births though it has decreased to 27/ 1000(National Statistical Office and ORC Macro, 2005).