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Story Publication logo June 29, 2011

Improving the Odds for a Nation of Mothers

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Media file: belize_new_9268_9542.jpg
English

One woman dies every 90 seconds from pregnancy-related complications somewhere in the world. The...

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Image by Samantha Danis. Belize, 2010.

Throughout the world, more than 350,000 women die each year from pregnancy-related complications. Belize is one country that is trying to improve maternal health care in hopes of reducing the risks for pregnant women.

Belize is working toward increasing the number of births attended by a skilled professional, providing universal access to reproductive health care, and making it a priority to reach expecting mothers in remote villages in various parts of the country.

Despite the improvements, the lack of childbirth education for young mothers is still an issue in Belize. Until recently, there were no birthing classes in the country, but Gail Johnson, a midwife from Texas, is changing that. She held the first class for a small Mennonite community in Blue Creek. She hopes this will be the first of many and another step in the right direction for Belize.

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