TY - RPRT AU - Govindasamy, Pavalavalli AU - Stewart, M. Kathryn AU - Rutstein, Shea O. AU - Boerma, J. Ties AU - Sommerfelt, A. Elisabeth CY - Columbia, Maryland, USA TI - High-risk birth and maternity care T2 - DHS Comparative Studies No. 8 PB - Macro International PY - 1993 UR - http://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/CS8/CS8.pdf AB - This report uses data from 28 DHS surveys between 1985 and 1990 to examine the potential mortality reductions which could be achieved through increased use of family planning and wider access to maternity care. First, differentials in the coverage and utilization of maternity care are examined. Next, the fertility-related factors that place women and their children at high risk are explored. Data on women who fall into high-risk categories are then used to calculate a new measure of unmet need for family planning with the goal of avoiding high-risk births. The report concludes that the prevention of maternal mortality includes, in part, the prevention of high- risk pregnancies and a broadened definition of unmet need for family planning that considers known mortality risks associated with maternal age, parity, and birth spacing. N1 - For assistance using downloaded citations from The DHS Program, please visit http://dhsprogram.com/publications/Citing-DHS-Publications.cfm. The Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) is a 13-year project to assist government and private agencies in developing countries to conduct national sample surveys on population and maternal and child health. Funded primarily by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), DHS is administered by Macro International Inc. in Columbia, Maryland, USA. ER -