An Evaluation of the success stories of low-income countries that met Millennium Development Goal 5 target

Abstract

Introduction Maternal mortality is a challenge across the world especially in low-income countries and over time, countries all over the world have been making efforts to improve maternal health services with the aim of reducing maternal mortality. Maternal health has thus been an agenda item on all global development programs beginning with the UN Millennium development goals (MDGs) in the year 2000 and most recently the UN Sustainable Development Goals SDGs) agenda. At the end of the MDG era, not many low-income countries had achieved the health related goals, particularly MDG 5 of reducing the MMR by 75% yet these countries contribute the most to the high global MMR. However, there were a few low-income countries like Rwanda, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Bangladesh and Cambodia that made commendable progress in reducing their country specific MMR. This study was thus to evaluate the strategies these low income countries that met the MDG 5 target used and the lessons other low-income countries can learn from them. Objectives The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the strategies used by low-income countries that met the MDG 5 target and the lessons that can be learnt from them to help the low-income countries that did not meet the target to make the necessary changes to propel them towards the achievement of maternal health related SDG target. Methodology The methodology adopted for the research was a combination of systematic literature review and scoping of studies guided by the knowledge-to-action conceptual framework. Results The interventions applied by low-income countries that met the MDG 5 target were not unique in nature from those used across other low-income countries. However, the focus was placed on optimum use of the few available resources through providing overall leadership during implementation and leveraging resources for effectiveness. They also focused on investments in other sectors like education, environmental protection, infrastructure (roads specifically) and improving household incomes that indirectly contribute to a reduction of MMR through improved livelihoods and promotion of health seeking behaviour of the population. This is hence a key lesson for low-income countries that did not meet the MDG 5 target moving towards the implementation of the maternal health SDGs. Recommendations Low-income countries that did not meet the MDG 5 target need to focus on learning from past experiences the strategies that work, the barriers in their local context and ways of adopting and sustaining maternal health interventions that work. Some of the strategies that can be adopted by low-income countries include: prioritization, leveraging and efficient use of the limited resources (finance and human resource) and putting in place strong policies to guide the implementation of maternal health programs. Low-income countries also need to investment in other sectors like education, infrastructure development and economic empowerment of families to increase access to maternal health care and the age at which women begin giving birth which are key in reducing maternal deaths.