goal5worksheet

One World Youth Project

Goal 5: Improve Maternal Health

“Goal 5 aims to improve the conditions of mothers giving birth. Every year more than 500,000 women die from complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Worldwide, more than 50 million women suffer from poor reproductive health and serious pregnancy-related illness and disability. Making sure women are safe giving birth saves the life of the mother, and her unborn child.

Achieving Goal 5 will require expanding reproductive health care including: Greater access to family planning can help reduce the maternal mortality rate by reducing the number of pregnancies. Increased services are needed for pregnant women including fast access to emergency obstetrical care. Life-saving interventions such as antibiotics, surgery, and transportation to medical centers are unavailable to many women, especially in rural areas.”

Teen pregnancy is also considered to be a maternal health hazard, since the mother’s body may still be maturing making child birth complications more likely.

Source: United Nations Cyber School Bus Millennium Development Campaign

SEE

In your community, do pregnant women have access to adequate medical care? Are these services available to everyone regardless of socio-economic status?

How is family planning handled in your community?

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Does teen pregnancy occur in your community? Would you say this is a common occurrence?

REFLECT

Look at the answers to your questions above. Based on your responses, what do you feel is the quality of maternal health in your community?

ACT

How could you help achieve UN Millennium Development Goal 5? How could you help improve maternal health locally or globally?

Can you think of a project you and your peers might be able to design and implement in your community in order to help reach Goal 5?

INSPIRE

In the 1990s, some progress was made, especially in East Asia. More and more countries are developing safe motherhood programs thanks to the commitment of individuals and governments.

Source of inspirational stories: United Nations Cyber School Bus Millennium Development Campaign

One World Youth Project Curriculum www.oneworldyouthproject.org