In South Asia, where countries have often struggled with high maternal mortality rates, Sri Lanka stands out for its relatively low numbers of maternal deaths.
In Sri Lanka, the maternal mortality ratio (MMR)—the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in a given period—was 32 in 2013. By contrast, the MMRs of some of the country’s closest neighbors were much higher: in India, 189 women died for every 100,000 live births in 2013; in Bangladesh, 201 died; and in Nepal, 291 died.
“Sri Lanka represents a unique and inspiring success story in terms of the country’s achievements in maternal health,” said Ana Langer, director of the Women and Health Initiative and the Maternal Health Task Force at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, in a March 14, 2016 Al Jazeera article. She attributed Sri Lanka’s success to consistent political will, universal health coverage, skilled birth attendance at most deliveries, and high quality of care from trained midwives.
Read the Al Jazeera article: Why Sri Lanka beats India in maternal mortality ratios
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Read a blog post by Ana Langer about addressing maternal health needs in the future: Rethinking Maternal Health