Global Prayer for Childbirth
Facts and Information
As a part of the Global Day of Prayer for Childbirth, your prayer group is asked to pray not only for your local community, but also problems families are experiencing around the world. Because it may be difficult for prayer teams to assess the needs of childbirth globally, this list of online resources has been created.
Feel free to use as many or as few of these resources as your group needs to feel prepared to pray. Your prayer group can choose to pray for a specific topic, a specific area of the world or both, however don't be so focused on the areas you have chosen that you miss the leading of the Spirit.
Some information has been condensed into fact sheets for you in the resources section.
Safe Motherhood
Global Health Facts Breaks down leading indicators of health, including maternal health issues, by country with both tables and maps to display the data.
Care in Normal Birth: A Practical Guide Establishes universal guidelines for the routine care of women during uncomplicated labour and childbirth. Reflecting the consensus reached by an international group of experts, the report responds to the recent proliferation of practices designed to start, augment accelerate, regulate or monitor the physiological process of labour in industrialized and developing countries alike. Recommendations for routine care are based on a critical review of what considerable research has to say about the effectiveness and safety of 59 common procedures and practices. For more information visit the WHO website.
Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel
Maternal Mortality Update 2000 You can find the maternal death rate for your country in this WHO document.
Maternal Mortality Ratio in 2000 (per 100,000 live births) This UNICEF diagram is a map highlighting countries with the greatest maternal mortality ratio.
Low Birthweight: Country,Regional and Global Estimates You can find the rate of low birthweight for your country in this WHO document.
Infant and Under 5 Mortality Rates Around the World Statistics vary from lower than 8 per 1000 in developed countries up to 260 per 1000.
10 Steps of the CIMS Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative
Preventing unsafe abortion This WHO map lets you see the countries with the highest rates of unsafe abortion (defined by WHO as termination of an unintended pregnancy either by persons lacking the necessary skills or in an environment lacking the minimal medical standards, or both). This is significant because 68,000 women die every year from complications of an unsafe abortion.
Female genital mutilation and obstetric outcome FGM (female circumcision) is estimated to lead to an extra one to two perinatal deaths per 100 deliveries. In the world today there are an estimated 100 million to 140 million girls and women who have been subjected to the operation. Currently, about 3 million girls, the majority under 15 years of age, undergo the procedure every year. Deeply rooted traditions keep these practices in more than 28 countries in Africa and in some countries in Asia and the Middle East.
Cesarean Surgery
US Percent of live births by cesarean delivery ICAN posts the latest data by state for the United States.
ICAN Position Paper on Elective Cesarean Shares risks to the mother and baby when the decision is made to use surgery for birth when there is no medical indication.
Teen Pregnancy
Wikipedia: Teenage Pregnancy Gives global incidence of teen pregnancy. It is important to note two things with this data. First, there is great variation in incidence among regions even within a country. Second, Africa has the highest rates of teen pregnancy, but women tend to marry younger in Africa than any other part of the world. So while it does pose health risks to young women, it is not the same social and health risks for teenagers in more developed countries.
Recent Trends in Teenage Pregnancy in the United States, 1990-2002 The latest data from the National Survey of Family Growth in the US shows teen sexual activity, abortion and pregnancy rates are decreasing for the first time since 1973.
Breastfeeding
UNICEF Global Database on Breastfeeding Indicators This table gives data for most countries accurate as of March 2006.
World Health Organization Global Data Bank on Breastfeeding and Complementary Feeding Search for the breastfeeding rates in your area.
Duration, Intensity, and Exclusivity of Breastfeeding: Recent Research Confirms the Importance of these Variables This research review highlights some of the positive health outcomes of breastfeeding.
Benefits of Breastfeeding This US Department of Health and Human Services report outlines how breastfeeding is beneficial to mothers, babies and societies. It includes a variety of printable resources.
Nutrition
United Nations 5th Report on the World Nutrition Situation Extensive document covering all aspects of nutrition and related problems around the globe.
United Nations World Hunger Map A visual representation of the communities struggling with malnutrition.
Improved Drinking Water Sources This UNICEF chart shows the data regarding progress towards sources of clean water in countries throughout the world.
Violence against pregnant women
Violence against Women during Pregnancy, Postpartum, and Breastfeeding This article reviews some of the research on the effects of violence and abuse on women's childbearing.
Forced Abortion in America This report exposes the high incidence of violence against pregnant women in the United States including forced abortion and murder. Incidentally, murder is the leading cause of death for pregnant women in the United States.
Family Care International has identified gender-based violence as having a devastating impact on women's lives, their families and their societies. Physical and sexual violence entails added risk, such as unwanted pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmissible infections, complications during pregnancy, and chronic reproductive health problems. Violence devastates the lives of women, their children, and their communities. They list some startling statistics on their website, and you could contact them for more specific information.
Baby Trafficking
HumanTrafficking.org This website offers information and resources about human trafficking, including child trafficking and the trafficking of young girls and women for sexual exploitation.
Arrests in China Newspaper report describes a specific crime and gives general details about baby trafficking in China.
China shuts down reports about baby trafficking
Article in Seattle Post Intelligencer.Vietnam plan to end baby trafficking BBC News Article.
Bulgaria: Baby Trafficking Article from the RTE News.
Baby trafficking is thriving in Greece From the International Herald Tribune.
Related Topics:The Coach's Notebook explores more ways to prepare for childbirth with comfort measures and techniques you can use. Prepare your physical body for childbirth with exercise and nutrition. The Christian Childbirth Resource Directory lists websites, books and organizations all created to help you honor God through childbirth. Birthing Naturally Books publishes books to help you grow closer to God during this special time of life. Find childbirth professionals near you in the Natural Childbirth Directory. |
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