Maternal and Perinatal Health in Developing Countries

The promotion of maternal health and mortality reduction is of worldwide importance, and constitutes a vital part of the UN Millennium Development Goals. The highest maternal mortality rates are in developing countries, where global and regional initiatives are needed to improve the systems and practices involved in maternal care and medical access. Taking a practical policy approach, this book covers the background and concepts underlying efforts to improve maternal and perinatal mortality, the current global situation and problems that prevent progress. It includes case studies and examples of successful strategies, recommends good practices, and provides a critical analysis of knowledge gaps to inform areas for future research.

Julia Hussein trained as an obstetrician and gynaecologist in Ireland and the UK. She worked in Afghanistan as a clinician and then in 'public health obstetrics', implementing maternal mortality reduction programmes for UNICEF and the UK government in several countries in Asia and sub Saharan Africa. Currently at the University of Aberdeen, she is a senior researcher with interests in programme implementation, monitoring and evaluation, quality of maternity care and capacity strengthening.

Research activities on vitamin and trace element status of population groups, genotyping of single nucleotide polymorphisms, post processing of experimental and epidemiological data, 16 years of academic experience in Germany, Austria and New Zealand.