Abstract

Women in developing countries suffer considerable moribidity and mortality due to inability to control their own fertility and lack of access to family planning services. Over 500,000 deaths each year are related to pregnancy. Two thirds of these maternal deaths could be prevented by providing contraception to those women who wish to use it in developing countries. There is no tenable ethical defence of cultural and religious behaviour which denies a woman a choice as to whether she will undertake a pregnancy or not. Implementation of the principles of the programme ofactionfrom the 1994 Cairo Population Conference would, through empowering women to control their own fertility, have a huge impact on maternal health in the developing world.