Reproductive health programs and maternal mortality: How to use a right-based approach to evaluate the impact of reproductive health programs on maternal mortality

The three main challenges global health professionals face today to achieve the millennium development goals (MDGs), particularly MDG5, which is the one most behind, are to improve effectiveness, quality and scale of global health development programs. Can rights based approaches provide an effective programmatic framework that fosters country-led development of reproductive health programs and improve the quality of maternal health services? Using a rights based approach (RBA) seven critical questions were asked from health professionals in charge of maternal health services in Nigeria. The presentation will show preliminary findings of a survey that is part of a broad RBA program. The questions were:

1. Please read the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)? Have you ever heard of the CEDAW before? 2. Does your program address any of the articles CEDAW? If yes, which? 3. Are there marginalized or vulnerable women in your community whose health may be at risk if they get pregnant? If yes, does your program address the health needs of these vulnerable women in your community? 4. Who has the duty to make sure these women don't die during pregnancy or delivery? How do you involve duty bearers in your program? 5. How do you involve right holders, that is, the women themselves in your program? 6. How well does your program meet the needs of marginalized or vulnerable women? 7. How do you advocate for the rights of women, particularly women from ethnic, religious or political minority groups?