Report on Indigenous Women’s Maternal Health in Latin America and the Caribbean. Summary

Abstract

Maternal mortality among indigenous women is unacceptably high. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has been working for years to prevent these deaths, which are largely avoidable if proven measures are applied: quality maternal care, universal access to contraceptive methods, and fighting inequalities in access to health care. This publication presents a summary of the Report on Indigenous Women’s Maternal Health in Latin America and the Caribbean, prepared by PAHO in follow-up to the recommendation made by the 18th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. It includes a description of the situation of indigenous women’s maternal health, the tools promoted by PAHO to integrate the intercultural approach into pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care services, and the related technical cooperation activities that PAHO has carried out in the last five years in the subregion.