Maternal deaths--need for improved obstetric care in the Transkei region.

In the year 2000, 529 000 maternal deaths were recorded throughout the world. Of these, 95% occurred in Africa and Asia, 4% in Latin America and the Caribbean, and less than 1% in the developed countries. The global maternal mortality rate is 400 per 100 000 live births, while it is 830/100 000 in Africa, followed by 330/100 000 in Asia (excluding Japan). Worldwide, 13 developing countries account for 70% of all maternal deaths. According to a United Nations (UN) report, African women are 175 times more likely to die during pregnancy and childbirth than Westerners. Overall, African women have a 1 in 16 risk of dying during pregnancy and childbirth, compared with a 1 in 2 800 risk for women from a developed region.