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 acco...