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PAPERS: Taghreed Adam, Stephen S Lim, Sumi Mehta, Zulfiqar A Bhutta, Helga Fogstad, Matthews Mathai, Jelka Zupan, and Gary L Darmstadt Cost effectiveness analysis of strategies for maternal and neonatal health in developing countries BMJ 2005; 331: 1107 [Abstract] [Full text]

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Will we see MCH Care in Social Security Network

Hanoon P Pokharel, Ghopa, Dharan, Sunsari 56701 Nepal   (13 November 2005)

Family Planning is Fundamental

Eleanor B Schwarz   (2 December 2005)

Will we see MCH Care in Social Security Network 13 November 2005
Hanoon P Pokharel, Assistant Professor, Dept of Obs/Gyn BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Ghopa, Dharan, Sunsari 56701 Nepal Send response to journal: Re: Will we see MCH Care in Social Security Network	Dear All Read with interest the impression gathered by you all. We see maternal death because minimum care is not provided and face challenges in hospital to make safer outcome, but many such attempts fail as they are brought very late. Booked cases are seen only one in ten. Fundamental question lies, is there any provision to bring such basic care in social security network. There is enough evidences to show things work, if mother and child are assured minimum care and follow up within the reach of them. When will these people have such basic rights in this region? It is the ultimate success of millennium development goal. Competing interests: None declared
Family Planning is Fundamental 2 December 2005
Eleanor B Schwarz, Assistant Professor of Medicine University of Pittsburgh 15213 Send response to journal: Re: Family Planning is Fundamental	Adam et al's failure to consider safe abortion and family planning as fundamental components of maternal health is unfortunate. It is estimated that each year 500,000 women are hospitalized and 78,000 women die every year from complication of unsafe abortions. Complications of unsafe abortion result in 13% of all pregnancy-related deaths worldwide. Multiple studies (2,3,4) have demonstrated the cost-effectiveness of contraception. As such, describing family planning interventions as only "potentially beneficial" is inaccurate. 1 Alan Guttmacher Institute. Induced Abortion World Wide http://www.agi-usa.org/pubs/fb_0599.html. accessed Nov 11, 2005 2 Singh S et al Adding it Up: The Benefits of Investing in Sexual and Reproductive Health Care, New York: The Alan guttmacher Institute and United Nations Population Fund, 2003 3 Sonnenberg FA et al Costs and net health effects of contraceptive methods Contraception 2004 Jun 69 (6):447-59 4 Chiou CF et al Economic analysis of contraceptives for women Contraception 2003 Competing interests: None declared