the gap between the the gap between the rich and the poorrich and the poor

More than half a million women die More than half a million women die every year of complications during every year of complications during

pregnancy or childbirth.pregnancy or childbirth. Most of Most of these these

deaths can be deaths can be avoidedavoided as the as the necessary medical necessary medical interventions exist interventions exist and are well known. and are well known.

About 14 million girls aged About 14 million girls aged between 15 and 19 give birth each between 15 and 19 give birth each yearyear

About 14 million girls About 14 million girls aged between 15 and aged between 15 and 19 give birth each year, 19 give birth each year, accounting for more accounting for more than 10% of all births.than 10% of all births.

In the developing world, In the developing world, about 90% of the births about 90% of the births to adolescents occur in to adolescents occur in marriage. marriage.

In many countries, the In many countries, the risk of maternal death is risk of maternal death is twice as high for an twice as high for an adolescent mother as for adolescent mother as for other pregnant women. other pregnant women.

The state of maternal health mirrors The state of maternal health mirrors the gap the gap between the rich and the poorbetween the rich and the poor. Only 1% of . Only 1% of maternal deaths occur in high-income maternal deaths occur in high-income countries. countries.

A woman's lifetime risk of dying from A woman's lifetime risk of dying from complications in childbirth or pregnancy is complications in childbirth or pregnancy is about one in seven in Niger and one in 48 000 about one in seven in Niger and one in 48 000 in Ireland. in Ireland.

MalnutritionMalnutrition

Many boys and girls Many boys and girls in developing in developing countries enter countries enter adolescence adolescence undernourished, undernourished, making them more making them more vulnerable to disease vulnerable to disease and early death. and early death.

Education is highly importantEducation is highly important

Proven individual prevention strategies include Proven individual prevention strategies include pre-school enrichment programmespre-school enrichment programmes during during early childhood (ages 3-5 years), early childhood (ages 3-5 years),

life skills training and life skills training and social development social development programmes for children aged 6 to 18 yearsprogrammes for children aged 6 to 18 years

and assisting high-risk adolescents and young and assisting high-risk adolescents and young adults to adults to complete schooling and pursue complete schooling and pursue courses of higher education and vocational courses of higher education and vocational training. training.

violence preventionviolence prevention

Proven family prevention strategies include Proven family prevention strategies include providing training for parents on child providing training for parents on child development, non-violent discipline and development, non-violent discipline and problem-solving skillsproblem-solving skills

promoting parental involvement in the lives of promoting parental involvement in the lives of children and adolescents through programmes children and adolescents through programmes to develop home-school partnerships; to develop home-school partnerships;

violence preventionviolence prevention

violence preventionviolence prevention

In society, strategies that are In society, strategies that are proven and promising include proven and promising include reducing alcohol availability reducing alcohol availability and misuse and misuse

reducing access to reducing access to fireweapons, sedatives and fireweapons, sedatives and pesticides pesticides

and promoting gender and promoting gender equality through strategies equality through strategies such as supporting the such as supporting the economic empowerment of economic empowerment of women. women.