May is Maternal Health Month at TARA

In honor of mother's everywhere, we decree May as Maternal Health Month.

Did you know:

• Every day, approximately 1,000 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.
  
  
• 99% of all maternal deaths occur in developing countries.
  
  
• Maternal mortality is higher in rural areas and among poorer and less educated communities.
  
  
• Adolescents face a higher risk of complications and death as a result of pregnancy than older women.
  
  
  
• Skilled care before, during and after childbirth can save the lives of women and newborn babies.

Most causes of maternal death in the developing world are preventable. But there is good news:

Between 1990 and 2008, maternal mortality worldwide dropped by one third.

This month, the TARA Project is focusing on the realities surrounding pregnancy and childbirth for many women in the world as well as the solutions and success stories from our own community in Kenya. Each week we will look at different issues.

This week's theme is education. So what does a basic education have with a healthy pregnancy and safe delivery?

Well as it turns out, plenty. An article in the February 14 issue of Time has this to say:

"In sub-Saharan Africa, fewer than 1 in 5 girls make it to secondary school. Nearly half are married by the time they are 18; 1 in 7 across the developing world marries before she is 15. Then she gets pregnant. The leading cause of death for girls 15 to 19 worldwide....is complications from pregnancy."

By simply helping a girl stay in school, her health and future change dramatically. A basic education delays marriage and pregnancy -- therefore reducing the risk young mothers face during pregnancy and birth.

Want to Help?

Here are three ways to learn more and make a difference….

• Check out our video on girls education. It’s a primer on why education matters in maternal health. Pass it on…share with your friends, post on your Face Book wall. Help spread the word. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f3g1gIKh94
  
  
• Check out the Women’s Deliver Youth Guide to Action on Maternal Health. http://www.womendeliver.org/assets/Youth_Guide_to_Maternal_Health_FINAL.pdf
  
  
• Buy your Mother's Day gifts from our Amazon store or Cafe Press store.

Up to 8% of all purchases made through our link come back to us. That's a lot of bang for no bucks! Think about it, if you and 11 of your friends each make a $25 purchase through our link for Mother's Day you've provided another mother a priceless gift: access to a safe delivery birth kit.

How does that work? Well, a dozen $25 purchases means TARA gets $24 -- enough to cover the costs for a birth kit. See how easy that is? So easy in fact that we'd be pretty appreciative if you'd place all your Amazon orders through our link.

Happy Maternal Health Month! With your help, we can give the best Mother's Day gift: the gift of a healthy and safe delivery.