Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2026

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
Reduced maternal mortality in Tunisia and voluntary commitment to gender-related concerns
Essia Ben Farhat1, Mohamed Chaouch, Hela Chelli
1Primary Health Care Directorate, Ministry of Public Health of Tunisia, Tunis, Tunisia.
Objective:
To estimate the number and causes of maternal deaths in Tunisia from 1999 to 2007, and compare the results with the last report (1993-1994).
Methods:
Data on all deaths of women of reproductive age in the public (1999-2007) and private (2006 only) health sectors were collected and assessed for whether the death was due to pregnancy. Number of live births was provided by the National Institute of Statistics.
Results:
Mean maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in Tunisia decreased from 68.9 per 100000 live births in 1993-1994 to 36.3 (95% confidence interval, 27.9-46.5) in 2005-2007 (P<0.001). Causes of maternal death did not change significantly during the study period (1999-2007): hemorrhage and hypertensive disorders were the main causes. The gap between urbanized and more rural regions observed in 1993-1994 had narrowed, although MMR remained higher in central and western regions than on the east coast.
Conclusion:
The improvement in MMR can be credited to the voluntary political commitment focused on gender-related concerns that has been made in Tunisia, including access to family planning; legalization of abortion; and creation of the National Board for Family and Population, and the Tunisian Safe Motherhood initiative in 1999.
More Related Videos
05:04A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect
Published on: September 22, 2023
05:22Ex vivo Culture of Human Placental Explants for the Study of Viral Transmission Across the Maternal-Fetal Interface
Published on: December 30, 2025
Related Concept Videos
Methods Of Healthcare Delivery System
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is limited...
International Nursing Organizations II
The WHO provides expert team support, including funding, vaccines, testing, and treatment tools at the country level to fight...
Regression Toward the Mean
Infertility in Females
Endometriosis, a condition characterized by abnormal growth of endometrial...
Close Relationships and Culture
Primary Healthcare Services
In 1978, international leaders convened in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, for what would be a pivotal event in global health. The Alma-Ata Declaration was the first to call...