ABSTRACT
"Maternal mortality is a serious health problem in Mozambique. While the last census in 1997 and the DHS did not calculate exactly the maternal ratio in the country; caraful estimates indicate the MMR to be between 500 and 1500 deaths per 100.000 live births; but no reference is given. The only reliable information that is available is from a sisterhood survey done in 1991; only published in 1995. Even with these important differences in estimation; the problem is being recognised as an important one for the health planners and the donors in the country. Mozambique has made a clear commitment to reduce the maternal mortality in teh country. In 1998 a first nation-wide Safe Motherhood needs assessment was done; which was followed in the same year by a systematic review of the causes of 90 maternal deaths. Follewed this dynamism within the Ministry of Health; a national strategy to reduce the maternal morbibity and mortality and neonatal mortality was formulated in 1999 and adopted in 2000; the document was launched as the: ""Estrategia para a reducao da morbimortalidade materna e neonatal"". This document forms the basis for formulating interventios to reduce maternal mortality in Mozambique. It is based on strengthening the health services with the concept of the provision of obstetric care (basic and comprehensive) with an adequate referral system; community involviment and an improved data collection system."