But in different countries and to varying extents, they also have inherent risks. Maternal mortality - the death of a woman during pregnancy, childbirth, or in the weeks after delivery - is an important indicator of a woman’s health and status. The United Nations set a MDG target of reducing maternal mortality ratios (MMR) by three-quarters between 1990 and 2015 and achieving universal access to reproductive health by 2015. It shows clearly the differences between rich and poor, rural and urban, with the vast majority of deaths occurring in resource-poor settings, and most being preventable (WHO, 2011a).