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Health

Every day, about 830 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.

A young girl holds a small baby in a piece of fabric wrapped around her shoulders.
CARE / Josh Estey

The story of global health in the last decades is the story of staggering inequality.

In poor countries, 4 out of 1,000 women will die in childbirth. In Sierra Leone, 1 in 17 women will die while giving birth. That’s 97 times more likely than women in the United States. In Sub-Saharan Africa, 1 in 13 children will die before their 15th birthday; 16 times more than children in countries like the US. We know how to solve these problems, but have not yet gotten those solutions to the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world.

The problems are about more than wealth, access, and infrastructure. Gender inequality plays a huge role. 21% of girls will get married before they are 18, and 40% of girls in poor countries. 1 in 3 women around the world experiences Gender-Based Violence. Conflict and crisis contribute to the problem, with women and children making up 76% of people who are forced to leave their homes because of crisis.

Strengthening Healthcare

With communities at the center, CARE is working to support more effective and motivated health workers.

Adolescent Health

Married adolescents are especially vulnerable to health problems related to childbearing, and few global health initiatives reach this population.

of girls in poor countries are married before they're 18

of girls in poor countries are married before they're 18

1 in 3 women around the world experiences gender-based violence

Fighting Gender-Based Violence

GBV can undermine the effectiveness of health, education, agriculture, and other programs – for instance, when the threat of violence keeps certain people from participating in or accessing services based on their gender status or sexuality.

Reproductive Health

The story of global health in the last decade is one of staggering inequality. In poor countries, four out of 1,000 women will die in childbirth. In Sub-Saharan Africa, one in 13 children will die before their fifth birthday.