Maternal Health in Western Africa: From the Perinatal Period and Beyond

This webinar will be conducted in French only. Participants are invited to join this webinar for the launch of a new Lancet four-part Series on Maternal health in the Perinatal Period and Beyond. Experts will present findings related to several key areas. These include how maternal health is intricately linked to human adaptations to the planet, the influence of cultural, political, and economic structures on social determinants that shape women’s vulnerabilities during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, as well as the long-term consequences of labor and childbirth that are often overlooked in the global maternal health agenda. The webinar will also discuss an intersectional approach to address global maternal health inequities and how to apply this new knowledge to address the reported stagnation in the global maternal mortality ratio and achieve other relevant Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets.

The webinar will cover important topics such as the intricate relationship between maternal health and human adaptation to the planet and how various factors such as cultural, political, and economic structures influence the social determinants affecting women’s health during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Additionally, experts will discuss the long-term consequences of labor and childbirth that are often overlooked in global discussions on maternal health. They will also explore an intersectional approach to addressing global maternal health inequities and how to utilize this new knowledge to tackle the reported stagnation in the global maternal mortality ratio and achieve key SDG targets.

Overall, the webinar aims to provide valuable insights into the various factors impacting maternal health and present new approaches to addressing global maternal health inequities. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding maternal health and how to apply this knowledge to drive progress towards achieving global health targets.