Maternity Care as a Global Health Policy Issue

Governments play a crucial role in defining what is ‘maternal health’ and decid- ing what services are included in maternity care delivery. State policies also shape the roles of formal and informal care providers, families, the public, and commercial and voluntary sectors in providing maternity as well as newborn and reproductive healthcare services. Reducing health inequities for pregnan women and increasing their access to quality maternity services have been foci of global efforts to realize the right of every woman to the best possible mater- nity care. In the last half century, most high-income countries have publicly invested in universal healthcare (UHC) coverage for their respective popula- tions, which has included comprehensive maternity care. More recently, several low- to middle-income countries have likewise been investing in universal healthcare coverage.