The Domestic Agenda

Each year, hundreds of thousands of women die from pregnancy and birth-related causes. 99% of these births happen in impoverished countries. 60 million additional women in these countries survive birth only to suffer lifelong disability from birth injuries such as fistula and prolapsed uterus. These deaths and injuries are entirely preventable if the right combination of support and medical treatm

ent can be found. Unfortunately, what should be an easy problem to solve has proven the most stubborn health crisis in the world. 60 years of international interventions have not reduced the maternal mortality ratio for impoverished countries. Maternal and child survival are among the most important measures of a country’s well-being precisely because healthy mothers and children are the cornerstone of social and financial capital. Improving health outcomes for women improves health outcome for children as well. Consequently, reducing maternal mortality may well be the most important means of eradicating extreme poverty worldwide. The Domestic Agenda’s mission is entirely based on the current leading social and medical science knowledge regarding maternal survival. Each project begins with a heath indicator and a peer-reviewed evidence-driven hypothesis for improving maternal outcomes. Thorough evaluation at each stage ensures only successful projects move forward. By remaining true to scientific rigor and maternal inspiration, the organization’s leadership and project staff believe they can provide a replicable model for improving the health and well-being of women where, to date, nothing else has helped.