The major health problems of the country are largely preventable communicable diseases and nutritional disorders. More than 90% of child deaths are due to pneumonia, diarrhoea, malaria, neonatal problems, malnutrition and HIV/AIDS, and often as a combination of these conditions.

In terms of women health, the MMR has declined to 590/100,000, but this is still among the world’s highest. The major causes of maternal death are obstructed/prolonged labor (13%), ruptured uterus (12%), severe preeclampsia/ eclampsia (11%) and malaria (9%)vii. Significantly, 6% of all maternal deaths were attributable to complications from abortion. The major supply side constraints affecting maternal health are shortages of skilled midwives, weak referral system at health centre levels, lack of inadequate availability of BEmONC and CEmONC equipment, and under-financing of the service. On the demand side, cultural and societal norms, distances to functioning health centres and financial barriers were the major constraints[1].

[1] Health Sector Development Programme IV 2010/11 – 2014/15(Final Draft), Ministry of Health, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, October 2010, p.3.