A lack of skilled attendants at birth accounts for two million preventable maternal deaths, stillbirths and newborn deaths each year, according to the newly released Countdown to 2015 Decade Report (2000-2010). The report shows that nearly 50 percent of women in the 68 countries carefully tracked in the Countdown report – most of which are in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia – still give birth without the aid of a trained midwife, nurse, or doctor.

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