The World Health Organization, or WHO, estimates that more than 300,000 women die every year during pregnancy or childbirth. Each year, about 2.6 million babies are born dead and another 2.7 million babies die during the first 28 days of life, it said. Most of the deaths are taking place in South Asia and in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert.

Many of the deaths could have been avoided with quality health care, WHO officials said. Some stillbirths(births of dead babies), infant(new-born baby) deaths or deaths of mothers result from complications(并发症) during childbirth. Others may result from health problems with the mother. A poor diet or using drugs may also be to blame, the WHO added.