MATERNAL MORTALITY: ITS RELEVANCE ON MILLEMIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Among the millennium development goals (MDG) is the one concerning the reduction of maternal mortality by three quarters between 1990 and 2015. Probably the most outstanding failure in the attainment of MDG is the reduction of maternal mortality. Both international agencies as well as national governments recognize that it is very unlikely for most developing countries that this goal will be achieved. There has been a sort of stalling in the reduction of maternal mortality, perhaps because the capacity and infrastructure of some countries does not increase in line with the requirements for such ambitious reductions.

This paper investigates whether the Matthew Effect occurs or not for maternal mortality decline, with the implication of widening the existing gap between developed and developing countries.

The Matthew Effect is a phenomenon in which inequalities increase. It was initially labeled by Merton (1968) making reference to a biblical phrase: “Unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath” (Matthew 25:29).
To evaluate this hypothesis we take the experience of around 180 countries from all over the world, applying one statistical test to verify empirically.