Childbirth '300 times riskier' in poor nations

Women living in poor countries are 300 times more likely to die during pregnancy or childbirth than if they lived in rich countries, UNICEF said in a report released yesterday in Johannesburg.

"The divide between industrialized countries and developing regions - particularly the least developed countries - is perhaps greater on maternal mortality than on almost any other issue," the UN Children's Fund said.

"No other mortality rate is so unequal," it added.