Maternity care in developing countries: relevance of new technological advances.

It is suggested that improved maternity care in the developing world depends primarily on the increased provision of cost-effective, basic, easily accessible maternity care services. Expensive new technologies should be judged by their effectiveness, safety, technical feasibility, cost (including operating and maintenance expenses) and local need. After identifying the major causes of morbidity and mortality, priority should be given to interventions applicable at the local level and which do not require highly or specially trained educated personnel.