This article reports on the analysis of two large WHO data
sets, the Global Survey on Maternal and Perinatal Health
(WHOGS, a cross-sectional study carried out in 373 health
facilities from 24 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin
America) and the Multicountry Survey on Maternal and
Newborn Health (WHOMCS, a cross-sectional study carried out in 359 health facilities from 29 countries in Africa,
Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East). The methodological details of both studies have been published elsewhere.12–15 Briefly, in both surveys trained health
professional staff retrieved data from the hospital records
of women and newborns, including individual data on
demographics and reproductive characteristics, medical
conditions during pregnancy, birth outcomes, complica