Mexico has unusually high rates of maternal mortality, particularly among poor, rural and indigenous communities. In 2005 the rate was 63.4 deaths per 100,000 live births, rising to 128 in the impoverished state of Guerrero – a far cry from Mexico’s international commitments and its target of 22.3 under the Millennium Development Goals.

This Research Summary illustrates how advocacy by a loose coalition of civil society organisations made the Mexican government take action and contributed to a slow but steady decrease in maternal mortality.