Maternal and newborn mortality has been falling significantly in Cambodia since 2005. Key to this
decline was a notable investment in midwifery education and a marked increase in the number of midwives providing antenatal care and deliveries within an expanding primary healthcare network. Ensuring increased access to quality maternity care was led by the government, with the support of a range of partners, including NGOs and UN organizations. Access to improved primary healthcare, with a focus on midwifery, was also seen across the health system, including the public and private health sector. In 2010, skilled birth attendance in a facility accounted for 55% of all births, and home deliveries with a midwife for 16%. Pre-service education and in-service training for midwives has been prioritized and all health centers have at least one primary midwife.
