Lebanon

Lebanon ranks 88 out of 179, according the United Nations Development Programme's Human Development Index. The Index's Gender-related Development Index (GDI) ranks Lebanon as 80. The GDI ranking translates into a life expectancy of 73.7 years for Lebanese women and a female adult literacy rate of 82.2 percent. At the educational level, the gross primary enrollment ratio for females is 100 percent, the gross secondary enrollment ratio is 93 percent, and the gross tertiary enrollment ratio is 54 percent.

Lebanon experienced a lengthy civil war (197590), which severely damaged the country's economy and created over 400,000 Palestinian refugees who have limited access to Lebanese health, education, and social services. This is reflected in low levels of education and employment among these mothers; lack of access to contraception, which results in short birth intervals; and high rates of miscarriage and child mortality.

However, in recent decades, reproductive health care for Lebanese women has improved significantly. Such improvements have translated into 96 percent of women with access to antenatal care and 98 percent with access to skilled birth attendants. Over the past three decades, fertility rates have dropped considerably. In 1970, fertility rates were 5.1, decreasing to 3.1 in 1990, and dropping to 2.2 in 2006.

Despite improved access to reproductive health services, the maternal mortality ratio is still alarmingly high; as of 2006, 100 deaths were reported per 100,000 live births, although that number rises to 150 per 100,000 when adjusted. Over her lifetime, a Lebanese mother-to-be has a 1 in 290 risk of maternal mortality.