Background: Maternal mortality is a global public health problem. United Nations (UN) Millennium Development Goal (MDG), aims for the 75% reduction of maternal mortality ratio (MMR) by the year 2015. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) report 2013, a 45% decline from 1990 has been reported globally. However, MMR varies among different countries and regions of the world. There have been only a few studies reported on the empirical analysis of MMR in Asia Pacific countries. Purpose: We were interested to know the determinants of MMR in this region. This study aims to identify the determinants of the MMR in selected thirteen countries (i.e. Cambodia, Pakistan, India, Solomon Island, Sri Lanka, Korea Republic, Fiji, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines and Thailand). Methods: The source of data is from WHO, UNICEF, United Nations population Fund and The World Bank, Trends in Maternal Mortality: 1990 to 2013, WHO, Geneva, 2014. We have used the statistical and econometric software EViews version 8.0 (IHS Global Inc., Irvine, CA, USA.) for the analyses of data. We performed Pearson’s correlation and multiple regression analysis. This paper assumes that there are four factors which would determine the MMR in these countries, namely, the size of the per capita gross national income (GNI), total fertility Rate (TFR), skilled attendant at birth (SAB), female primary school enrolment rate (FSER). Results: The empirical results shows that SAB has significant relationship with the MMR in these countries. It means that increased number of skilled attendant at birth could reduce the maternal mortality. Conclusion: The result of our study will help to understand how the resource will be mobilized effectively and to develop strategies for the funding of the programme. The role of SAB is important for the reduction of MMR.
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