Multisectoral approaches to addressing global urban maternal and perinatal health inequities

Emerging trends show declines in maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity in urban populations might be slower than in rural areas in a variety of contexts. This is happening at a critical juncture in time when urban populations are rapidly increasing and might be partly driven by specifics of vulnerability of the urban poor in Low-income countries and High-income countries alike. Poor maternal and perinatal health outcomes are largely preventable but focusing solely on healthcare interventions misses critical opportunities to reduce ill-health. Social and environmental determinants such as poverty and the impact of climate change must be integrated into policy decisions, especially to benefit poor urban dwellers. Integrating data on the social determinants of health into policy decisions can help multisectoral stakeholders embrace a more Health-in-all-policy approach creating opportunities for better outcomes for these urban poor women and their offspring. We provide examples of two cities – Rotterdam and Kampala – to show that successful multi-sectoral approaches that can address urban maternal and perinatal inequalities should focus on interventions in which healthcare and non-healthcare determinants are integrated.