ABSTRACT
Protection of women's reproductive health has not been a priority for governments, as reflected by the laws they have created. Historically, the principal duty of women has been viewed as bearing children, particularly sons, and as serving as the foundation of families. The cost to women's health of discharging this duty went unrecog nized. Poor health, influenced by early and excessive childbearing, and premature death during labor or from weakness or exhaustion due to pregnancy and dose birth spacing, were explained as destiny and divine will. Ma ternal mortality and morbidity were, therefore, not con sidered amenable to control through health services, edu cation, and law.
