title: No Child or Mother Left Behind; Implications for the US from Cuba's Maternity Homes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cuba, a "resource-poor" country, provides high-quality, free maternal care despite relatively low per capita health expenditures in comparison to similar expenditures in "resource rich" nations such as Canada and the US. This paper assesses maternal and child healthcare in Cuba, details the system of community-based regional maternity homes, and outlines specific recommendations for the US.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on observations during a visit to Cuba, and supplemental research on international health expenditures and health indicators such as infant and maternal mortality, this paper details maternal and child health in Cuba.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cuba utilizes community-based regional maternity homes to provide comprehensive care for women with high-risk pregnancies. This effective strategy of investing in maternal health by safeguarding pregnancies has lowered infant and maternal mortality rates significantly. Cuba has achieved neonatal, infant and under-five mortality rates that are better than or on par with resource rich nations such as the US. Additionally, within the Latin American and Caribbean region, Cuba has a low rate of maternal mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Positioning maternal and child health priorities to the policy foreground were a critical step in saving the lives of Cuban women and children. The US may benefit from Cuba's example with respect to maternal and child health. Cuba's model provides important health; rights and policy lessons for all nations-are they resource rich or poor.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Health Policy and Public Health Sciences, University of the Sciences,600 South 4 Street, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bragg
authors.affiliation: Family Health Alliance, West Hills, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Taraneh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: R Salke
authors.affiliation: Traffic Safety Research and Evaluation Group, Department of Health Promotion and Behavior, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Carol P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Cotton
authors.affiliation: Perinatal & Gynecologic Specialists of the Palm Beaches, Palm Beach Gardens, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Debra Anne
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Jones
keywords: Community health; Cuba; Maternal and child health; Public health