M&E 

Monitoring and Evaluation

Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPA)

The Plan of Action on Ageing adopted by the Second World Assembly on Ageing in 2002 which focused on mainstreaming older persons in development, advancing health and well-being into old age, and ensuring enabling and supportive environments for older persons. It stressed that older persons must be full participants in the development process, underscoring the theme of a society for all ages.

Male condom

A thin latex, polyurethane or natural membrane sheath placed over the glans and shaft of the penis to prevent unintended pregnancies. Latex and polyurethane condoms also reduce the risk of HIV and STI transmission.

Manual vacuum aspiration (MVA)

The method of pregnancy termination in which the contents of the uterus are removed by suction, using a hand-held syringe.

Marital Fertility

The number of births that a woman or a couple has during their married years.  In countries where cohabitation is frequent, marital fertility can include children born from cohabiting couples.

Maternal and newborn health (MNH)

In accordance with the H4+ consensus (WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF, World Bank, UNAIDS), MNH is the health of women during pregnancy, labour, childbirth and the postpartum period. It also includes the health and survival of the foetus during labour and of the newborn within the first few hours and days, a period during which the newborn is mostly taken care of by the professional birth attendant (and in privileged circumstances the neonatologist). This operational definition differentiates from the health of the neonate, spanning the period from birth till the end of the fourth week after birth (neonatal health, neonatal mortality).

Maternal mortality

According to the Tenth International Classification of Diseases, a maternal death is defined as "the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and the site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management, but not from accidental or incidental causes." Maternal mortality is both a public health and a human rights issue, since in the majority of cases maternal mortality occurs due to preventable causes.

Maternal Mortality Rate

The number of maternal deaths in a population divided by the number of women of reproductive age, usually expressed per 1,000 women.  This measures the impact of maternal deaths on the population of women as a whole, not just on pregnant women. The statistic is affected by two factors: the risk of death among pregnant women and the proportion of women who become pregnant each year. The maternal mortality rate can be lowered either by making childbirth safer or by reducing the fertility rate in the population.

Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR)

The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) is the ratio of the number of maternal deaths during a given time period per 100,000 live births during the same time-period. A maternal death refers to a female death from any cause related to or aggravated by pregnancy or its management (excluding accidental or incidental causes) during pregnancy and childbirth or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy. Source: United Nations Site for the MDG Indicators.

Maternal morbidity

Refers to serious disease, disability or physical damage such as fistula and uterine prolapse, caused by pregnancy-related complications. Maternal morbidity is widespread, but not accurately reported.

Maternity workforce

Total workforce needed for maternity care: includes midwives and other with midwifery skills, but also obstetric and surgical staff, pediatric (neonatal physicians and nurses), laboratory technicians, radiologist, etc.

MCH

Maternal and child health.

MCP

Multiple concurring partners.

MDGs

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are contained in the agenda for reducing poverty and improving lives that world leaders adopted at the Millennium Summit in September 2000. For each goal, one or more targets have been set for 2015, using 1990 as a benchmark:

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

2. Achieve universal primary education

3. Promote gender equality and empower women

4. Reduce child mortality

5. Improve maternal health

6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

7. Ensure environmental sustainability

8. Develop a global partnership for development

Mean Age

Mean age is the mathematical average age of all the members of a population.

Mean (average) income

Mean income is the amount obtained by dividing the total aggregate income of a group by the number of units in that group. The means for households, families, and unrelated individuals are based on all households, families, and unrelated individuals, respectively. The means (averages) for people are based on people 15 years old and over with income.

Median Age

The median age is the age that divides a population into two numerically equal groups; that is, half the people are younger than this age and half are older.

Medicalization of FGM/C

Refers to situations in which FGM/C is practiced by any category of health-care provider, whether in a public or a private clinic, at home or elsewhere. It also includes the procedure of reinfibulation at any point in time in a woman's life. See Reinfibulation. See FGM/C.

Member Association Capacity Assessment Tool (MACAT)

Member Association Capacity Assessment Tool (MACAT)  is an assessment tool that provides a framework to help a midwifery association to assess its strengths and identify its own needs, including what essential activities should be carried out to make the Association stronger. It addresses areas of governance; management practices and leadership; functions; collaboration, partnerships; networks visibility including media relations; and sustainability.

Menstrual regulation

The evacuation of the uterus of a woman who has missed her menstrual period by 14 days or fewer, who previously had regular periods and who has been at risk of conception.

MHTF

The Maternal Health Trust Fund (MHTF).

Menarche

First menstruation.

Menopause

The period in a woman's life when she stops menstruating.

Menstrual cycle

Repeated changes that prepare the female reproductive system for childbearing? cycle averages 28 days and begins with the development of the ovum, continues through menstruation, and ends when the uterine lining degenerates. It is measured from the beginning of menstruation.

Menstruation

The process of discharging blood and other materials from the lining of the uterus in sexually mature, non-pregnant women, at intervals of about one lunar month, until the menopause.

Metadata

Metadata is data that defines and describes other data.

Microbicides

A range of different products that share one common characteristic: the ability to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) when applied topically. A microbicide could be produced in many forms, including gels, creams, suppositories, films, or as a sponge or ring that releases the active ingredient over time. Some of the microbicides being investigated prevent pregnancy and some do not.

MICS

Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) is an international household survey initiative, through which UNICEF assists countries in collecting and analyzing data in order to fill data gaps for monitoring the situation of children and women

Midwife

A person who, having been regularly admitted to a midwifery educational programme, duly recognized in the country in which it is located, has successfully completed the prescribed course of studies in midwifery and has acquired the requisite qualifications to be registered and/or legally licensed to practise midwifery. (For ICM definition, please see: www.internationalmidwives.org )

Midwifery

The art and science of assisting a woman before, during labour and birth, and postpartum. While this definition is restricted to the process of childbirth, it is globally recognized that midwifery encompasses a much broader set of activities, including all aspects of reproductive health.

Midwifery competency

The ongoing capacity to demonstrate the knowledge, professional behaviour and specific skills necessary to work within the Midwifery Scope of Practice (ICM). The competencies include knowledge, skills and attitude in the following: 1) Social, epidemiologic and cultural context of maternal and newborn care, 2) Pre-pregnancy care and family planning; 3) Provision of care during pregnancy; 4) Provision of care during labour and birth; 5) Provision of care for women during the pospartum period; 6) Postnatal care of the newborn and 7) Facilitation of abortion-related care.

Midwifery Model of care

This is a description of the ways in which midwifery services are delivered. Models can range from midwifery-led units, to home births, to physician-led units where midwives provide support through task-shifting/sharing arrangements etc. (ICM: Midwifery Services Framework)

Midwifery workforce                                                                                                          

The health professionals whose primary function includes health services provided to women during pregnancy, labour and birth, as well as postpartum care for mothers and newborns. The definition includes midwives and others competent in the practice of midwifery, such as nurse-midwives and doctors with relevant competence (and in certain countries, auxiliary nurse midwives). These professionals are also referred to using the term skilled birth attendants.

Migrant

The person that changes place of usual residence across geographical boundaries.

Migration

The movement of a person or a group of persons, either across an international border, or within a State. It is a population movement, encompassing any kind of movement of people, whatever its length, composition and causes; it includes migration of refugees, displaced persons, economic migrants, and persons moving for other purposes, including family reunification.

Miscarriage

The termination of a pregnancy before the foetus is viable, as a result of natural causes (not medical intervention).

Misoprostol

Misoprostol is a prostaglandin—a synthetic hormone-like substance—found in brand-name products and other generic forms. In low-resource settings where oxytocin and a skilled birth attendant may not be available, misoprostol may be used to prevent and treat excessive bleeding after childbirth (Post-partum hemorrhage.  Misoprostol may also be used to treat gastric ulcers, miscarriages, or to induce abortion.

MOMS Midwives and Others with Midwifery Skills
UNFPA has begun using the expression, MOMS (Midwives and Others with Midwifery Skills), rather than the term ‘birth attendant.'  This change reflects a recognition of the unique skills, roles and responsibilities midwives bring to delivery care, and to the central role that midwives play in making motherhood safer. The term ‘skilled birth attendant' encompasses the definition of a midwife, but is more generic and broader. It also includes nurses, physicians and others with midwifery skills, as well as specialist obstetricians and gynecologists.

Mother to child transmission

Mother to child transmission refers to the transmission of HIV from women to their fetus during pregnancy or delivery or to their infant during breast-feeding. See PMTCT.

Morbidity

The incidence and /or prevalence of certain diseases or disabilities. It is usually expressed as a rate: the number of cases of disease per 1,000 persons at risk.

MSM

MSM is an abbreviation used for ‘men who have sex with men'. However, abbreviations should be avoided whenever possible. Writing out the term is preferred.

Multigravida

A woman who has been pregnant several times.

Multiparous

A term used to refer to a woman who has had more than one baby.