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Abstract
Maternal and neonatal mortality statistics foreground some possible causes of death
at the expense of others. Political place (nation, state) and place of birth (hospital,
home) are integral to these statistics; respect for women as persons is not. Using
case examples from Malawi and the United States, I argue that the focus on place embedded
in these indicators can legitimate coercive approaches to childbirth. Qualitative
assessments in both cases reveal that respectful care, while not represented in current
indicators, is critical for the health of women and newborns. Perinatal outcomes measures
thus must be rethought to ensure ethical and safe maternity care. This rethinking
will require new questions and new methods.