Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) with a population of 7.2 million is a low-income country in Southeast Asia. Despite economic development, Lao PDR is still characterized by a limited health care system. Although maternal, newborn, and child mortality and adolescent fertility have declined, the levels are still high compared to neighboring and other countries in the region.

Several factors contribute to this situation, including limited availability and access to primary health care services, geographical location, population density, wealth quintile, ethnicity, gender and maternal education, further influencing maternal and child survival and development outcomes as well as Lao PDR’s progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.