Listen to a news report from VOA and fill in the missing words: the most dangerous period for mothers and new-born babies.mp3: The days immediately 1) ________________________ appear the most dangerous for mothers and babies. The World Health Organization, or WHO,estimates that more than 300,000 women die every year during 2) ____________ or 3) _____________ . Each year, about 4) ____________ babies are stillborn and another 5) ____________ babies die during the first 28 days of life, it said. Most of the deaths are taking place inSouth Asia and in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert. Many of the deaths couldhave been avoided with 6) ____________________ , WHO officials said. Another problem is that nearly all babieswho are stillborn and half of all newborn deaths are 7) ___________________ . Those deathsare not 8) ____________ to or 9) ____________ bygovernment health agencies. Officials said this means the actual numberof stillborn and newborn deaths is probably even higher than the WHO's own 10) _________________ . The United Nations agency says the lack ofinformation makes it harder to find solutions. Ian Askew is director of Reproductive Health and Research at the WHO. He said it is important for all births and deaths to be counted so health officials can make better decisions on how toprevent future deaths. In this way, Askew said, countries couldimprove the quality of health care and stop "millions of families from 11) ________________ oflosing their infants or mothers." The WHO released three reports earlier this month to help health agencies do a better job collecting information. Askew told VOA that traditions and beliefsoften 12) ______________ the collection of important records about infant deaths. In many countries, he said, there is a belief, that a stillbirth may not represent a lost life. Some stillbirths, infant deaths or deathsof mothers result from 13) ____________ during childbirth, the WHO said. Others may result from health problems with the mother, including diabetes or hypertension. 14) ____________ or15) _____________ can interfere with the growth of a fetus inside the mother, the WHO added. I'm Bruce Alpert.