The newest WHO data shows that one woman dies every two minutes during pregnancy or delivery, with too few nations reducing maternal mortality rates since 2016. Trends in Maternal Mortality indicated that while maternal mortality decreased between 2000 and 2015, they stagnated or reversed between 2015 and 2020. “While pregnancy should be a time of immense hope and a positive experience for all women, it is tragically still a shockingly dangerous experience for millions around the world who lack access to high quality, respectful health care,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Thursday.
“These new numbers show the urgent need to ensure every woman and girl has access to crucial health care before, during, and after delivery and may fully exercise their reproductive rights.” The analysis, which analyses maternal fatalities nationally, regionally, and worldwide from 2000 to 2020, found that two of the eight UN areas, Europe and Northern America and Latin America and the Caribbean, had maternal mortality rates rise by 17 percent and 15 percent, respectively, from 2016 to 2020. Rates stalled elsewhere. Two areas improved. The maternal mortality rate declined 35% in Australia and New Zealand and 16% in Southern Asia. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell stated in the statement that maternal deaths tarnish the wonder of delivery for millions of families. “No mother should worry for her life while giving birth, especially when the knowledge and means to manage common difficulties exist.
Equality in healthcare allows every mother, regardless of race or location, a fair shot at a safe delivery and a healthy family. The survey found that severe bleeding, high blood pressure, pregnancy-related infections, botched abortion, and underlying diseases including HIV/AIDS and malaria were the primary causes of maternal fatalities. These conditions were mostly avoidable and curable. Maternal fatalities are concentrated in conflict-affected and impoverished nations. Southern Africa had 70% of maternal fatalities in 2020, and nine countries suffering acute humanitarian crises had maternal mortality rates more than twice the world average (551 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, compared with 223 per 100,000 live births globally). The UN recommended supporting healthcare institutions, educating midwives, and upgrading medical supply chains to improve women’s health.
The research found that 270 million women lack access to modern family planning and a third do not obtain four of the required eight prenatal exams or postnatal care. It stated that COVID-19 may have slowed maternal health improvements, but additional research was needed to prove it. UN Population Fund Executive Director Natalia Kanem called it “awful” that so many women died needlessly in pregnancy and delivery. She called 280,000 annual deaths appalling. We must improve. We need political resolve to reduce unnecessary maternal mortality.