According to a new report by UN agencies released on Thursday (February 23), a woman dies during pregnancy or childbirth every two minutes. The research “Trends in Maternal Mortality” also emphasizes that unless significant progress is done globally to reach global targets for reducing maternal deaths, the lives of over one million more women may be in danger by 2030. The paper includes data on maternal deaths from 2000 through 2020 at the local, national, and international levels. In 2020, there were over 287,000 maternal fatalities reported worldwide. Most of these fatalities have been linked to the most impoverished areas and conflict zones.
Over 280,000 fatalities in a single year are unconscionable
“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,” Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), was quoted as saying in an official release. In her response, UNFPA Executive Director Dr Natalia Kanem stressed the need for political will to face the challenge. “It is unacceptable that so many women continue to die needlessly in pregnancy and childbirth. Over 280,000 fatalities in a single year are unconscionable. We can and must do better by urgently investing in family planning and filling the global shortage of 900,000 midwives so that every woman can get the lifesaving care she needs,” she said.
In 2020, sub-Saharan Africa will account for almost 70% of all maternal deaths
About 70 percent of all maternal deaths in 2020 were registered in sub-Saharan Africa. Maternal mortality rates in nine countries in the grip of severe humanitarian crises were more than double the global average, with 551 maternal deaths recorded per 100,000 live births, compared to 223 globally. (https://flossdental.com/) Severe bleeding, high blood pressure, pregnancy-related infections, and complications from unsafe abortion are among the leading causes of death. Approximately 270 million women do not have access to modern family planning methods.
Yet, numerous countries have noticed an improvement in the situation in terms of these numbers. The maternal mortality rates in Australia and New Zealand, Central, and South Asia, and 31 other nations worldwide all significantly decreased during the same time period by 35% and 16%, respectively.