Maternal mortality, every two minutes in the world a woman dies from pregnancy or childbirth: a UN dossier

ROME – Every two minutes a woman dies during pregnancy or childbirth, according to the latest estimates released in the United Nations report”Trends in maternal mortality”. The dossier reveals alarming setbacks for women’s health in recent years, as maternal deaths worldwide have either increased or, at best, not decreased.

The reported data. The report, which monitors maternal deaths globally from 2000 to 2020, shows that in 2020 there were approximately 287,000 maternal deaths worldwide. Some improvements occurred between 2000 and 2015, but after 2015 there was no improvement and in some cases even worsening.

The focus on countries. In Europe and North America and Latin America and the Caribbean, the maternal mortality rate increased from 2016 to 2020 by 17 percent and 15 percent, respectively. In contrast, Australia and New Zealand and Central and South Asia saw significant declines – by 35 per cent and 16 per cent respectively – in maternal mortality rates over the same period.

The voice of UNICEF. “For millions of families, the miracle of childbirth is marked by the tragedy of maternal deaths”, explained the executive director of theUNICEF Catherine Russell. “No mother should fear for her life while delivering a child, especially when the knowledge and tools exist to treat common complications. Equity in health care offers every mother, no matter who she is or where she is you find the right possibility for a safe birth and a healthy future with your family.”

Poverty and risks. In numerical terms, maternal deaths continue to be largely concentrated in the poorest areas of the world and in countries affected by conflicts. In 2020, about 70 percent of all maternal deaths occurred in sub-Saharan Africa. In nine countries bent by humanitarian crises, maternal mortality rates were more than double the world average: 551 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births, compared to 223 globally.

Complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Severe bleeding, high blood pressure, pregnancy-related infections, complications from unsafe abortion, and underlying conditions that may be aggravated by pregnancy, such as HIV/AIDS and malaria, are the leading causes of maternal death. But they are all diseases largely preventable and treatable if you can have high-quality health care.

Healthcare. The basic one, linked to the territories and communities, manages to satisfy the needs of women, children and adolescents and to allow easy access to critical services such as assisted delivery, prenatal and postnatal assistance, infant vaccinations, nutrition and family planning. However, lack of funding for the primary health system, lack of skilled health workers, and shortages in the supply of medicines and medical supplies are threatening progress.

The lack of care. About a third of women worldwide do not have even four of the eight recommended antenatal checkups or receive essential postnatal care, while an estimated 270 million women lack access to modern family planning methods. Exercising control over their reproductive health – especially decisions about whether and when to have children – is crucial to ensuring women can plan and space out their pregnancies and thus protect their health as well.

The inequalities. Inequalities in income, education, race or ethnicity increase the risks for pregnant women living in marginalized conditions. In these situations, expectant mothers lack access to essential care and are more likely to experience health problems during pregnancy. The report speaks of 280,000 victims of maternity in one year. “An inconceivable number,” comments Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The solution is to invest in family planning and address the acute shortage of midwives. In fact, another 900,000 are needed for every woman to benefit from life-saving treatments.

The effects of the pandemic. COVID-19 may have further held back progress on maternal health. Considering that the report analyzes the period up to 2020, the impact of the pandemic has yet to be understood. However, COVID-19 infections can increase risks during pregnancy, so countries should take action to ensure that pregnant women and those planning to become pregnant have access to COVID-19 vaccines and effective prenatal care.