Every two minutes a woman dies during pregnancy or childbirth, according to the latest estimates published today in a multi-agency United Nations report.
The Trends in Maternal Mortality
report
reveals alarming setbacks for women's health in recent years, as in virtually every region of the world the number of maternal deaths has increased or has stagnated in decline.
"Although pregnancy should be a time of great hope and a positive experience for all women, unfortunately it remains an incredibly dangerous experience for millions of women around the world who lack access to respectful and supportive health care. high quality," says Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organization (WHO).
"These new statistics reveal the urgent need to ensure that all women and girls have access to crucial health services before, during and after childbirth, and that they can fully exercise their reproductive rights."
The report, which tracks maternal mortality at the national, regional and global levels from 2000 to 2020, shows that in 2020 there were an estimated 287,000 maternal deaths worldwide.
That number is only a slight drop from the 309,000 maternal deaths recorded in 2016, when the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were launched.
While the report presents some considerable progress in reducing maternal mortality between 2000 and 2015, the progress made has largely stalled and, in some cases, even regressed from that point.
In two of the eight United Nations regions - Europe and North America, and Latin America and the Caribbean - the maternal mortality rate increased between 2016 and 2020 by 17% and 15% respectively, while in the other regions stagnated.
Still, the report shows that progress is possible.
For example, two regions—Australia and New Zealand, and Central and South Asia—recorded sizeable declines (by 35% and 16% respectively) in their maternal mortality rates over the same period, as did 31 other countries.
"For millions of families, the miracle of childbirth is clouded by the tragedy of maternal mortality," says UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
"No mother should fear for her life when bringing a baby into the world, especially when the knowledge and tools are available to treat common complications. Equity in health care means offering all mothers, regardless of their identity or place of residence, a fair chance of a safe delivery and a healthy future with his family.
In absolute numbers, maternal mortality continues to be concentrated mostly in the poorest areas of the world and in countries affected by conflicts.
In 2020, approximately 70% of all maternal deaths occurred in sub-Saharan Africa.
In nine countries with severe humanitarian crises, maternal mortality rates were more than double the global average (551 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, compared with 223 globally).
Sister Mary Jane Frances, Head of Nursing at Arua Regional Hospital, monitors the vital signs of a mother in the High Dependency Unit (HDU) after being admitted with severe pre-eclampsia.Zahara AbdulUNICEF
"This report is yet another stark reminder of the urgent need to redouble our commitment to women's and adolescents' health," said Juan Pablo Uribe, Global Director of Health, Nutrition and Population Practice at the World Bank and Director of the Global Mechanism. of Financing.
"By taking urgent action and investing more in primary health care and stronger, more resilient health systems, we can save lives, improve the health and well-being of women and adolescents, and advance their rights and opportunities. ".
Severe bleeding, high blood pressure, pregnancy-related infections, complications from unsafe abortions, and underlying conditions that may worsen during pregnancy (such as HIV/AIDS and malaria) are the leading causes. of maternal mortality.
All of these are largely preventable and treatable with access to respectful, high-quality health care.
Community-focused primary health care can meet the needs of women, girls, and adolescents and facilitate equitable access to essential services, such as operative deliveries and prenatal and postnatal care, childhood immunizations, nutrition, and family planning. .
However, underfunded primary health care systems, a lack of trained health workers, and precarious supply chains for medical products jeopardize progress.
Approximately one third of women do not even get four of the eight recommended prenatal checkups or essential postnatal care, while some 270 million women lack access to modern family planning methods.
Exercising control over their reproductive health – particularly decisions about whether and when to have children – is critical to ensuring that women can plan and space childbearing and protect their health.
Inequities related to income, education, race or ethnicity further increase the risks for marginalized pregnant women, who have less access to basic maternity care but are more likely to develop underlying health problems during pregnancy.
"It is unacceptable that so many women continue to die needlessly during pregnancy and childbirth. More than 280,000 deaths in a single year is an unacceptable figure," says UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem.
"We can and must do better by urgently investing in family planning and addressing the global shortage of midwives (estimated at 900,000 professionals) so that all women can receive the vital care they need. We have the tools, knowledge and resources to end to preventable maternal deaths; what we need now is political will.
The COVID-19 pandemic may have further slowed progress in maternal health.
Considering that the current data series ends in 2020, more data will be needed to show the true effects of the pandemic on maternal mortality.
Still, COVID-19 infections can increase risks during pregnancy, so countries should take steps to ensure that pregnant women and those planning to become pregnant have access to COVID-19 vaccines and a adequate prenatal care.
"Reducing maternal mortality remains one of the most pressing challenges in global health," concludes John Wilmoth, director of the Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
"Ending preventable maternal mortality and providing universal access to quality maternal health care requires sustained national and international efforts and unwavering commitments, especially for the most vulnerable populations. We have a collective responsibility to ensure that any mother, wherever be, survive the birth, and for her and her children to get ahead.
The report reveals that all countries need to significantly accelerate progress to meet the global targets for reducing maternal deaths;
Otherwise, the lives of at least one million more women will be endangered by 2030.
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