Maternal mortality rates are 'unacceptable', says WHO

Political will is needed to make changes to the "unacceptable" number of women who die in pregnancy and childbirth, a senior United Nations figure has said, after newly published data from the World Health Organization revealed the continued extent of the problem.

The report, entitled Trends in Maternal Mortality, shows that one woman dies every two minutes during pregnancy or childbirth, and after years of progress being made, in the five years to 2020, that had stalled or in some cases even been reversed.

One of the UN's sustainable development goals is to cut the mortality rate from 339 deaths per 100,000 in 2000, to less than 70 by 2030. The latest figure is around 223.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the statistics "reveal the urgent need to ensure every woman and girl has access to critical health services before, during and after childbirth, and that they can fully exercise their reproductive rights," a sentiment echoed by UN Population Fund Executive Director Natalia Kanem.

"Over 280,000 fatalities in a single year is unconscionable," she said. "We can and must do better. We have the tools, knowledge and resources to end preventable maternal deaths; what we need now is the political will."

Tedros added that 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".

The report, covering the period 2000 to 2020, broke statistics down into nationality, regions as recognized by the UN, and global categories.

In two regions — Australia and New Zealand, and Southern Asia — maternal death rates fell by 35 and 16 percent respectively, but in Europe and Northern America, the rate from 2016 to 2020 rose by 17 percent, and in Latin America and the Caribbean there was a 15 percent rise.

Areas affected by poverty and war continued to have some of the highest levels of maternal death, and leading preventable causes, or contributory factors, include high blood pressure, complications from unsafe abortions, infection and underlying conditions that can be aggravated by pregnancy, such as malaria.

"For millions of families, the miracle of childbirth is marred by the tragedy of maternal deaths," said Catherine Russell, executive director of the UN's humanitarian agency for children, UNICEF.

"No mother should have to fear for her life while bringing a baby into the world, especially when the knowledge and tools to treat common complications exist.Equity in healthcare gives every mother, no matter who they are or where they are, a fair chance at a safe delivery and a healthy future with their family."

Suggested ways to improve the situation are increased funding, stronger supply chains for essential equipment, and training more specialized workers.