A Woman Dies Every Two Minutes from Pregnancy-Related Causes in 2023: UN
Click to start listening
Synopsis
According to a UN report on World Health Day, over 700 women die daily from preventable pregnancy and childbirth-related causes in 2023. This emphasizes the need for enhanced maternal healthcare and the importance of women's health and rights.
Key Takeaways
- A woman dies every two minutes due to pregnancy issues.
- Over 90% of maternal deaths are in low-income countries.
- Maternal mortality has declined by 40% since 2000.
- Covid-19 significantly impacted maternal health services.
- Improving women's reproductive rights is essential for better outcomes.
New Delhi, April 7 (NationPress) A woman loses her life nearly every two minutes, equating to over 700 women dying each day from avoidable issues linked to pregnancy and childbirth in 2023, as reported by the UN and the World Health Organization on World Health Day this Monday.
World Health Day, observed annually on April 7, carries the theme Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures. This theme calls on governments and health organizations to enhance efforts in eliminating preventable maternal and newborn fatalities while also emphasizing the importance of women's long-term health and well-being.
The report titled Trends in maternal mortality indicates a 40 percent global reduction in the maternal mortality ratio (MMR, defined as the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births) from 2000 to 2023.
However, it also reveals that since 2016, the rate of progress has significantly decreased, with approximately 260,000 women losing their lives in 2023 due to complications arising from pregnancy or childbirth.
According to the report, over 90 percent of all maternal fatalities occurred in low and lower-middle-income nations in 2023.
“Although this report presents some encouraging signs, it also underscores the continued dangers of pregnancy in many parts of the world today, even though effective solutions exist to avert and manage the complications leading to most maternal deaths,” stated Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO.
“In addition to ensuring access to quality maternity care, it is vital to enhance the fundamental health and reproductive rights of women and girls, as these factors are essential for achieving healthy outcomes during and after pregnancy.”
The report further examines the Covid-19 pandemic's effect on maternal survival globally.
In 2021, it was estimated that an additional 40,000 women died as a result of pregnancy or childbirth complications, raising the total to 322,000 from 282,000 in 2020.
In addition to direct complications caused by Covid infection, these deaths were attributed to widespread disruptions in maternity services, as noted in the report.
“This emphasizes the critical need for maintaining such care during pandemics and other crises, highlighting that pregnant women must have reliable access to routine services, check-ups, and urgent care available at all times,” the report concluded.
