Severe Bleeding and High Blood Pressure Lead to Over 100,000 Maternal Deaths Worldwide: WHO
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Synopsis
A recent WHO study reveals that severe bleeding and high blood pressure disorders lead to over 100,000 maternal deaths globally. Understanding these issues is critical for improving maternal health and addressing inequities in healthcare access.
Key Takeaways
- Severe bleeding is responsible for 27% of maternal deaths.
- Preeclampsia contributes to another 16%.
- More than 287,000 maternal deaths occurred in 2020.
- Essential postnatal care is lacking for a third of women.
- Health conditions like HIV/AIDS and malaria worsen pregnancy outcomes.
New Delhi, March 8 (NationPress) Severe bleeding -- haemorrhage -- and high blood pressure disorders such as preeclampsia account for more than 100,000 pregnancy-related deaths globally, as reported in a recent study by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday.
In 2020, the total number of maternal deaths was estimated at 287,000, which translates to one death every two minutes.
The research, featured in The Lancet Global Health, revealed that haemorrhage -- primarily occurring during or after childbirth -- is responsible for nearly a third (27 percent or 80,000) of maternal mortality, while preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders contribute to an additional 16 percent or 50,000 deaths.
Preeclampsia is a critical condition defined by high blood pressure which can lead to haemorrhage, strokes, organ failures, and seizures if not treated promptly.
“Understanding why pregnant women and mothers are dying is crucial for addressing the ongoing maternal mortality crisis and ensuring that women have the best possible chances of surviving childbirth,” stated Dr. Pascale Allotey, Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research at WHO.
“This is also a significant equity issue globally - women everywhere require high-quality, evidence-based healthcare before, during, and after delivery, alongside efforts to prevent and manage other underlying conditions that threaten their health,” added Allotey.
The study also highlighted that other health conditions such as infectious and chronic diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, anaemias, and diabetes contribute to nearly a quarter (23 percent) of mortality related to pregnancy and childbirth.
These conditions, which frequently remain undetected or untreated until significant complications arise, increase risks and complicate pregnancies for millions of women worldwide, according to researchers.
Direct causes of maternal deaths also include sepsis and infections; pulmonary embolism; complications from both spontaneous and induced abortions -- including miscarriage, ectopic pregnancies, and issues associated with unsafe abortions.
Notably, around a third of women -- predominantly in lower-income countries -- still do not receive essential postnatal care in the initial days following childbirth.
The findings emphasize the need to enhance key components of maternity care, including antenatal services that can identify risks early in pregnancy and prevent severe complications.
