In 5 regions, progress has stopped in overcoming mothers mortality – UN Report
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The United Nations recorded a decrease in maternal mortality by 40% from 2000 to 2023 – mainly due to better access to basic medical services.
At the same time, the UN warns of the threat of serious rollback due to unprecedented reductions in humanitarian aid in the world.
About it is in the new report « Trends of Maternal Mortality », published before the World Health Day on April 7.
By data WHO, due to the reduction of funding in the world, disrupts the supply of vital medicines – in particular for the treatment of bleeding, pre -eclampsia and malaria, which are the main causes of maternal mortality.
« Reduction of global health financing is jeopardizing the lives of pregnant women – especially in vulnerable countries, limiting their access to the necessary assistance. The world must urgently invest in midwife, nurses and health care workers so that every mother and child have a chance to survive, » Said Catherine Russell Executive Director.
In 5 regions, after 2015, progress in overcoming maternal mortality stopped. Europe is among them
Women today have more chances to survive pregnancy and childbirth than ever, they say at the UN. However, the pace of improvement has slowed down significantly after 2016.
In 2023, approximately 260,000 women died due to pregnancy or childbirth complications – this is about one death every 2 minutes.
According to the UN, the world is lagging behind its goals for maternal health. In order to achieve the desired result by 2030, maternal mortality levels should be reduced by 15% annually – ten times faster than now (1.5%).
« In addition to providing access to quality obstetric care, it is critical to strengthen the basic health and reproductive rights of women and girls who determine their chances of safe pregnancy and childbirth »– says Hebreesus CEO Tedros.
In 2021, the pandemic additionally claimed the lives of 40,000 mothers
The UN report for the first time presented a global assessment of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on mothers’ survival. In 2021, 40,000 women died in the pandemic-322 thousand against 282 thousand in 2020.
This growth is associated not only with direct complications of Covid-19 disease, but also with large-scale interruptions in the work of the obstetrics.
Despite the overall decrease in maternal mortality by 40%, only three UN regions have reached a significant decrease after 2015: Africa south of Sahara, Australia and New Zealand, as well as Central and South Asia.
Africa south of Sahara, despite its great achievements, remains the region with the highest maternal mortality rate – approximately 70% of the global amount in 2023. High poverty and conflicts continue to deepen the crisis.
At the same time, after 2015, progress in overcoming maternal mortality stopped in 5 regions:
- North Africa and Western Asia;
- East and Southeast Asia;
- Oceania (without Australia and New Zealand);
- Europe and North America;
- Latin America and the Caribbean.
Pregnant women living in the areas of humanitarian crises and conflicts have the highest risks. Almost two -thirds of all maternal deaths are now in the country affected by instability or war. The worst indicators are in the Chad and the Central African Republic, Nigeria, Somalia and Afghanistan.
We will remind, earlier the UN found out that women still do in 2.5 times more unpaid work than men, and cases of sexual violence related to conflicts (SNPK), increased by 50% since 2022.
