Maternal deaths to rise over funding cuts – UN

An estimated 260 000 women died in 2023 as a result of complications from pregnancy or childbirth – roughly equivalent to one maternal death every two minutes.

Maternal death may increase as unprecedented funding cuts takes effect across the world, UN agencies for health have warned in a new report.

The projected relapse is attributed to the funding cuts, which has had severe impact to many parts of the world, forcing countries to roll back vital services for maternal, newborn and child health. This is despite the fact that women today are more likely than ever to survive pregnancy and childbirth.

These cuts have led to facility closures and loss of health workers, while also disrupting supply chains for lifesaving supplies and medicines such as treatments for haemorrhage, pre-eclampsia and malaria – all leading causes of maternal deaths, the report said.

The report – Trends in Maternal Mortality – released on World Health Day by the World Health Organization on behalf of United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group comprising WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, the World Bank Group and the Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs showed a 40% global decline in maternal deaths between 2000 and 2023 – largely due to improved access to essential health services.

Furthermore, the report revealed the pace of improvement has slowed significantly since 2016, and that an estimated 260 000 women died in 2023 as a result of complications from pregnancy or childbirth – roughly equivalent to one maternal death every two minutes.

Speaking during the launch of the report, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) said, “While this report shows glimmers of hope, the data also highlights how dangerous pregnancy still is in much of the world today despite the fact that solutions exist to prevent and treat the complications that cause the vast majority of maternal deaths. In addition to ensuring access to quality maternity care, it will be critical to strengthen the underlying health and reproductive rights of women and girls – factors that underpin their prospects of health outcomes during pregnancy and beyond.”

The report also provided the first global account of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on maternal survival. It was noted that in 2021, an estimated 40 000 more women died due to pregnancy or childbirth – increasing to 322 000 from 282 000 the previous year. This upsurge was linked not only to direct complications caused by COVID-19, but also widespread interruptions to maternity services.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said, “When a mother dies in pregnancy or childbirth, her baby’s life is also at risk. Too often, both are lost to causes we know how to prevent. Global funding cuts to health services are putting more pregnant women at risk, especially in the most fragile settings, by limiting their access to essential care during pregnancy and the support they need when giving birth. The world must urgently invest in midwives, nurses, and community health workers to ensure every mother and baby has a chance to survive and thrive.”

This highlights the importance of ensuring such care during pandemics and other emergencies, noting that pregnant women need reliable access to routine services and checks as well as round-the-clock urgent care.

The agencies warned that without urgent action, pregnant women in multiple countries will face severe repercussions – particularly those in humanitarian settings where maternal deaths are already alarmingly high.