Childbirth, a natural process that brings new life into the world, can also be devastating for countless women around the globe.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one woman dies every two minutes due to complications during pregnancy or childbirth, and approximately 830 women die every day due to preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. These deaths are unacceptable, and the world needs to take urgent action to ensure that all women have access to quality maternal health care.

The Magnitude of the Problem

The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) is the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. The MMR varies significantly between countries and regions, with the highest rates found in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

In 2017, the global MMR was 211, but in high-income countries, the MMR was only 11. These statistics demonstrate the vast inequities in maternal health care and highlight the urgent need for action.

Causes of Maternal Mortality

The majority of maternal deaths are preventable and occur due to complications during pregnancy and childbirth. The leading causes of maternal mortality worldwide are:.

Hemorrhage (excessive bleeding) during or after delivery
Infections, especially sepsis (infection that spreads throughout the body)
Eclampsia (seizures or convulsions) during pregnancy or after delivery
Unsafe abortions
Obstructed labor (when the baby cannot pass through the birth canal)

Other factors that contribute to maternal deaths include poverty, limited access to health care, inadequate nutrition, and lack of education.

Women who live in rural areas or who belong to marginalized communities are at a higher risk of maternal mortality.

Preventing Maternal Mortality

Preventing maternal mortality requires comprehensive interventions at multiple levels, including:.

Ensuring universal access to quality maternal health care, including skilled birth attendants, emergency obstetric care, and family planning services.
Improving the quality of care provided during pregnancy and childbirth, through effective training of health care providers, provision of essential commodities and equipment, and strengthening of health systems.
Empowering women and girls through education, employment, and access to information and services.
Addressing the social determinants of maternal health, such as poverty, gender inequality, and discrimination.

The WHO has identified several key strategies for reducing maternal mortality, including the provision of antenatal care, skilled attendance at birth, and postnatal care. Other interventions that have been shown to be effective include:.

Preventing and managing obstetric hemorrhage
Preventing and managing hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, such as eclampsia
Providing antibiotics to treat infections
Training midwives to provide safe obstetric care
Providing access to safe abortion services

Progress Made and Challenges Ahead

While there has been significant progress in reducing maternal mortality over the past few decades, much more needs to be done to achieve the global goal of reducing the maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.

In many countries, especially those with high maternal mortality rates, progress has been slow, and there are significant challenges that need to be addressed.

Some of the challenges that need to be addressed to reduce maternal mortality include:.

Addressing the shortage of skilled health care providers and improving the distribution of health workers to areas with the highest need.
Improving the quality of care provided during pregnancy and childbirth and ensuring that all women have access to emergency obstetric care.
Addressing the social and gender determinants of maternal health, such as poverty, discrimination, and lack of education.
Strengthening health systems and ensuring sustainable financing for maternal health programs.

The Way Forward

Preventing maternal mortality requires a comprehensive approach that addresses the multiple factors that contribute to this global tragedy.

Governments, civil society organizations, health care providers, and international development partners all have a role to play in ensuring that all women have access to quality maternal health care.

Some of the key steps that need to be taken to prevent maternal mortality include:.

Providing universal access to quality maternal health care
Improving the quality of care provided during pregnancy and childbirth
Empowering women and girls through education, employment, and access to information and services
Addressing the social determinants of maternal health
Strengthening health systems and ensuring sustainable financing for maternal health programs

By taking urgent action to prevent maternal mortality, we can ensure that every woman has the chance to experience a safe and healthy pregnancy and childbirth. Our collective action can make a difference and help to end this global tragedy.