United Nations: Every two minutes, an expectant mother dies

Every two minutes, a woman worldwide dies from complications during pregnancy or childbirth. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for about 70 percent of these deaths, according to the UN.

According to a United Nations report, every two minutes a woman dies during pregnancy or childbirth. According to a published report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other United Nations organizations, there were an estimated 287,000 deaths worldwide in 2020. The persistently high number of deaths is alarming.

While the death rate fell between 2000 and 2015, it has practically stagnated since then or has even increased regionally. The data in the report goes up to 2020. The effects of the corona pandemic, when many clinics had to take care of people infected with corona, are not yet shown in it.

Most common cause of death: severe bleeding

The situation in poorer regions and countries with conflicts is particularly dramatic, it said. According to this report, 70 percent of the deaths occurred in sub-Saharan Africa. But also in regions such as Europe, North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, the maternal mortality rate has increased in recent years.

The most common causes of death included heavy bleeding and diseases such as malaria, which were exacerbated by pregnancy – but also unsafe abortions. All deaths are largely preventable as long as expectant mothers have access to quality health care.

Pregnancy as a “frighteningly dangerous experience”

“Pregnancy should be a time of great hope and positive experience for all women, but tragically it remains a frighteningly dangerous experience for millions of women worldwide,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The new statistics made it clear “there is an urgent need to ensure that all women and girls have access to essential health services and can fully exercise their reproductive rights”.

As a consequence, the United Nations, the WHO and the World Bank are calling for more investment in the health system worldwide, for example in community-based basic medical care even in the poorest regions. Another problem is that around 270 million women worldwide do not have access to contraceptives, which they can use to plan their pregnancies and thus better protect their health.

With information from Sandra Biegger, ARD-Studio Geneva