In 2023, one woman died every two minutes worldwide due to complications during pregnancy or childbirth, WHO reports.
Approximately 260,000 deaths were recorded during the year, equivalent to 712 women per day.
Since 2000, maternal mortality decreased by 40 % thanks to better accessibility to basic medical services. However, since 2016, the figures started to increase again.
The world must urgently invest in the training of midwives, nurses and community workers to give every mother and child a chance of survival.
Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF.
According to the report, nearly two-thirds of maternal deaths occur in countries affected by conflict and humanitarian crises, such as Chad, the Central African Republic, Nigeria, Somalia and Afghanistan. The increase in these deaths is also associated with reduced humanitarian funding for health globally.
For the first time, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on maternal health was studied
In 2021, the number of women who died during childbirth increased dramatically: 322 thousand deaths were recorded compared to 282 thousand in 2020. This increase is attributed to Covid-19-related complications and the collapse of health systems.
The number of deaths also increased due to the cut in USAID funding for HIV and malaria treatment.