Despite decades of global progress, the world is now facing a critical setback in maternal health due to widespread cuts in humanitarian aid. A newly released report on maternal mortality reveals that the significant decline in maternal deaths seen between 2000 and 2015 has slowed considerably in recent years, largely due to reduced funding for essential health services.
Between 2000 and 2023, maternal deaths globally dropped by 40 percent, a success attributed to improved access to quality health care during pregnancy and childbirth. However, this progress has not only stalled since 2016 but may now be reversing in many vulnerable regions. In 2023 alone, an estimated 260,000 women died due to complications related to pregnancy and childbirth equivalent to one maternal death every two minutes.
This report marks the first comprehensive global analysis of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on maternal survival. It estimates that in 2021, approximately 40,000 women died as a direct result of pregnancy or childbirth complications during the pandemic. The strain on already fragile health systems and the diversion of resources away from maternal care played a key role in this spike.
The situation is particularly dire in countries affected by conflict or humanitarian crises, where nearly two-thirds of all maternal deaths now occur. Women in these settings face high risks due to limited access to basic health services, lack of skilled health workers, and inadequate medical supplies.
In many parts of the world, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, maternal mortality remains alarmingly high. This region, despite achieving some gains post-2015, still accounts for around 70 percent of global maternal deaths. Contributing factors include poverty, inequality, fragile health systems, and conflict. In Kenya, for example, the maternal mortality ratio stands at 355 deaths per 100,000 live births, translating to roughly 5,000 deaths annually.
The report emphasizes that solutions to prevent maternal deaths are well-known and achievable. With the right investments in midwives, nurses, and community health workers, and by strengthening supply chains and health infrastructure, the loss of maternal lives can be significantly reduced. Ensuring universal access to antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, emergency obstetric services, and postnatal support is essential for achieving sustainable improvements.
Access to quality maternal health care should be seen not as a luxury, but as a fundamental human right. Yet, the global slowdown in funding is severely undermining this principle. Health systems must be well-resourced and resilient, with policies in place to safeguard reproductive rights and long-term well-being.
The urgency of renewed investment cannot be overstated. Current trends show that the world is not on track to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target for maternal mortality reduction by 2030. Achieving this goal would require an annual decline of around 15 percent in maternal mortality a steep increase from the current rate of about 1.5 percent.
On this year’s World Health Day, under the theme “Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures,” global health advocates are calling on governments and partners to recommit to ending preventable maternal and newborn deaths. The focus is not just on survival during childbirth, but on ensuring that every woman has access to comprehensive health care throughout her life.
