A recent study by the World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed that preventable causes such as haemorrhage and hypertensive disorders, particularly preeclampsia, continue to claim the lives of thousands of pregnant women each year due to limited access to timely and effective medical treatment. The report emphasizes that these life-threatening conditions were responsible for approximately 80,000 and 50,000 maternal deaths respectively in 2020, underscoring a dire global health challenge.
Preeclampsia, characterized by dangerously high blood pressure, remains a significant concern for maternal health. If undetected or untreated, it can escalate into severe complications including haemorrhage, strokes, organ failure, and seizures. Many women, especially in lower-income countries, face this risk due to a lack of access to quality prenatal and postnatal care. The window surrounding childbirth is especially critical, as the majority of maternal deaths occur during this period or shortly thereafter. Unfortunately, a substantial number of women are not receiving the essential postnatal checkups needed to identify and manage complications early.
In the study, which was published in The Lancet Global Health, WHO provided its first comprehensive global update on the causes of maternal deaths since the adoption of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in 2015. According to the report, the total number of maternal deaths worldwide in 2020 stood at an estimated 287,000 — roughly one death every two minutes. Haemorrhage, typically occurring during or immediately after childbirth, accounted for nearly 27 percent of these fatalities, while preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders made up an additional 16 percent.
Other causes of maternal death identified in the study include sepsis and other infections, pulmonary embolism, complications from both spontaneous and induced abortions, as well as miscarriages and issues arising from unsafe abortion practices. Additionally, chronic and infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, anaemia, and diabetes collectively accounted for about 23 percent of deaths related to pregnancy and childbirth.
The study highlights the critical importance of early detection and management of risks during pregnancy. Dr. Pascale Allotey, WHO’s director of sexual and reproductive health and research, noted that ensuring women have access to high-quality, evidence-based healthcare before, during, and after childbirth is essential to reducing maternal deaths. She emphasized that maternal mortality is not only a health issue but also an issue of equity, as women in low-income regions disproportionately suffer from preventable complications due to inadequate health systems.
Moreover, Dr. Jenny Cresswell, a WHO scientist, stressed the need for a holistic approach to maternal healthcare, noting that conditions like preeclampsia often lead to other complications such as haemorrhage and that these interrelated health risks can persist long after childbirth. Strengthening healthcare systems to provide continuous support across various stages of a woman’s life, she added, would significantly improve maternal outcomes.
In light of these findings, WHO calls for stronger maternity services, particularly in antenatal care, emergency obstetric care, and comprehensive postnatal support. Broader public health interventions to address underlying health issues such as noncommunicable diseases and malnutrition could also play a vital role in reducing maternal mortality. Ensuring that all women, regardless of socioeconomic status, have access to the care they need could save hundreds of thousands of lives each year.
