Sub-Saharan Africa suffers top maternal deaths globally

Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region with the highest number of maternal deaths globally, even as the world strives to end preventable maternal deaths by 2030.

According to a new report by the United Nations, the region accounted for approximately 70 percent of 287,000 maternal deaths reported globally in 2020.

It was followed by Central and Southern Asia which accounted for almost 17 percent.

Western Africa, recorded the highest number of women who died as a result of complications during and following pregnancy and childbirth standing at 754, followed by central Africa with 539 and eastern Africa with 351.

Nigeria had the highest estimated number of maternal deaths at 82,000, accounting for over 28.5 percent of all estimated global maternal deaths in 2020.

Sub-Saharan Africa reported the highest maternal mortality rate at 545 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020, which is 136 times higher than that of Australia and New Zealand which both recorded the lowest rates.

South Sudan had the highest maternal mortality rate globally in 2020, standing at 1,223, followed by Chad with 1,063 and Nigeria with 1,047.

Only three countries in Sub-Saharan Africa - Mauritius, Cabo Verde and Seychelles - reported low maternal mortality globally in 2020.

According to the World Health Organization, severe bleeding after birth, infections, high blood pressure, complications from delivery and unsafe abortions account for 75 percent of all maternal deaths.

The UN report said most maternal deaths are preventable, as the healthcare solutions to prevent or manage complications are well known.

However, these solutions are often not available, not accessible or not implemented, especially in low-resource settings, the report said.

"It is particularly important that all births are attended by skilled health professionals, as timely management and treatment can make the difference between life and death for the women as well as for the newborn," WHO said.

The UN agency said lower income women in remote areas in Sub-Saharan Africa are the least likely to receive adequate health care.

The world aims to end preventable maternal deaths by 2030, as outlined in the 2014 consensus statement on Targets and strategies for ending preventable maternal mortality.

However, with the current pace of progress, the new report said the world will fall short of this target by more than 1 million lives.

The UN calls for multisectoral action to target the causes of maternal mortality, in the remaining years of the sustainable development goal era.

The report called for urgent multisectoral approaches to build healthcare systems resilience to climate and humanitarian crises.

"We must use the remaining time in the SDG period to intensify action to mitigate and adapt to the devastating effects of climate change to safeguard and improve maternal health; this action is also integral to climate justice," the report said.

The report said there is a need for greater recognition and collective action to address systemic health system issues that impede access to safe, quality, respectful and affordable sexual and reproductive health care.

"This is integral to safeguarding sexual and reproductive health and human rights, and critical to improving," the report said.