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Increased efforts to meet the sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescents are critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and represent a worthwhile opportunity for investment.
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High quality antenatal care (ANC) is an essential component of the reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health continuum of care. For many women around the world, an ANC visit is their first adult contact with the health care system, serving as a gateway to health services both during and beyond maternity care.
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Pregnant women and their children may be vulnerable to infection due to physiological changes associated with pregnancy. However, current research does not indicate that infection with COVID-19 during pregnancy directly contributes to more adverse maternal health outcomes relative to the general population. Rather, the secondary effects of hospital closures, economic downturn, and weakened health infrastructure resulting from the pandemic may lead to an increase in poor maternal health outcomes.
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Integrating family planning services into maternal health services can be an effective strategy for reducing unmet need and ultimately saving women’s lives.
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An effective maternal health workforce requires not only a sufficient number of workers, but also equitable geographic distribution, diversity in skill, adequate education and training and strong, supportive health systems.
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Malaria in pregnancy continues to play a large role in global maternal deaths. Much work is needed to ensure that pregnant women and newborns across the globe are protected against malaria.
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The majority of maternal and infant deaths occur during pregnancy, childbirth or the immediate postpartum period, most of which are preventable. Understanding the connections between a mother’s health and that of her newborn is crucial for addressing maternal and infant mortality and morbidity.
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Despite spending more than any other country on maternity care, the United States has seen an increase in maternal mortality since 1990 and has failed to eliminate substantial geographic, socioeconomic and racial disparities.
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HIV and AIDS is the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age around the world, with approximately 25% of pregnancy-related deaths in sub-Saharan Africa attributable to HIV and AIDS.
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As the world continues to undergo the “obstetric transition” from mostly direct causes of maternal mortality to more indirect causes, addressing the effects of noncommunicable diseases on maternal health is becoming increasingly urgent.
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Mental health issues during pregnancy and the postpartum period affect between 7% and 25% of women around the world, many of whom do not have access to high quality treatment.
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The postnatal period is critical for both mother and baby. Greater than 60% of maternal deaths and more than a third of child deaths occur in the weeks following delivery.
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Prematurity is the leading underlying cause of death in children under five years. For those who survive, the consequences of being born too soon can continue throughout the life course, impacting individuals, families and communities.
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Increasing access to and utilization of health care services is not sufficient for improving maternal health outcomes. The quality of care a woman receives during pregnancy, delivery and postpartum affects her health, the health of her child and the likelihood that she will seek care in the future.
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Every woman around the world has a right to receive respectful maternity care. While a number of interventions have aimed to address this issue, many women around the world continue to experience disrespectful and abusive care during childbirth.
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Achieving the Sustainable Development Goal target of a global MMR of fewer than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030 will require continued investment in maternal health research, programs and policy.
Learn more about the Sustainable Development Goals and maternal mortality>>