Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) account for almost 65% of women’s deaths around the world, and the majority of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Women with diabetes, anemia, cancer, obesity, hypertensive pregnancy disorders and several other NCDs are at a higher risk of developing childbirth-related complications, and so are their babies. Children born to mothers with NCDs are more likely to experience adverse health outcomes later in life. Furthermore, perinatal mental health issues can continue after delivery and in extreme cases lead to self-harm, one of the leading causes of women’s deaths globally.
As the world continues to undergo the “obstetric transition” from mostly direct causes of maternal mortality to more indirect causes, addressing the effects of NCDs on maternal health is becoming increasingly urgent. Interventions designed to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity, particularly in low-resource settings, have traditionally focused heavily on obstetric complications and intrapartum care, while less attention has been given to the complex “indirect causes” of maternal deaths and their underlying risk factors. A more holistic approach to improving maternal health is needed, which includes addressing the global burden of NCDs contributing to maternal mortality and morbidity.
Resources
Key Papers
- Links between maternal health and NCDs
Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology | January 2015 - PMNCH knowledge summary #15: Noncommunicable diseases
The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health | 2011 - Noncommunicable diseases: A priority for women’s health and development
NCD Alliance | February 2011 - Meeting the emerging challenge of breast and cervical cancer in low- and middle-income countries
International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics | October 2012 - Diabetes during pregnancy in low- and middle-income countries
American Journal of Perinatology | May 2016 - Interventions for common perinatal mental disorders in women in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Bulletin of the World Health Organization | April 2013 - Type 2 diabetes mellitus after gestational diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis
The Lancet | May 2009 - Integrating noncommunicable disease prevention into maternal and child health programs: Can it be done and what will it take?
International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics | November 2011
Recent Publications
Associations between brain structure and connectivity in infants and exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors during pregnancy
Long-term risk of cardiovascular disease in women who have had infants with heart defects
Relationships between psychosocial distress and diet during pregnancy and infant birthweight in a lower-middle income country: “Healthy mothers, healthy communities” study in Vanuatu
Recognizing postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder
Maternal consumption of coffee and tea during pregnancy and risk of childhood ALL: A pooled analysis from the childhood Leukemia International Consortium
See all noncommunicable diseases recent publications>>
News
Can we screen For pre-eclampsia earlier?
Women across UK denied mental healthcare around childbirth, say doctors
Women in a quarter of the UK still can’t access vital maternal mental health services
Moms who have depression early on may have kids with lower IQ scores: Study
Maternal metabolic factors and early-onset puberty may be related
See all noncommunicable diseases news>>
Documents & Reports
WHO Recommendations: Intrapartum Care for a Positive Childbirth Experience
WHO Recommendations on Antenatal Care for a Positive Pregnancy Experience: Summary
Independent Accountability Panel 2017 Report
Selected Results of an Analysis of the Maternal and Newborn Content of Routine Information Systems in 24 Countries
Maternal Mental Health – Women’s Voices
See all noncommunicable diseases documents & reports>>
Organizations
The Role of the MHTF
Featured Resources
In November 2017, the Maternal Health Task Force (MHTF) hosted a panel discussion to mark the launch of the fifth MHTF-PLOS collection, “Noncommunicable Diseases and Maternal Health Around the Globe.”
Watch the video>>
Read a summary of the event>>
Browse the open access collection>>
Blog
Blog series: Noncommunicable Diseases and Maternal Health