Progress Seen in Maternal Mortality Numbers, But More to Do

A recent report, Trends in Maternal Mortality: 1990 to 2010, released by the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Bank stated that since 1990, the number of mothers who die every year from pregnancy-related causes has fallen from more than 543,000 to 287,000 – a 47 percent drop. A significant achievement, to be sure, but a closer look at the data reveals that progress has been uneven. A woman in sub-Saharan Africa still faces a 1 in 39 lifetime risk of dying due to pregnancy or childbirth-related complications, while a woman in Southeast Asia faces a 1 in 290 lifetime risk.  In developed countries, the risk is only 1 in 3,800. Speaking about the release of the report, Executive Director of UNFPA Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin said, "I am very pleased to see that the number of women dying in pregnancy and childbirth continues to decline. This shows that the enhanced effort of countries, supported by UNFPA and other development partners, is paying off. But we can’t stop here. Our work must continue to make every pregnancy wanted and every childbirth safe.”

http://blog.populationinstitute.org/2012/05/21/maternal-mortality-great-news-but-more-to-do/