Imagine this: every two minutes, somewhere in the world, a woman dies while giving birth or during pregnancy. It’s a heartbreaking reality uncovered by a recent United Nations report that highlights how far we still have to go in making childbirth safe for all women, regardless of where they live.
The report, titled Trends in Maternal Mortality, pulls data from 2000 to 2020 and paints a troubling picture. Despite some early progress, maternal deaths have largely stalled or even worsened in recent years, with nearly 287,000 women dying in 2020 alone due to complications from pregnancy and childbirth. That’s only a small drop from 309,000 in 2016—the year the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted—indicating slow and uneven improvement.
A Dangerous Journey Instead of a Joyful One
“Pregnancy should be a time of hope and excitement,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization. “But for millions of women, it remains a risky, even life-threatening experience—especially when quality healthcare is out of reach.”
The study reveals that maternal deaths are increasing or stagnating in nearly every global region. Particularly concerning are the 17% rise in maternal deaths in Europe and North America and a 15% increase in Latin America and the Caribbean between 2016 and 2020.
However, there is a silver lining. Some regions, such as Australia and New Zealand, and Central and Southern Asia, saw notable declines in maternal mortality—by 35% and 16% respectively—proving that with the right policies and healthcare systems, progress is possible.
A Crisis Rooted in Inequality
The vast majority of maternal deaths occur in the world’s poorest and most crisis-affected areas. Sub-Saharan Africa, for example, accounted for about 70% of all maternal deaths in 2020. In countries facing severe humanitarian crises, maternal death rates are more than double the global average—551 deaths per 100,000 live births compared to 223 globally.
Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF, emphasized how preventable these deaths are. “No woman should have to risk her life to bring a child into the world. We already have the tools and knowledge to prevent most maternal deaths—it’s time we ensure all women have access to them.”
What’s Causing These Deaths?
The main causes of maternal death are well-known—and largely preventable. They include:
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Severe bleeding (especially after childbirth)
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High blood pressure during pregnancy (pre-eclampsia and eclampsia)
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Infections related to childbirth
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Unsafe abortions
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Complications from pre-existing conditions like HIV/AIDS and malaria
Each of these issues can be treated or prevented with timely, high-quality care. But millions of women never receive that care due to a lack of access, underfunded health systems, and shortages of trained healthcare workers.
Dr. Juan Pablo Uribe of the World Bank called for urgent action. “We need more investment in primary health care and stronger health systems. That’s the only way we’ll save lives and protect women’s health.”
The Missing Links: Healthcare Access and Reproductive Rights
Too many women still go through pregnancy and childbirth without even the most basic medical attention. One-third don’t receive the minimum recommended four antenatal checkups, and many also miss out on essential postnatal care. Around 270 million women globally still lack access to modern family planning tools—preventing them from making informed decisions about when and how to have children.
This lack of control puts women at higher risk, especially those from marginalized communities who already face health inequalities due to factors like income, education, or race.
UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem said it plainly: “It is unacceptable that over 280,000 women die in a year from causes we can prevent. What’s missing isn’t solutions—it’s the political will. We need urgent investments in family planning and to close the global shortage of 900,000 midwives.”
The COVID-19 Setback
Though the data ends in 2020, there’s reason to believe that the COVID-19 pandemic may have worsened the maternal health crisis. Not only did healthcare systems become overstretched, but pregnant women infected with the virus faced added risks.
Experts urge countries to ensure that women—especially those who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy—have access to COVID-19 vaccines and continuous, high-quality maternal care.
A Call for Collective Action
According to John Wilmoth, Director of the UN’s Population Division, “Reducing maternal deaths is one of the biggest challenges in global health today. But it’s not an impossible one. It just takes sustained commitment, strong systems, and equitable access to care.”
The report’s warning is stark: if the world does not accelerate its efforts, over one million more women could die by 2030 from preventable complications in pregnancy and childbirth.
But there is hope. The solutions exist. What’s needed now is unity, funding, and the determination to ensure that no woman dies giving life.
