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A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) found that many pregnancy-related complications are not being caught or treated in time. This has lead to thousands of deaths worldwide. In 2020, around 287,000 women died worldwide because of complications from pregnancy or childbirth. The two biggest causes were severe bleeding (hemorrhage) and high blood pressure disorders like preeclampsia. Many of these deaths could have been prevented with proper medical care.
Study Findings
The report, published in The Lancet Global Health, also highlighted that other health problems, like HIV, malaria, anemia, and diabetes, play a role in nearly 23% of maternal deaths. These conditions often go unnoticed until it is too late, putting millions of pregnant women at risk. One of the biggest concerns is that many women do not receive proper medical check-ups after childbirth. Around one-third of women, especially in low-income countries, do not get the necessary care in the days and weeks following delivery. This increases their risk of life-threatening complications.
The Maternal Mortality Crisis in the U.S.
The U.S. also struggles with maternal deaths, despite having advanced healthcare. In 2022, 817 women died from pregnancy-related causes, a drop from 1,205 deaths in 2021, but still a major concern. The maternal mortality rate in the U.S. was 22.3 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2022. There was a particularly high rate among Black women at 49.5 deaths per 100,000 births. This is more than double the rate for White women (19.0) and nearly four times the rate for Asian women (13.2). Age is also a major risk factor. Women 40 and older had a much higher maternal mortality rate (87.1 deaths per 100,000 births) than women under 25 (14.4 per 100,000).
What Needs to Change?
To tackle this crisis, WHO is calling for stronger healthcare systems that provide quality care for all women before, during, and after pregnancy. The organization has launched a global plan to prevent excessive bleeding after childbirth, one of the leading causes of maternal deaths.
This issue is not just about survival. It is about making sure that women stay healthy long after giving birth. With better healthcare access, early detection of complications, and improved postnatal care, many of these deaths could be prevented.
