United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG) has prepared a report on the maternal mortality rate. The report was released on February 23.
The MMEIG comprises World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the World Bank Group and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (UNDESA/Population Division).
The MMEIG report shows the maternal mortality rates between 2000 and 2020. The report presents global, regional and country-level estimates and trends for maternal mortality (between 2000-2020).
According to the report, Maternal mortality ratio (MMR) is defined as maternal deaths per 100,000 live births for women of reproductive age (15-49 years).
Top ten countries with the highest percentage of reduction in maternal mortality rates between 2000 and 2020 are Belarus, Bhutan, Seychelles, Turkmenistan, Romania, Egypt, Estonia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Kazakhstan, and Mozambique.
According to the report, women die nearly every two minutes during pregnancy or childbirth worldwide.
In 2020, around 70 percent of all maternal deaths were in sub-Saharan Africa.
Key Takeaways
- In 2020, around 800 women per 100,000 live births died during pregnancy and childbirth.
- This means two women died every two minutes.
- Under the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) effort are on to reduce maternal mortality to less than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. And this is to be achieved by 2030
- At the country level, the three countries namely South Sudan, Chad, and Nigeria recorded the highest MMR. Their MMR were greater than 1000
- Top ten countries with the highest percentage of reduction in maternal mortality rates between 2000 and 2020 are Belarus, Bhutan, Seychelles, Turkmenistan, Romania, Egypt, Estonia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Kazakhstan, and Mozambique.
- In 2020, around 70 percent of all maternal deaths were in sub-Saharan Africa.
