Maternal Mortality Down 45% Globally, but 33 Women an Hour Are Still Dying
Deaths from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth dropped has dropped 45% since 1990, according to a new report from the World Health Organisation.
In 2013, an estimated 289,000 women died worldwide, down from 523,000 in 1990. But 800 women a day are still dying from complications in pregnancy and childbirth globally- equivalent to 33 an hour.
Sub-Saharan Africa is the riskiest region in the world and 99% of all maternity related deaths occur in developing countries.
Dr Geeta Rao Gupta, deputy executive director of UNICEF says:
A 15-year-old girl living in sub-Saharan Africa faces about a 1 in 40 risk of dying during pregnancy and childbirth during her lifetime. A girl of the same age living in Europe has a lifetime risk of 1 in 3300 - underscoring how uneven progress has been around the world.”
More: Maternal Mortality Down 45% Globally, but 33 Women an Hour Are Still Dying