‘Haemorrhage, hypertensive disorders remain causes of maternal deaths’

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The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for urgent global action to address the persistently high rates of maternal mortality, as a new study reveals that haemorrhage and hypertensive disorders remain the leading causes of maternal deaths worldwide.

According to the report, published in The Lancet Global Health, approximately 287,000 women died due to pregnancy-related complications in 2020, equivalent to one death every two minutes, underscoring the critical gaps in maternal healthcare.

WHO’s first global update on maternal death causes since the adoption of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 highlights that severe bleeding (haemorrhage) accounted for 27 per cent of maternal fatalities, while hypertensive disorders, including preeclampsia, were responsible for 16 per cent.

Other contributing factors include infections, unsafe abortions, and underlying health conditions such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and diabetes, which together make up nearly 23 per cent of maternal deaths.

WHO’s Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, Dr Pascale Allotey, said that understanding why pregnant women and mothers are dying is crucial to tackling the world’s maternal health crisis. He also added that ensuring women receive high-quality, evidence-based healthcare before, during, and after childbirth is an urgent priority.

The report stressed that most maternal deaths occur during or shortly after childbirth, and highlighted the need to improve access to antenatal care, emergency obstetric services, and essential postnatal check-ups.

WHO warned that a third of women primarily in lower-income countries still do not receive necessary postnatal care, leaving them vulnerable to life-threatening complications.

Additionally, the study called for more comprehensive data collection on maternal suicide and late maternal deaths, which remained underreported in most countries despite posing significant risks to women’s long-term health.

WHO has committed to strengthening access to high-quality maternal care and recently launched a Global Roadmap for Postpartum Haemorrhage to address one of the deadliest complications of childbirth.

As part of its efforts to drive change, WHO has also designated maternal and newborn health as the focus of World Health Day 2025. This campaign will push for intensified action to ensure access to life-saving care for women and babies, particularly in low-income and crisis-affected regions where most deaths occur.

A co-author of the study, Dr Jenny Cresswell, emphasised that health systems must adopt a holistic approach that ensures women receive the care they need, not just during pregnancy and childbirth, but throughout their reproductive years.