Pakistan Among Four Countries Contributing to Half of Global Maternal Deaths: Report

News Desk

United Nations: Pakistan is ranked among four countries—along with Nigeria, India, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)—that accounted for nearly half of the estimated 260,000 maternal deaths worldwide in 2023, according to new data released by the United Nations.

The report, published on World Health Day (April 7), highlights stark warnings about the impact of cuts to aid funding from the US and the UK.

Maternal deaths, as defined by the UN, include those related to complications during childbirth or pregnancy. The Trends in Maternal Mortality report was jointly released by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the UN sexual and reproductive health agency UNFPA.

The data revealed that Nigeria had the highest number of maternal deaths in 2023, accounting for over a quarter (28.7%) of the global total, with approximately 75,000 deaths. Only three other countries saw more than 10,000 maternal deaths in 2023: India and DRC (19,000 each), and Pakistan (11,000).

Together, these four countries—Nigeria, India, DRC, and Pakistan—accounted for nearly half (47%) of the global maternal deaths.

The report also expressed concern about unprecedented cuts to aid, which threaten to reverse the global progress made in reducing maternal deaths. It called for urgent action to strengthen healthcare systems, particularly by investing in midwives and other health professionals, to improve maternal health outcomes.

The report showed that maternal deaths globally had declined by 40% between 2000 and 2023, largely due to improvements in access to essential health services. However, funding cuts in the US and the UK are forcing many countries to roll back vital services for maternal, newborn, and child health.

The UN agencies are urging action to prevent further maternal deaths, particularly in humanitarian settings where maternal death rates are alarmingly high.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that despite the progress shown in the report, pregnancy remains dangerous in much of the world today. He stated, “While this report shows glimmers of hope, it also highlights how dangerous pregnancy still is, despite the fact that solutions exist to prevent and treat complications.”

The report also documents the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal survival. An estimated 40,000 additional women died from pregnancy or childbirth complications in 2021, a number that increased to 282,000 in 2022 and 322,000 in 2023.

These increases were partly due to the direct complications caused by COVID-19, but also widespread disruptions to maternity services. The UN emphasized the importance of ensuring access to maternal healthcare during pandemics and emergencies.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell underscored the importance of providing comprehensive care, saying, “When a mother dies during pregnancy or childbirth, her baby’s life is also at risk. Too often, both are lost to causes we know how to prevent.”

The report also highlighted persistent regional inequalities. Sub-Saharan Africa, for instance, still accounted for approximately 70% of global maternal deaths in 2023 due to high rates of poverty and ongoing conflicts.

However, some regions have made significant progress. Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia and New Zealand, and Central and Southern Asia saw substantial improvements in maternal health after 2015.

In contrast, maternal mortality progress stagnated in regions like Northern Africa, Western Asia, Eastern and South-Eastern Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean.

Dr Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA, stressed that access to quality maternal health services should be considered a fundamental human right, not a privilege. She called for enhanced efforts to build well-resourced health systems and improve supply chains, midwifery workforces, and data collection to identify at-risk populations.

The report also noted the vulnerability of pregnant women in humanitarian emergencies, where they face some of the highest risks globally. Nearly two-thirds of maternal deaths now occur in countries affected by fragility or conflict.

The UN called for continued efforts to ensure critical services during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period, while also focusing on broader health factors like family planning and the prevention of underlying health conditions such as anemia and noncommunicable diseases.

Additionally, the report stressed the importance of ensuring that girls remain in school, and that women and girls have the knowledge and resources to protect their health.

As the global community confronts the issue of maternal mortality, the UN agencies are calling for increased investment in maternal health to ensure every mother and baby has the opportunity to survive and thrive.