SLAMABAD: A new United Nations report has highlighted that four countries—Pakistan, Nigeria, India, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)—collectively accounted for nearly half of the estimated 260,000 maternal deaths worldwide in 2023.
The report, published by UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency UNFPA, was released in observance of World Health Day on April 7.
According to the UN’s joint report, maternal deaths, defined as fatalities resulting from complications during pregnancy or childbirth, remain a significant global health crisis. Pakistan, contributing approximately 11,000 maternal deaths, accounted for 4.1% of the global total, making it one of the four countries with the highest maternal death tolls.
Nigeria recorded the highest number, with around 75,000 deaths, representing nearly 29% of the global maternal death toll. India and the DRC followed with 19,000 deaths each.
Together, these four countries made up a staggering 47% of all maternal deaths worldwide in 2023.
The report also noted that while global maternal mortality rates have decreased by approximately 40% since 2000, continued challenges, including rising cuts in international aid funding, threaten to reverse these gains.
The UN warned that these aid cuts, particularly from major donors like the US and the UK, are compromising vital healthcare services for women, especially in fragile and conflict-affected regions.
The report also highlighted the detrimental effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal health. In 2021, an estimated 40,000 additional maternal deaths occurred, largely due to disruptions in essential maternity services and direct complications caused by the virus. The number of maternal deaths further escalated in 2022 and 2023, with the global total rising to 322,000 in the latter year.
UN agencies have emphasized the need for greater investments in maternal health systems, including midwives, nurses, and community health workers. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus pointed out that ensuring quality maternity care should be recognized as a fundamental human right.
He stressed that addressing maternal deaths requires strengthening health systems globally, particularly in regions most at risk.
The report also raised concerns over maternal health in conflict zones, where nearly two-thirds of maternal deaths now occur. With many nations affected by war, instability, and poverty, the UN called for enhanced international cooperation to provide crucial maternity care in these high-risk areas.
While some regions, including Sub-Saharan Africa, have made notable progress in reducing maternal deaths, the region still bears the majority of the global burden. Approximately 70% of global maternal deaths in 2023 occurred in Sub-Saharan Africa, where poverty, limited access to healthcare, and ongoing conflicts remain significant challenges.
Dr. Natalia Kanem, UNFPA’s Executive Director, emphasized that access to quality maternal health services is a basic right and called for better-resourced health systems to protect pregnant women and newborns. She stressed the importance of strengthening the midwifery workforce and improving data collection to pinpoint those most at risk.
The UN agencies highlighted several key actions necessary to reduce maternal deaths, including ensuring access to family planning services, improving healthcare access for women in conflict zones, and tackling underlying health conditions such as anemia and malaria. They also advocated for efforts to keep girls in school, as education is a key factor in improving maternal health outcomes.
