(Health): Africa's Gains in Maternal, Infant Mortality in Jeopardy as more Women Die during Childbirth

 

A new World Health Organization (WHO) report finds a slowdown in the progress made during the past decade against maternal and infant mortality, is projected in the African region.

The Atlas of African Health Statistics 2022 assessed the nine targets related to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on health and found that at the current pace, increased investment is needed to accelerate progress towards the targets. Among the most difficult to achieve will be reducing maternal mortality.

The Atlas 2022 reports that, in sub-Saharan Africa, it is estimated that 390 women will die in childbirth for every 100,000 live births by 2030. This is more than five times above the 2030 SDG target of fewer than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. And much higher than the average of 13 deaths per 100,000 live births witnessed in Europe in 2017. It is even more than the global average of 211.

To reach the SDG target, Africa will need an 86% reduction from 2017 rates, the last time data was reported, which is an unrealistic feat at the current rate of decline.

African region's infant mortality rate stands at 72 per 1,000 live births. At the current 3.1% annual rate of decline, there will be an expected 54 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2030, far above the reduction target of fewer than 25 per 1,000.

OneForumNews1