Understanding the reasons behind these devastating statistics is crucial to developing effective strategies for prevention and intervention
Emmanuel Thomas l Friday, June 27, 2025
FESTAC TOWN, Lagos – Women continue to face significant risks during childbirth, leading to a concerning number of maternal deaths globally.
While progress has been made in some areas, many factors contribute to this tragic reality, particularly in low-resource settings.
Childbirth, a miraculous event, can also be one of the riskiest experiences a woman undergoes.
Globally, hundreds of thousands of women die each year due to complications related to pregnancy and childbirth, with the vast majority of these deaths occurring in developing countries.
Understanding the “why” behind these devastating statistics is crucial to developing effective strategies for prevention and intervention.
1. Hemorrhage: The Leading Killer
Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), or excessive bleeding after childbirth, remains the single largest cause of maternal mortality worldwide. This can occur due to a variety of reasons, including a uterus that fails to contract properly after delivery (uterine atony), retained placental fragments, or tears in the birth canal. In many settings, timely access to blood transfusions, uterotonic drugs (like oxytocin), and skilled personnel to manage the bleeding is severely limited.
2. Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy: Pre-eclampsia and Eclampsia
Conditions like pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, characterized by high blood pressure during pregnancy, can lead to severe complications including seizures, stroke, organ failure, and death if not properly managed.
Early detection through routine antenatal care and prompt treatment are vital, but often lacking in areas with limited healthcare infrastructure.
3. Infections: A Silent Threat
Puerperal infections, which can occur after childbirth, are a significant cause of maternal mortality, particularly in settings with poor hygiene, inadequate sanitation, and limited access to antibiotics. Unhygienic delivery practices, prolonged labor, and unsterile instruments can all contribute to these life-threatening infections.
4. Obstructed Labor: When Progress Stalls
When a baby cannot pass through the birth canal due to factors like a small pelvis or the baby’s position, it can lead to obstructed labor. If not addressed promptly, this can result in uterine rupture, severe bleeding, infection, and fetal death. The lack of timely access to emergency obstetric care, including C-sections, is a major contributor to deaths from obstructed labor.
5. Unsafe Abortions: A Preventable Tragedy
In regions where abortion is illegal or highly restricted, many women resort to unsafe procedures performed by untrained individuals in unhygienic conditions. These clandestine abortions often lead to severe complications such as hemorrhage, infection, uterine perforation, and death.
6. Indirect Causes and Pre-existing Conditions
Beyond direct obstetric complications, many women die during pregnancy and childbirth due to the exacerbation of pre-existing health conditions like anemia, malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and heart disease. Malnutrition and inadequate nutritional intake throughout pregnancy can also weaken a woman’s body, making her more vulnerable to complications.
7. Lack of Access to Quality Healthcare: A Systemic Failure
Perhaps the most overarching reason for high maternal mortality rates is the pervasive lack of access to quality healthcare.
This includes:
Insufficient Antenatal Care: Many women, especially in rural areas, do not receive adequate or any antenatal check-ups, which are crucial for identifying and managing potential risks early.
Shortage of Skilled Birth Attendants: The absence of trained doctors, nurses, and midwives who can manage complications during labor and delivery is a critical gap.
Limited Emergency Obstetric Care: Access to essential services like C-sections, blood transfusions, and life-saving medications is often unavailable, particularly in remote areas.
Poor Infrastructure and Transportation: Inadequate roads, lack of ambulances, and long distances to healthcare facilities prevent women from reaching timely medical attention when complications arise.
Financial Barriers: The cost of healthcare, even in countries with public health systems, can be prohibitive for many women and their families.
8. Socio-cultural Factors and Gender Inequality
Deep-seated socio-cultural norms and gender inequalities also play a significant role.
These can include:
Early Marriage and Adolescent Pregnancy: Young girls whose bodies are not fully developed are at higher risk of complications.
Limited Female Autonomy: Women may lack the power to make decisions about their own health, including seeking medical care.
Cultural Practices: Harmful traditional practices can sometimes contribute to adverse outcomes.
Education Levels: Lower levels of education for women are often correlated with poorer health outcomes.
Addressing the Crisis: A Multifaceted Approach
Reducing maternal mortality requires a comprehensive and sustained effort. This includes:
Strengthening Health Systems: Investing in infrastructure, training and retaining skilled health professionals, and ensuring the availability of essential medicines and equipment.
Improving Access to Antenatal Care: Promoting early and regular antenatal visits to identify and manage risks.
Ensuring Skilled Birth Attendance: Making sure every birth is attended by a qualified healthcare professional.
Expanding Access to Emergency Obstetric Care: Establishing functional referral systems and ensuring timely access to C-sections and other life-saving interventions.
Family Planning and Reproductive Health Services: Empowering women to choose when and how many children to have.
Addressing Socio-cultural Barriers: Challenging harmful norms and promoting gender equality.
Community Engagement: Educating communities about maternal health and encouraging women to seek care.
The death of a woman during childbirth is not merely a statistic; it is a profound loss for families, communities, and nations. By understanding the complex interplay of medical, systemic, and socio-cultural factors, we can work towards a future where every woman has the right to a safe and healthy pregnancy and childbirth.
