Half a million women dying each year – preventable pregnancy-related deaths
October 26, 2008 by Marijke Durning, RN
Filed under Women's Health
Each year, 500,000 women across the world die while pregnant or in childbirth.
The World Health Organization (WHO) had chosen a 2015 target of reducing worldwide maternal deaths to 75% lower than the 1990 death rate.
As of 2007, there has been less than a *1* % decline in maternal deaths across the globe.
Women are dying preventable deaths.
What are the leading causes of these pregnancy-related deaths? Unsafe abortions and hemorrhaging after delivery are the two most common causes, as is delivering the baby. According to the WHO, 99% – that means virtually ALL maternal deaths due to pregnancy – are in the developing countries.
Something has to be done. Women shouldn’t be dying when having babies. Women should have access to birth control to avoid illegal abortions. Women around the world deserve better.
Here are some posts that I’ve already written on the topic:
Sad state of childbirth in many countries: UNICEF report
UK doctors working on helping improve maternal and infant health in Iraq
Low-tech advice could save many mothers’ lives
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Tags: maternal health, maternal death, pregnancy blog, death during pregnancy, unsafe abortions, abortion, childbirth, illegal abortions, pregnancy related deaths
