Although recent evidence suggests a global reduction in maternal mortality, the African Medical and Research Foundation’s (AMREF’s) view is that this remains a major problem in sub-Saharan Africa.
Most of these deaths are easily preventable, as they are mainly caused by insufficient care during pregnancy and delivery. Over 80 per cent are as a result of complications that could be taken care of in facilities with basic emergency obstetric care services.
What women in the developed world take for granted – skilled midwives, an obstetrician and operating theatre if needed, and the infusions and medicines to ensure that should complications arise, the mother is rapidly brought back to good health – are regarded as great luxuries in Africa.
In summary, maternal mortality remains a heavy burden in sub-Saharan Africa:
- In 2010, about 177,000 women died in Africa during pregnancy and childbirth, representing 60 per cent of the global total. These women died for lack of simple, affordable and reachable medical care.
- Consequently, 950,000 African children were left without a mother because she died trying to give birth to a brother or sister.
- Women face an adult lifetime risk of 1 in 39 of dying from pregnancy or childbirth related causes, compared to a low risk of 1 in 4,300 for developed countries, a risk which can be as low as in 30,000 as in Scandinavia, the area with the lowest maternal mortality ratio in the world.
- Over 80 per cent of these deaths are as a result of complications that could be taken care of in facilities with basic emergency obstretic care services.
AMREF is a transparent organisation distributing funds of up to $85 million per year.
