The Chart Above Measures The Maternal Mortality Rate
Maternal mortality rate is defined as the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. This rate is an important indicator of the health of a country's population, especially its women. The chart above measures the maternal mortality rate in various countries around the world.
What Is Maternal Mortality?
Maternal mortality is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management, but not from accidental or incidental causes.
The maternal mortality rate is used as a key indicator of the health status of women in a country. It reflects the quality of healthcare available to women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.
Global Maternal Mortality Rate
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the global maternal mortality rate in 2017 was 211 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. This represents a significant decrease from the 1990 rate of 385 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. However, the maternal mortality rate remains unacceptably high in many countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Maternal Mortality in Developing Countries
Developing countries often have higher maternal mortality rates than developed countries due to a lack of access to quality healthcare. In many cases, women in developing countries lack access to skilled birth attendants, emergency obstetric care, and family planning services.
The chart above shows that countries with the highest maternal mortality rates are concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. In these countries, maternal mortality rates are often 10 to 20 times higher than those in developed countries.
Maternal Mortality in Developed Countries
Developed countries have lower maternal mortality rates due to better healthcare systems and more access to family planning services. However, even in developed countries, there are disparities in maternal mortality rates based on race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.
The chart above shows that the United States has a higher maternal mortality rate than many other developed countries. In fact, the maternal mortality rate in the United States has been steadily increasing since the 1990s.
Causes of Maternal Mortality
The main causes of maternal mortality are hemorrhage, sepsis, eclampsia, complications of unsafe abortions, and obstructed labor. These causes are largely preventable with access to quality healthcare and skilled birth attendants.
Other contributing factors to maternal mortality include poverty, lack of education, and gender inequality. Women who live in poverty or who lack education are more likely to experience poor health outcomes during pregnancy and childbirth.
Preventing Maternal Mortality
Preventing maternal mortality requires a multi-faceted approach that includes improving access to quality healthcare, family planning services, and education for women. It also requires addressing underlying social and economic factors, such as poverty and gender inequality.
Efforts to prevent maternal mortality have been successful in many countries. For example, in Nepal, the maternal mortality rate has decreased by more than 70% since 1990 due to improvements in healthcare and access to family planning services.
Conclusion
The chart above measures the maternal mortality rate in various countries around the world. While the global maternal mortality rate has decreased in recent years, it remains unacceptably high in many countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Efforts to prevent maternal mortality require a multi-faceted approach that addresses both healthcare and social and economic factors. By improving access to quality healthcare and addressing underlying social and economic factors, we can work towards reducing maternal mortality rates and improving the health of women around the world.