"It is sobering to note that as you finish reading this piece, at least two more women will have died of preventable causes related to pregnancy or childbirth," write Nigerian health minister Muhammad Ali Pate and former Mali minister of health Samba Sow in an op-ed in the Guardian.
And yet, "the world has made significant progress in maternal, newborn, and child health over the last few decades.
Between 2000 and 2020, the global maternal mortality ratio decreased from 339 to 223 deaths per 100,000 live births.
Similarly, the neonatal mortality rate declined by over 50%from 36.6 to 17.6 deaths per 1,000 live birthsbetween 1990 and 2021.
In low- and middle-income countries, 371 million women now use modern family planning methods, representing an increase of 87 million women and girls over the past decade.
The uptick in the use of birth control helps women control the spacing and timing of their pregnancies, preventing high-risk pregnancies, improving maternal health, and contributing to better birth outcomes.
Yet, an estimated 287,000 women die every year from preventable causes related to pregnancy or childbirth.
With 70% of these deaths occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa, pregnancy and childbirth remain dangerous times for many women, exemplified by the tragic death of renowned Malian journalist Hawa S'
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