Why do maternal and newborn deaths continue to occur?

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Perinatal Epidemiology
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• In 2015, an estimated 303,000 maternal deaths, 2.7 million newborn deaths, and 2.6 million stillbirths occurred globally.
• Mortality risk is highest for mothers and newborns on the day of birth, with most deaths being preventable.
• The burden of maternal and newborn mortality is concentrated in low-income countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the persistent burden of maternal, newborn, and stillbirth deaths globally.
• To underscore the preventable nature of most of these deaths and the insufficient pace of reduction.
• To identify obstacles in stillbirth prevention, such as lack of universal definitions and classification systems.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of global mortality estimates for maternal, newborn, and stillbirths (2015 data).
• Examination of contributing factors including health systems, social determinants, and underlying health conditions.
• Review of trends in mortality reduction between 1990 and 2015.
• Assessment of vital statistics systems regarding stillbirth undercounting.

Main Results:

• Significant numbers of maternal deaths, newborn deaths, and stillbirths persist globally.
• Preventable deaths on the day of birth contribute substantially to overall mortality.
• Progress in reducing maternal and newborn mortality has been insufficient to meet global targets.
• Stillbirths are frequently omitted from national vital statistics, hindering accurate assessment and intervention.

Conclusions:

• Despite reductions, maternal and newborn mortality remain critical global health issues requiring accelerated efforts.
• Preventable deaths, particularly around the time of birth, necessitate improved healthcare interventions.
• The lack of standardized definitions and classifications for stillbirths impedes effective prevention strategies and data collection.