The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified hemorrhage, severe bleeding, and hypertensive disorders like preeclampsia as the leading causes of maternal deaths worldwide.
According to a new WHO study published in The Lancet Global Health, these conditions accounted for around 80,000 maternal deaths in 2020, with additional fatalities linked to sepsis, infections, pulmonary embolism, unsafe abortions, and childbirth complications.
Dr. Pascale Allotey, WHO’s Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, stressed the need for high-quality, evidence-based healthcare before, during, and after childbirth to prevent and manage these conditions.
“Hemorrhage, mostly occurring during or after childbirth, is responsible for nearly a third of maternal deaths, while preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders account for an additional 16%,” she stated.
Dr. Jenny Cresswell, a WHO scientist and study author, highlighted that preeclampsia significantly increases the risk of hemorrhage and long-term complications.
She noted that many maternal deaths occur due to inadequate postnatal care, with one-third of women, particularly in low-income countries, lacking essential follow-up checks.
To address these challenges, WHO is working to strengthen maternal healthcare globally, including the launch of a Roadmap for Postpartum Hemorrhage in 2024 and a World Health Assembly resolution to improve quality care before, during, and after childbirth.
With World Health Day 2025 focusing on maternal and newborn health, WHO is calling for intensified efforts to ensure access to life-saving interventions, particularly in low-resource and crisis-affected regions, where the highest number of maternal deaths occur.
