Global Maternal Mortality Ratio Down 44% Since 1990, Falling Short Of 75% Reduction Goal, Report Shows

News outlets discuss findings showing the global maternal mortality ratio dropped 43.9 percent from 1990 to 2015. U.N. agencies and the World Bank released the report, which was published simultaneously in The Lancet.

Agence France-Presse: Maternal mortality cut by almost half in 25 years: U.N.
“Deaths of women from pregnancy-related causes have fallen by almost half across the world in the past quarter century, but only nine countries have achieved the targets set by the U.N., a report by U.N. agencies and the World Bank said Thursday…” (11/12).

BBC News: Maternal mortality falls by almost 50% — U.N. report
“…Around 303,000 women died of complications during pregnancy or up to six weeks after giving birth in 2015 — down from 532,000 in 1990. Officials from the World Health Organization (WHO) said the results showed ‘huge progress’…” (11/12).

Reuters: U.S. maternal mortality rate is twice that of Canada: U.N.
“…The United States was … one of only 13 countries to have worse rates of maternal mortality in 2015 than in 1990 — a group that also includes North Korea, Zimbabwe, and Venezuela…” (Miles, 11/12).

Thomson Reuters Foundation: Maternal deaths drop sharply, but only nine nations meet U.N. goal
“…The Maldives, Bhutan, Cambodia, Cape Verde, East Timor, Iran, Laos, Mongolia, and Rwanda reduced maternal mortality by between 78 and 90 percent, the organizations’ report said…” (11/12).

VOA News: Report: Global Drop in Maternal Deaths Fall Short of Goal
“…[Lale Say, the WHO’s reproductive health coordinator,] says about 99 percent of all maternal deaths are taking place in developing regions, with Sub-Saharan Africa alone accounting for two-in-three deaths. … Say also says maternal mortality rates in sub-Saharan Africa have decreased by 45 percent from 987 to 546 per 100,000 live births between 1990 and 2015…” (Schlein, 11/12).

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