UN raises alarm over impact of aid cuts on pregnant women

UN raises alarm over impact of aid cuts on pregnant women

A stinging warning from UN agencies indicates that recent global health aid reductions by wealthy nations may have "pandemic-like effects" on maternal mortality, erasing decades of precarious gains. Most at risk are pregnant women in war zones, who already have five times the risk of death in childbirth than those in stable areas, The Guardian reported.

Maternal deaths increased dramatically during the COVID pandemic

The US-partly funded report indicated that maternal deaths increased by 40,000 in 2021 during the pandemic — not just because of complications from the virus itself, but also due to disruptions to routine maternal health care services. Experts warn the current funding reductions may precipitate a similar systemic breakdown.

US funding reductions already affecting care provision

The World Health Organization reported that recent US cuts have caused clinics to shut down, interrupted medicine supply chains, and resulted in the firing of healthcare workers — all of which threaten access to life-saving treatments for haemorrhage, pre-eclampsia, and malaria.

Maternal health progress slows globally

Though maternal deaths fell 40% from 2000 to 2023, the pace of progress has slowed since 2016. The Sustainable Development Goal to lower maternal mortality to below 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030 now appears more and more unattainable — deaths would have to fall ten times faster than they currently do.

Material inequality fuels maternal death rates between countries

In poor countries, 346 women died per 100,000 live births in 2023 — 35 times more than the 10 per 100,000 in rich countries. Only 73% of births in poorer nations are attended by a trained healthcare provider, as opposed to 99% in richer countries.

Conflict-affected areas carry the greatest burden

Countries dealing with war or political instability accounted for 61% of all maternal deaths last year, despite only contributing 25% of global births. A teenage girl in a fragile country now faces a 1 in 66 chance of dying from a pregnancy-related cause — or as high as 1 in 51 in a war zone.

Health experts urge urgent reinvestment

UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell stated the reductions in healthcare in vulnerable contexts are "risking more expectant mothers" and urged for investments in front-line workers such as midwives and nurses. WHO's Dr. Pascale Allotey described the circumstances as "a travesty of justice," and emphasized that promoting safe childbirth is a shared international responsibility.