Contributing to Risk-Free Pregnancies
No woman should die giving life. Although maternal mortality rates have decreased globally – by 45% since 1990 – there are still ongoing challenges that cause complications for women during pregnancy and childbirth. Around 289,000 women die unnecessarily each year, which equates to about 800 women every day. Every death matters, and not one should be in vain.
According to the study Trends in Maternal Mortality: 1990–2013, several countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have made progress, with a 40% reduction since 1990. That year, there were 17,000 maternal deaths reported in the region, while in 2013 the number fell to 9,300. Delays in seeking help, reaching a health center, or accessing care from a qualified provider are three major barriers pregnant women face. On the other hand, pre-existing conditions are changing the profile of maternal mortality worldwide. One in four maternal deaths is due to health conditions like diabetes, HIV, malaria, and obesity, which can be worsened by pregnancy. These account for 28% of maternal deaths globally, followed by hemorrhaging.
Another crucial issue is that more than 15 million girls aged 15 to 19 give birth each year. One in five girls is under 18, which increases the risk of maternal death. Much work remains to be done to prevent adolescent pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Each hour, 33 maternal deaths occur, a figure that remains unacceptable – particularly since many of these deaths are preventable.
Our Challenge
Developing, strengthening, and expanding obstetric care is a major challenge in Latin America and the Caribbean, with the goal of ensuring more mothers survive childbirth and give birth to healthy babies. Globally, about 3 million newborns die each year.
Teen Pregnancy: Every day, 20,000 girls and young women under the age of 18 give birth in developing countries. Of the 7.3 million adolescent births each year, 2 million involve girls under 15. Every day, 200 pregnant girls and adolescents suffer the ultimate violation of their rights: death. A strategic approach is urgently needed to prevent teen pregnancy.
Universal Access to Health Services: To stop more women from experiencing life-threatening complications, it's vital to guarantee access to comprehensive, high-quality healthcare, beginning with sexual and reproductive health services that are consistently supported and uninterrupted.
Investment in Resources: Investing in human resources for health – such as midwifery skills – and empowering women to claim their right to lifesaving care is a continuous challenge in making maternal health a priority both regionally and globally.
The Opportunity
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), through strong relationships with private sector donors and collaboration with governments, has promoted political and social commitment. This has strengthened health systems and expanded the range of maternal care services, including access to emergency obstetric care.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, there is growing interest from the international community and agencies to effectively monitor maternal mortality rates and improve the data provided by countries to identify causes and develop targeted actions. These include investing in evidence-based interventions like family planning, improving prenatal care quality, ensuring every birth is attended by a skilled provider, quality newborn care, and monitoring women's health – especially for those with pre-existing conditions.
Investing in youth – particularly in sexual education for adolescents – is key to reducing adolescent pregnancies. The teen pregnancy rate (ages 15 to 19) in this region is second only to Africa and is significantly higher than the global average. In the region, 20% of births are to mothers under 20. In some Latin American countries, 18% of all live births are to mothers aged 15–19.
UNFPA has the tools needed to work with countries willing to revise or update national protocols and provide essential care to save the lives of millions of girls, adolescents, and women. This includes developing or adapting prevention plans and educational programs for doctors, nurses, midwives, and other healthcare providers, and incorporating emergency obstetric and neonatal care into pre-service training programs.
Maternal mortality can be quickly reduced in developing countries when there is strong political and financial support combined with effective approaches
Our Strategy
In 2008, UNFPA launched the Maternal Health Thematic Fund. Between 2008 and 2013, donors contributed about $134 million to the Fund, positively impacting the achievement of its goals. The organization's strategy is grounded in three key areas: reducing health system inequalities, expanding access – especially for vulnerable populations – and intensifying efforts to empower women to claim their maternal health rights.
Strengthening the Midwifery Program is another key part of UNFPA’s strategy to close care gaps and ensure all women have access to sexual, reproductive, maternal, and neonatal health services.
A strategic alliance with UNICEF, the World Bank, the World Health Organization, UNAIDS, and UN Women is making a significant impact in accelerating progress, saving the lives of mothers and children, and further reducing maternal mortality rates. This is achieved through the mobilization of financial, human, and technical resources to support countries accounting for 60% of global maternal deaths.
Every mother’s life can be saved through midwifery, proper family planning, timely obstetric care during pregnancy complications, and by ensuring that every woman – especially those in rural, marginalized, or remote areas – can exercise her right to high-quality sexual and reproductive healthcare.
