The International Day of the Midwife (May 5) reminds us that safe birth is not a stand-alone event, but part of the broader continuum of sexual and reproductive health and rights
05/05/2026
Teguest Guerma, Health Policy Watch
Most maternal deaths occur during labour, birth, or shortly after birth. Nearly 290,000 women died during and following pregnancy and childbirth in 2020, with 95% of these deaths occurring in low- and lower-middle-income countries.
The major causes included severe bleeding, hypertensive disorders, infections, complications from unsafe abortion, and obstructed labour. Yet these events are largely preventable or treatable when skilled care, referral, medicines, blood, and emergency obstetric services are available.
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