Global maternal deaths down, but yet to reach U.N. goals

World Today

A United Nations report has found that maternal mortality has fallen by 44 percent since 1990. The average global rate of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2015 was 216, down from 285 in 1990. There were a total of 303,000 maternal deaths in the world in 2015. However these goals fell short of the targets set in the Millennium Development Goals which called for a 75 percent reduction on maternal mortality.

Maternal Mortality Ratio (maternal deaths per 100,000 live births)

Maternal death is defined as the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy or birth from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management. Source: The Lancet

Total number of maternal deaths 2015

Source: The Lancet

Annual percent rate of reduction in maternal deaths 1990-2015

Source: The Lancet


Mexico seeks to prevent teenage pregnancy

The World Health Organization has found that among 15 to 19-year-olds, pregnancy and complications from childbirth are the second leading cause of death. In Mexico, the government is tackling how to prevent teenage pregnancy where it ranks among the world’s highest.

CCTV’s Martin Markovits reports.

Follow Martin Markovits on Twitter @MartinMarkovits


Suzanne Petroni on maternal mortality

For more on maternal mortality, CCTV America interviewed Suzanne Petroni, the senior director for Gender, Population and Development at International Center for Search for Women.