More women may die during childbirth in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030 due to setbacks in maternal care in Africa, a report by the Atlas of African Health Statistics 2022 has said.

The report projected that 390 women may die during childbirth for every 100,000 live births by 2030.

In comparison, this figure is more than five times above the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals target of fewer than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, and much higher than the average of 13 deaths per 100,000 live births witnessed in Europe in 2017, which is more than the global average of 211, the report said.

To reach the SDG target, Africa would need an 86 per cent reduction from 2017 rates, it said.

It also noted that the sub-Saharan region’s infant mortality rate now stands at 72 per 1,000 live births, adding that at the current 3.1% annual rate of decline, there will be an expected 54 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2030. This figure, the report said is far above the reduction target of fewer than 25 per 1,000.

The report assessed the nine targets related to the Sustainable Development Goal on health and found that at the current pace, increased investment was needed to accelerate progress toward the targets, noting that among the most difficult to achieve would be reducing maternal mortality.

Speaking on these findings, the World Health Organisatuon Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, said, “Africa has scored some of the fastest reduction rates globally in key health objectives, but the momentum is waning.

“This means that for many African women, childbirth remains a persistent risk and millions of children do not live long enough to celebrate their fifth birthday.

“It is crucial that governments make a radical course correction, surmount the challenges, and speed up the pace towards the health goals.

“These goals aren’t mere milestones, but the very foundations of a healthier life and well-being for millions of people.”

Despite the worrisome maternal figures, the report noted that Africa had made remarkable progress in some areas during the first decade of the 21st century.

Under-five mortality fell by 35 per cent; neonatal death rates dropped by 21 per cent, and maternal mortality declined by 28 per cent but in the last decade, advances in these three areas had flatlined, particularly for maternal mortality, it said.

While Africa has advanced in family planning, with 56.3 per cent of women of reproductive age (15-49) having their family planning needs satisfied with modern contraceptive methods in 2020, the region is still far below the global average of 77 per cent and the worst performing, the report has also found.

The report equally revealed that inadequate investment in health and funding for health programmes were some of the major drawbacks to meeting the SDG on health.

“For example, a 2022 WHO survey of 47 African countries found that the region had a ratio of 1.55 health workers (physicians, nurses, and midwives) per 1000 people, below the WHO threshold density of 4.45 health workers per 1,000 people needed to deliver essential health services and achieve universal health coverage.

“In the African region, 65 per cent of births are attended by skilled health personnel – the lowest globally and far off the 2030 target of 90 per cent. Skilled birth attendants are crucial for the well-being of women and newborns.

“Neonatal deaths account for nearly half of all under-five mortality. Accelerating the agenda to meet its reduction goal will be a major step toward reducing the under-five mortality rate to fewer than 25 deaths per 1000 live births,” the report stated.

[Punch]