Why are Maternal Mortality Rates so High in Africa?
A multitude of studies across sub-Saharan Africa show that most maternal deaths are clearly preventable by direct treatment or improvements in overall health care. The majority of maternal deaths occur as a result of treatable and preventable conditions such as hemorrhage, infection, eclampsia and prolonged labor. These direct causes of maternal deaths are influenced by environmental factors, such as poverty, lack of education, and poor access to quality medical service. Maternal and neonatal health programs remain severely under-funded in West African nations, contributing to unnecessary death and suffering for thousands of women, children and their families in the region.
