Ensuring the safety and well-being of women during pregnancy and childbirth is a cornerstone of USAID’s global health initiatives. While maternal mortality rates have seen progress since 2000, advancements have slowed in recent years. Tragically, more than 800 women continue to die every day from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. Alarmingly, nearly 95 percent of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, many of which are the focus of USAID’s maternal and child health programs.
USAID’s approach to maternal health goes beyond just saving lives—it seeks to help women and newborns thrive. The agency’s efforts are closely aligned with its newborn health programs to ensure a continuum of care that supports both maternal and infant survival. By delivering quality healthcare services, strengthening health systems, and promoting evidence-based practices, USAID aims to reduce preventable maternal deaths and improve health outcomes for women and children worldwide.
Addressing Gaps in Maternal Health Care: A Global Priority
Despite significant strides made in the past decades, maternal deaths remain a pressing challenge, particularly in the 25 countries prioritized by USAID for maternal and child survival. These nations are characterized by limited access to quality health services, underdeveloped health infrastructure, and disparities in care based on socioeconomic factors, which exacerbate the risks faced by women during pregnancy and childbirth.
USAID’s maternal health programs focus on improving the quality of care throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period. This includes expanding access to skilled birth attendants, providing emergency obstetric care, and addressing the underlying social and cultural barriers that hinder women from seeking care. Additionally, USAID works to increase the availability of family planning services, allowing women to make informed decisions about their health and reproductive rights.
Strengthening Health Systems for Sustainable Impact
A critical component of USAID’s strategy is the strengthening of health systems, particularly in low-resource settings. This involves building capacity at all levels of the healthcare system, from community health workers to national health authorities, to ensure that care is available and accessible to women in need. By improving the overall infrastructure and resilience of healthcare systems, USAID helps ensure that maternal health services are sustainable and that countries are better prepared to respond to emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Road Ahead: Scaling Up Successes and Overcoming Challenges
Although progress has been made, there is still much work to be done. Continued commitment to improving maternal health, tackling health inequalities, and strengthening healthcare systems is essential to reducing maternal mortality and improving overall health outcomes. By working in partnership with governments, organizations, and communities, USAID is helping create a future where no woman has to face the dangers of childbirth alone.
References:
- USAID’s Maternal and Child Health Initiatives. USAID Global Health
- “Maternal Mortality and Morbidity: A Global Challenge.” World Health Organization. WHO
- “USAID’s Efforts to Address Maternal Health.” Maternal and Child Health Programs. USAID
