An estimated 130,000 women succumbed to maternal deaths globally in 2020 due to hemorrhage or severe heavy bleeding and hypertensive disorders like preeclampsia, the World Health Organization has revealed.

The huge number of maternal deaths has led medical specialists to believe that many women still lack access to lifesaving treatments and effective care during and after pregnancy and birth.

A study published in the Lancet Global Health contained WHO’s global update on the causes of maternal death since the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals were adopted in 2015.

The study outlined the major direct obstetric causes and at the same time showed that other health conditions have contributed to pregnancy and childbirth-related mortality.

Among these conditions that are often undetected and untreated are infectious and chronic diseases such as HIV/AIDS; malaria, anemias and diabetes. They are usually treated only when complications have already occurred and have threatened pregnancies of millions of women around the globe.

“Understanding why pregnant women and mothers are dying is so critical for tackling the world’s lingering maternal and mortality crisi and ensuring women have the best possible chances of surviving childbirth,” explained Dr. Pascale Allotey, director of WHO Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research.

“This is also a massive equity issue globally - women everywhere need high quality, evidence-based health care, before, during and after dcelivery, as well as efforts to prevent and treat other underlying conditions that jeopardize their health,” Allotey added.

The most prevalent causes of maternal mortality are hemorrhage and hypertensive disorders causing 80,000 and 50,000 deaths, respectively, in 2020.

The 2020 statistics also indicated that an estimated 287,000 deaths in total - equivalent to one death every minute_ victimized women who were pregnant or have given birth.

The WHO study reported that hemorrhage mostly occur during or following childbirth. It was responsible for nearly a third or 27 percent of maternal mortality.

On the other hand, 16 percent of maternal deaths in 2020 were triggered by hypertension-related ailments.

Other direct causes include: sepsis and infections; pulmonary embolism; complications from spontaneous and induced abortions - including miscarriage, ectopic pregnancies and issues relating to unsafe abortions; and anesthetic complications and injuries that occur during childbirth.

WHO said the findings highlight the need to strengthen key aspects of maternity care, including antenatal services, that detect risks early in pregnancy and prevent severe complications.