World health organization

10 facts on the state of global health

A pregnant woman is examined in a health clinic.
WHO/Carlos Gaggero

Complications of pregnancy account for almost 15 % of deaths in women of reproductive age worldwide

Every day, about 800 women die due to complications of pregnancy and child birth. The risk of a woman in a developing country dying from a pregnancy-related cause during her lifetime is about 25 times higher compared to a woman living in a developed country. WHO works to improve maternal health by assisting countries to improve care before, during and after childbirth.

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